Theatre report ready

Theatre report ready

EXCERPT

"It shows us the condition of the building," Wright said. "It shows us how to operate it. It shows us the possibilities."

Because Massey Theatre is part of a property matter between the city and the school board, Wright said council will deal with the report at a closed session.

Now that the report is done, Wright said council will be in a position to discuss the theatre with the school board, which owns the theatre.

"Now that we have all the information, all of us are going to have to think very closely about what we can do," he said. "There are pros and cons to everything."

New Westminster News Leader - Should Mercer Stadium move to Moody Park?

New Westminster News Leader - Should Mercer Stadium move to Moody Park?

EXCERPT:

One unpopular option being considered is to knock down the school district-owned Massey Theatre and build the new school there. Another is to somehow build the new school around the historic theatre but doing so would still run the risk of uncovering more bodies, says Margot Barton of the District Parent Advisory Committee (DPAC).

“If a shovel comes up with three skulls and a jawbone, that’s going to be a big problem,” said Barton.
She believes the best solution, although far from ideal, is to demolish Mercer Stadium and the adjacent skateboard park and build a new school there.

The new stadium could be built at nearby Moody Park. Because it builds on Mercer, saves Massey, and looks to Moody Park for a solution, the parents have tagged the idea the “3M” proposal.

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March 4 protest rally postponed

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EXCERPT:

Niki Hope

The Record

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Olympic fever and a recent meeting with the education minister have halted parents' plan to hold a rally at city hall to protest high school construction delays.

The district parent advisory council was planning a rally for March 4 to put pressure on city councillors and school trustees to find a solution for where to build the replacement New Westminster Secondary School. The rally was postponed after members of the district parent advisory council met with Education Minister Margaret MacDiarmid on Wednesday.

The minister did not ask the group to put off the rally, but after meeting with her, they were "encouraged" about the prospects for the long-overdue high school, said district parent advisory chair Margot Barton.

"We want to see where the chips fall," she said. "We want to give her some running room, and we want to see where things go."

Parents Plan Rally to Save Massey, March 4, City Hall

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EXCERPT:

Niki Hope

The Record

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

New Westminster parents are planning a rally for March 4, in response to "ongoing delays and lack of communication" on the construction plans for a replacement high school, and they are holding it at city hall.

The district parent advisory council, which has representatives from each school in the district, is organizing next month's event.

The district parent advisory council wants the city to offer up Mercer Stadium to house the new high school, district council member Don Ellam said. The parents want the stadium moved to Moody Park and Massey Theatre to remain where it is, he said.

Ellam chairs a subcommittee that includes parents, Mercer and Massey supporters.

They have met over the last few months to find common ground on the high school construction plans.

The Mercer plan would still mean the city could have three tracks on the high school site, Ellam said.

"The city would end up with basically the same amount of land," he said.

The city seems to be the "unwilling" partner at the moment, he said.

"For reasons known to them," he added.

THE BEST IN NEW WEST: 1974 Frasers Baseball Club: New Westminster School Board puts Justin Morneau Field in jepordy

THE BEST IN NEW WEST: 1974 Frasers Baseball Club: New Westminster School Board puts Justin Morneau Field in jepordy

EXCERPT:

the School Board could build on their present sight not touching Massey Theatre, Mercer Stadium nor Moody Park! New Westminster School Board build the school and drop the provincial politics as this type of political game is not for our City.

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City, board work on solutions

City, board work on solutions

EXCERPT:

The challenge is finding a way to build a school on a site and retain Mercer Stadium, the cemetery and Massey Theatre, all of which have to be saved, he said.

"That is what we are going to do," [Mayor Wayne] Wright said.

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Concerned groups find 'unity'

Concerned groups find 'unity'

EXCERPT:

Concerned groups find 'unity'

Parents, theatre reps say they're working for a good outcome for all

Niki Hope

The Record

Saturday, January 23, 2010

They are building common ground on where they stand on the high school construction project.
That's why parents, Massey Theatre and Mercer Stadium and Chinese-Canadian representatives held a closed meeting Wednesday night.

"It's neat because the group really does reflect families, children and education, and arts and athletics, and heritage and history - that's community life," said Massey Theatre executive director Jessica Schneider, who attended the meeting.

While they have differing concerns about the project, Schneider said there was "unity" amongst them.

"There's a lot of support for each other," she said.

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