Elliot Lake Arts and Heritage Centre officially opened

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Saturday, May 10, saw the official grand opening of the Elliot Lake Arts and Heritage Centre located at 14 Elizabeth Walk. 

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While the Elliot Lake Arts and Heritage Centre is owned by the city, it is being managed by the Arts and Culture Roundtable of Elliot Lake (ARIEL). The grand opening of the ARIEL Arts Space included a street fair on Elizabeth Walk, with the street being closed to traffic for the morning and afternoon. 

Elliot Lake Mayor Andrew Wannan cut the ribbon to officially open the Elliot Lake Arts and Heritage Centre. He was joined by Clark Koonin – Elliot Lake Railroad Club president; Prisca Campbell – ARIEL chair; and Kathy Jones – president of the Elliot Lake Arts Club and other members of the various clubs and city officials.  

Wannan said, “I have memories of standing right in there, we were just newly elected and Mr. Goulding called a meeting. We had to make huge decisions on the spot to get things moving. Your council has come together to support arts from the beginning of our term.” 

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He praised Goulding for his work on the project. 

“His hard work and guidance has culminated today with the grand opening. It’s been a long time coming but we appreciate everyone’s patience; things don’t happen overnight.” 

He thanked Karilynn Kluke – director of recreation and culture, and Amelia D’Amato – museum curator, for all their help. He also thanked Grace Christian Centre for housing the arts club and ARIEL in their time of need, as well as city council for their hard work in supporting the Elliot Lake Arts and Heritage Centre. 

“I want to congratulate everybody behind the scenes, all the work that’s gone into it, rarely seen and sometimes thankless. That’s from the bottom of my heart and council’s. Thank you and a great big congratulations.” 

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On a personal note Wannan said the arts centre is important to him. Growing up in Elliot Lake his mother was heavily involved in art groups.  

He then presented Prisca Campbell, ARIEL chair, with a certificate commemorating the grand opening. 

Other groups calling the Elliot Lake Arts and Heritage Centre home include the pottery club and the weaving club. 

Campbell said the 40-plus members of ARIEL have waited two years for this grand opening. 

She praised those involved in getting the arts centre up and running, including Bill Goulding, the city’s special project manager. 

The public was then encouraged to tour the facility and see what it has to offer. Members of the various groups were in their workshops explaining to the public the benefits of being part of a club. 

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There were a couple of tables outside including Ed Duncan, president of the Army Navy & Air Force Veterans in Canada (ANAVETS) Vimy Ridge 108 Unit providing information on the group. The Elliot Lake Lions Club hosted a barbeque for those with an appetite. 

The event had two free craft activities, handmade cards for Mother’s Day as well as hand-crafted flowers. There was also face painting. 

They also had entertainment outside that included the Jewels and Gents as well as Front Porch. 

Permanent arts home 

ARIEL and its member clubs have been without a permanent home since the partial roof collapse of the Lester B. Pearson Civic Centre in February 2019. After the collapse the city said it would use the money from the insurance on the civic centre to get a new home for the arts in Elliot Lake. 

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When COVID 19 pandemic hit the country in March of 2020, that put everything on hold. 

In speaking to the crowd, Clark Koonin said the pandemic saw many members of the various arts groups leave the city. Many moved here because of the various arts groups in the community. 

After the pandemic subsided some of the groups met in members’ homes or at the Grace Christian Centre. 

The city then contacted the arts groups and held a meeting on a plan to create a new arts centre in the community to bring the clubs back together under one roof. Some of the groups asked for a few changes to the plan, some of which were made, explained Koonin. 

“We got to this stage today where we have a fantastic building. And if it wasn’t for the city and their obligation to help all in the arts community…, people have no idea what this means to everybody.” 

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Kathy Jones encouraged people to join the art groups and take some of the workshop that they offer. They have workshops for all age ranges from children to seniors. The times can vary to try accommodate the public. 

The former civic centre was home to the various arts groups in the city as well as the Elliot Lake Nuclear and Mining Museum, an art gallery, tourist information centre as well as the 365-seat live theatre. 

The new Elliot Lake Arts and Heritage Centre was once home to the Lake Theatre in the 1960s through the 1970s. It then moved and opened its twin theatres in the Algo Centre Mall for a number of years before moving back in its former location. It closed permanently about 14 years ago and remained vacant. 

It underwent extensive renovations to become the Elliot Lake Arts and Heritage Centre. 

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