The first visitors begin to explore the new Scotiabank Convention Centre shortly after the official opening Friday afternoon. Photo: John Robbins / Bullet News
JOHN ROBBINS / Bullet News
Time to wake up.
Reality has arrived.
After being little more than a dream for a quarter of a century, the city’s tourism industry finally has the off-season attractor it has always wanted.
Thosusands of people packed into the Scotiabank Convention Centre Friday afternoon for the official opening ceremonies and to visit the facility’s first large-scale event, the 1st Annual Niagara Home and Garden Show.
So many people, in fact, there was a mini-traffic jam on Stanley Avenue just prior to the 4 p.m. ribbon cutting.
“I hope the parking lot is filled like this for the next 25 years,” said a smiling Coun. Wayne Thomson, who represented the Fallsview Business Improvement Area association at the opening.
Thomson was one of a long line of politicians and community leaders who took turns putting into words what the new convention centre means for the city, the region and the people who live and work here.
Mayor Jim Diodati called the facility the “missing piece of the puzzle” which will draw more people to the Honeymoon Capital all year – not just during the good weather.
“We’ve got a powerful destination known around the world,” said Diodati.
“This is exactly what we needed. This is going to act as a big catalyst.”
Diodati said local politicians are sometimes criticized by residents for throwing too much support behind the city’s tourism industry.
But with so many badly needed jobs dependent on tourism, it’s the kind of criticism the mayor said he’s willing to accept in the name of growth, prospertity and giving local youth an opportunity to stay in Niagara.
“I just say make sure you brush the teeth you want to keep,” Diodati said.
Reg. Chairman Gary Burroughs was on hand to offer his congratulations and to tour the facility.
Burroughs said the impact the new convention centre will undoubtedly have will be felt well beyond the city limits.
“Of course this is an important day for Niagara Falls,” said Burroughs. “But I believe it’s an improtant day for the whole of the Niagara Region.”
Niagara Falls MPP Kim Craitor called said the new venue represents a “turning point” for the industry and the city, just the way the opening of the first casino in the city did some 16 years ago.
“Today, we are fulfilling the promise and the dreams of many people.”
Craitor commended Niagara Falls Conservative MP Rob Nicholson for his role in helping secure matching funding from the federal government toward the $105-million cost of building the convention centre.
Beacuse of the federal election that’s underway, Nicholson had decided not to attend the official opening avoid any suggestion he had used the event to his own political advantage.
Thomson reminded the crowd that the new convention centre is an important piece of the puzzle, but not the final one.
The fate of $50-million funding commitment from the federal and provincial government toward the establishment of a new people mover transit system capable of linking Niagara Parks Commission lands with the rest of the city is still up in the air.
Thomson urged all parties, including tourism-sector partners, to reach some kind of agreement soon, so that the money doesn’t just slip away.
“I implore everyone everybody involved in tourism to make sure this happens,” Thomson said.
jrobbins@bulletnewsniagara.ca
2 Comments on "A dream comes true, another remains unfulfilled; Watch the video and take the Bullet poll"
Heading to the Garden Show tomorrow.
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