The head of a young professionals network sees a generation gap in choosing a location for a proposed multiplex.
SHIFT Thunder Bay's Young Professional's Network president Michael Nitz said wanting the proposed $80 million centre in the North core or Innova Park night be a matter of age.
"I hate to mention that but listening to the opinions, seeing them online, watching the news it seems to be a real divide between the two," Nitz said Thursday at a SHIFT meeting where city manager Tim Commisso gave a presentation on the proposed centre.
"The youth are really passionate about the downtown cores that we have. They love the energy when they go there."
Nitz said youth want to be able to experience that energy from events such as Canada Day or the Thunder Bay Blues Festival everyday with a centre downtown.
"Really what they’re fighting for is the downtown core. My personal opinion is the downtown core," said Nitz, who cautioned that it isn’t the opinion of his group as a whole.
"For the greatest impact to our local economy. We’re thinking that the downtown creates a viable option for that."
At two open houses held earlier this month, most people wanted to see the facility built at Innova Park. But on social networking sites such as Facebook, the downtown location seems to be the choice said Nitz.
Commisso said he’s seen the comments online but wouldn’t say it’s a generation gap dividing the choice.
"I wouldn’t wan to comment on that. I think people are interpreting and making comments and that’s the society we live in. At this point I think we’re just trying to get the information out and get feedback. We’re not picking the specific location right now.
We’re short-listing, so there’s going to be more work done in terms of how we would ultimately decide on the final location," Commisso said before his presentation at the Lakehead University Avila Centre.
But Commisso said based on what he’s seen so far, location is a top priority for the public.
"I think it’s probably number one if not number two in term of issues that have been identified," he said.
Regardless of where the site might be, Commisso said he just wants to keep the discussion going on the issue so that the city can make informed decisions based on the diversity of opinions. Like hospitals and libraries, an events centre like the one proposed is part of what makes a city great he added.
"We’re a city that wants to compete we want to be able to attract events and attract people," said Commisso. "It’s worth having this discussion."
