By Pam Wright
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Chatham-Kent’s Mainstreet Stage is ready to rock.
The imposing $260,000 mobile stage – the flatbed base is towed by a truck – was unveiled to an enthusiastic crowd at the J.D. Bradley Centre April 9.
Mayor Darrin Canniff credited CAO Michael Duben with the idea of procuring such a stage.
“He’s the one who said we should have this,” Canniff told the gathering, adding that when the municipality called on Mainstreet Credit Union with the proposal the organization jumped on board.
“For a really inexpensive price, we’re able to create a whole other level of professionalism in Chatham-Kent,” Canniff said, noting Mainstreet has been an “amazing partner.”
“Chatham-Kent is growing, our population is growing,” Canniff noted, adding it is “a great piece of the puzzle” and will be another reason to take notice of what’s happening in C-K.
Duben, who worked for the City of Windsor earlier in his career, said he saw the addition of a portable stage there 20 years ago and it made a big difference to events.
Upon arriving in C-K around 20 months ago, Duben said he attended a No Child Left Behind event in Wallaceburg.
The presenters could barely be seen and heard, he said.
“It was such a great event and I thought, ‘You know what, we need one of these,’” he said.
“Chatham-Kent deserves this,” Duben added. “I’m looking forward to seeing all of our events.”
The stage, equipped with state-of-the-art lighting and sound system, can be set up in an hour and taken down in an hour. Several public works employees are trained in putting it up and tearing it down.
Mainstreet Credit Union has contributed $100,000 to the project, with the remainder coming from the Hydro One Community Fund. There is zero cost to the taxpayer.
According to Mainstreet president and CEO Chris Inniss, funding community initiatives is part of the credit union’s mandate.
“Community events are a key piece of what Mainstreet is involved in and we’re really, really excited for this stage opportunity,” Inniss said. “I think that the public-private partnerships we are trying to build are a great idea.”
The stage’s first booked event is the Special Olympics games in June.
Fees to rent the stage are $816 for the first day for non-profits and $405 for each additional day. For private and for-profit events, the cost is $960, with a $450 fee for each subsequent day. Anyone wishing to inquire about renting the stage can contact ckspecialevents@chatham-kent.ca.
