Editor’s Note: Today we continue a series of video stories about City of Edmonton employees. In their own words. But, first, just a few more of ours. Together, the 14,000 people who work for the City help to imagine, construct, maintain and operate, and animate this place called Edmonton—where we have all decided to build, together, the value of of our lives.
This is our story. This is our colourful story of the Intercultural Interagency Hub for Arts, Recreation, Wellness and Learning project team.
When MacEwan University unveiled plans to move fine arts programs from its west-end campus, the City saw a colourful opportunity.
And orange you glad they did?
“That building was a landmark from the day the doors opened,” said Gary Dewar, Director of Terwillegar, The Meadows and Clareview Community Recreation Centres. “Our challenge has been to build on this legacy by repurposing it into a vibrant community hub for arts, recreation, wellness and learning.”
Mission accomplished.
By an accomplished team of City employees who dug in and did extensive research on not-for-profit shared spaces across North America. And who engaged Edmontonians and community groups in workshops, public meetings and focus groups. From this collaborative work emerged a business plan endorsed by City Council.
Then came the behind-the-scenes work to make the building an operational and sustainable success. On that front, the project team worked with multiple City of Edmonton experts—legal, infrastructure, design, facility maintenance, transit, to name a few—to make sure everyone was singing from the same song sheet.
The Orange Hub has been up and running for 15 months and is home to 17 not-for-profit groups.
“As a tenant in the building since December 2017, I really appreciate the integrity and dedication displayed by all staff involved with the building,” said Diane Kereluk, Executive Director of the Stony Plain Road and Area Business Association (BIA), “this has been such a positive and exciting move for the BIA and the mix of tenants occupying the building will help build a vibrant business area.
The City’s project team is now focussed on smooth facility operations and tenant relationships, as well as capital improvements, securing new tenants and guiding collaborations between The Orange Hub tenants and the community.
It’s easy to see The Orange Hub if you’re near 156 St and 100 Ave in west Edmonton. It’s doing its good work in part due to the hard work of The Orange Hub team.
Here they are: Marian Bruin, Brenda Wong, Albert Galiev, Sam Juru, Kathy Oleksiw, Kevin Arnott, Judith Rohovie, Gary Dewar, Jill Driol, Ellen Finn, Larissa Stetzenko, John Osborne, Greg Krawchuk, Jacquie Dalziel, Paul Specht, Amanda McDonald, Andy Freeman, Mario Caliguri, Pascale Ladoucer, Jack Ashton, Jesse Banford, Susan Meunier , Shona Lizzi, Rima Kassis, Sean Lee, Jacquie Gregson, Paul Kowal, Laura Montes, Juliana Kreitz, Eva Cheung, and Rocky Pilisko.