HyLife makes $5 million pledge

Big promise endorses Neustaedter's multiplex vision

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This article was published 18/10/2018 (1988 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

La Broquerie-based HyLife threw its corporate weight behind the idea of a community events centre in Steinbach on Friday morning, as the company pledged $5 million towards such a project. It was an endorsement of something else too: mayoral candidate Paul Neustaedter.

“We believe that a community event centre, serving a variety of user groups, is at the core of a strong community,” said HyLife chairman Don Janzen, who made the announcement at the Steinbach Cultural Arts Centre.

He noted the company has for some time earmarked funds for such a project in Steinbach and spoke of how the company shares the same vision as the would-be mayor.

GRANT BURR | THE CARILLON
HyLife’s executives Guy Baudry, Don Janzen and Ron Schellenberg celebrate the company’s $5 million announcement on Friday morning at the Steinbach Cultural Arts Centre, which Janzen said was made in alignment with the community events centre plan shared by Steinbach mayoral candidate Paul Neustaedter.
GRANT BURR | THE CARILLON HyLife’s executives Guy Baudry, Don Janzen and Ron Schellenberg celebrate the company’s $5 million announcement on Friday morning at the Steinbach Cultural Arts Centre, which Janzen said was made in alignment with the community events centre plan shared by Steinbach mayoral candidate Paul Neustaedter.

Voters will choose either Neustaedter, John Fehr or Earl Funk as the city’s new head of council on Oct. 24.

“We support Paul Neustaedter’s vision of an affordable multiplex plan. Our shared vision includes a spectator arena, a fieldhouse and a space to develop the arts and cultural community all under one roof. HyLife wants to partner with the community to make this vision real and affordable,” Janzen said.

He and other HyLife executives were on hand when Neustaedter first launched his election campaign in August.

Janzen, one of HyLife’s founders, had to compose himself as he shared the company’s plan to donate $5 million to the project.

“We want the taxpayers to know that the private sector is committed to making this affordable and a valuable facility…and a reality in this community,” he said.

Janzen told The Carillon in an interview following the announcement the company likes Neustaedter’s vision and his clear focus on delivering a plan within eight months of the election.

“That aligned with what we wanted to do…hopefully he can move that forward,” he said.

“I believe Paul’s a man of integrity. He’s a community person, good morals. I think he’s got the ability to rally the troops, talk to different levels of government and get them on side, and get money as well from the private sector.”

If a different mayor is elected with different vision, Janzen was non-committal as to whether the funds would still be available.

“I think we’d need to understand what the other peoples’ vision is. It’s hard to comment on it when you don’t know it,” he said.

“This is a community initiative, that’s how we view. Hopefully we have somebody in leadership that has the same vision as we have.”

Neustaedter led quiet efforts in the past to commission a multiplex feasibility report that was produced in 2012, which ultimately pegged capital costs for all-in-one facility at around $100 million.

That plan, which included new arena space, a fieldhouse, and space for conferences and the performing arts, advocated a phased construction approach, which Neustaedter has shared while campaigning.

“I think if you can have a one stop shop, you’re not duplicating infrastructure and people can drop off their kids and go to the different events rather than go to two or three different places,” said Janzen, who didn’t indicate that one piece of a multiplex was a priority over any other.

“Hopefully we can move forward on the majority of these things. That will be up to the council and up to the mayor to decide when they get in and it will also depend on how much money gets raised,” he said.

“This is not a HyLife initiative. We’re one of the team players. We want to engage everyone, get this done and be part of the community in doing it.”

Steinbach Arts Council board chairman Graham Pollock, who was on hand for the announcement, said HyLife’s investment could be seen as a first step in a community movement towards a multiplex.

“I think anytime you’ve got a company like HyLife, that’s such a huge community player, step forward to sort of lead the charge…then that’s going to help in getting other businesses, other people, moving this along.”

Pollock said the best case scenario would be to see a performing arts centre included in the plan, but noted that current SAC facilities need to be addressed too.

“Obviously we’ve outgrown the space we have now. Anything that’s going to give us an opportunity to develop our programs in a better way and develop more programs to deliver to Steinbach and the Southeast is what we’re looking for,” said Pollock.

“Whichever candidate is successful, if they are going give back…if they are going to embrace the arts and culture community, allow us to grow and do what we do, then obviously we’re thrilled by that and we embrace anyone that’s got that same vision as we do.”

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