Support bringing the NaAC to Ward 7
Rendering of the proposed new NaAC facility
Yesterday Livewire Calgary reported on the lack of support the NaAC (National accessArts Centre) is receiving from City Administration and our local Ward 7 councillor, Terry Wong, in their move to the former Scouts building on Memorial Drive:
According to NaAC CEO Jung-Suk (JS) Ryu, the organization is prepared to invest $1.6 million into the Scouts building to bring it up to code, and to provide dignified access for disabled Calgarians to the building. He said, however, that the $1.45 million they have secured, and the promise of an additional $300,000 to cover the gap to the $1.6 million mark hasn’t been enough for the City of Calgary.
NaAC has been operating in Calgary for 50 years, making them Canada’s oldest disability arts organization. A shining jewel in our city that “provides artistic training, creation, and exhibition/presentation opportunities for artists with developmental, physical, and acquired disabilities,” NaAC has been working with the City for over five years to secure a more permanent home.
When asked about the City’s lack of support for NaAC’s move to the new location, Councillor Wong responded:
“If you want me to make a speech or do an opening, whatever,” Wong said. “But when it comes to the actual logistics of getting the financing in and getting the build done, that’s clearly within the court of administration. Administration has [to] work out with them all the particulars, because, once again, it’s not my job to be administration.”
Unfortunately, Councillor Wong is abdicating his responsibility to advocate for this valuable resource to our Ward. While he is correct that it is not his role to get into the logistics and financing, it is entirely the job of city council to direct administration to bring these kinds of community initiatives to reality.
With the provincial government recently cutting support for disability advocacy groups, and the impending facility closure of the Vecova Aquatics Centre and Bottle Depot right here on the boundary of Ward 7, it is more important than ever to get behind the disability support groups in our city.
I encourage you to read Jung-Suk Ryu’s open letter in full, and lend your voice to bringing this important resource to our community by contacting our councillor’s office at ward7@calgary.ca.