City councillors could soon join a group working to open a riverbank attraction dedicated to Joni Mitchell.
Council will consider a motion on Nov. 15 by councillors Donna Birkmaier and Maurice Neault to strike a committee that will study the feasibility of a Joni Mitchell centre.
The committee of council members and residents would talk on an idea spearheaded by Mitchell fans Ron Lamb and Randy Fernets for a 1,000- to 2,500- square-foot space dedicated to the musician and artist within a proposed south downtown cultural centre.
The Mitchell centre may feature her memorabilia, a visual timeline of her life and an educational component.
"I see real opportunity here," Birkmaier said. "Often we fail to recognize those who have grown up and developed in our community. Joni Mitchell is an icon and has a following like you wouldn't believe."
The committee should report back to city council in three to four months, Birkmaier said.
"We're losing ground. I think it's important we get a move on."
Having a council-endorsed committee working on the project would be a major boost, Fernets said.
Mitchell recently was named a Companion of the Order of Canada and received an honourary degree from McGill University.
"All of these other people are honouring her and we still don't have a Joni Mitchell centre," said Fernets, the director of corporate development for Tourism Saskatoon, who's working on a Mitchell attraction.
"What we need to do is show Joni we believe in her."
The capital costs of the centre might be negligible if it's included in the larger cultural centre, which could house a performance theatre, Tourism Saskatoon office and Meewasin Valley Authority interpretive centre, Fernets said. The cultural centre might stand to cash in on federal and provincial capital grants.
Sales of merchandise and admission charges to the Mitchell centre would cover operating costs.
The centre could also display traveling exhibits of the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, Fernets said.
The Mendel Art Gallery has already announced plans to pay homage to Mitchell in a café to be built within a major expansion. Fernets said there's room for another Mitchell attraction at the newly named River Landing. "It can all work together."
Printed from the official Joni Mitchell website. Permanent link: https://jonimitchell.com/library/view.cfm?id=1197
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