Feature Article August 28, 2002
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Frontenac Centreby Jeff Green After several months of meetings with a group of community activists, Brian Ritchie, the economic development officer hired this year by the Frontenac Management Board, presented the concept of the Frontenac Centre at a public meeting in Sharbot Lake on Monday night, August 26.According to Ritchie, the Frontenac Centre is a four-season resort that will "showcase the culture, heritage, and natural environment of the local area in a four season, high-end resort ."
As well, it "would be an inspiring workplace for Canadian artists living in residence; a retreat to nature for those escaping the stress of urban lifestyles." At the meeting, Ritchie explained how the working group had come up with the concept of a resort containing 50 rooms, of which 20 would be termed luxury accommodations, with living and studio space for about six "emerging" artists. The head chef of the resort, "will be like the seventh artist", according to Ritchie. The location for the Centre has not been determined, although it was described as requiring a large acreage, preferably with waterfront, that has four- season access. A timber frame structure is envisioned, that will be constructed with the principles of ecotourism in mind. It will not be built with municipal funds, Ritchie pointed out, but will be seeking investors from the private sector, perhaps with the involvement of non-profit groups. Ritchie described the concept as being in the midst of phase one of its development. Phase one is a study which is being funded by Central and Northern Frontenac - and not, as Central Frontenac Councillor Jack Nicolson pointed out, by South Frontenac, the city of Kingston, or the Kingston Islands. Phase one is engaged in gathering market information, describing the physical requirements for the centre, dong a site evaluation, making approaches to potential owners /managers of the operation, and developing a "high level" estimate of the economic impact.In phase two, which is to begin sometime in October, issues such as capital construction estimates, revenue generation plans, pro forma operating costs, and an action plan for implementation are to be worked onWhen the meeting was opened up for questions, there was a striking note of discord from the artists invited to the meeting. Sarah Hale of Arden Batik, asked if the artists were supposed to be the entertainment for the high end resort goers; to which Brian Ritchie responded, "We think it goes a little bit deeper than that. We are offering opportunities for people to engage in artistic pursuits in the natural environment." Shayne Dark, a sculptor from Hartington, told the meeting, "as an artist I don't think I could recommend this to any of my colleagues", although later on he said he thought the concept could be altered to be more viable.One of the strongest arguments in favour of the centre is the wilderness setting of the region, and its proximity to Ottawa, which is cited as a growing market. In small group discussions, other concerns were raised, and ideas for improving the concept were floated. Central Frontenac Councillor Frances Smith addressed some of the concerns of the artists in attendance, saying there is a "lack of clarity as to what the artists require in order to buy into this." She also said "Local residents need to benefit from this".At the end of the meeting, Brian Ritchie said he was pleased with the response from the participants, and this would give the group something to work on. Central Frontenac mayor Bill MacDonald said "We all recognise we have a vacuum in the area of economic development in this region, and the ideas brought forward tonight might not be accepted by everyone, but at least its a proposal, an attempt to bring something about." North Frontenac Mayor Stan Johnson was more positive. "This is extraordinarily exciting to me. I believe we will get this off the ground." Notably absent from the meeting was South Frontenac Mayor and FMB chair Phil Leonard. The councillor who attended from South Frontenac, Bill Robinson, declined to speak publicly on the proposal, and did not comment as to why South Frontenac had declined the invitation to participate in the ongoing study of the project when it cam before SF council earlier in the year.