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The cultural life of Waterloo has suddenly become a hot topic of discussion. First, there was the report of the Futures Committee, which suggested that culture in Waterloo was lacking, and proposed such moves as a separate cultural commit- tee and establishment of an arts and culture centre. That was followed by the announcement from the University of Waterloo that it would no longer offer a professional theatre program at its Humanities Theatre or Theatre of the Arts. Concerned over the impact this will have on the community, council hopes to persuade UW to reconsider its decision. Then, there's word that aldermen, at a recent workshop to plot municipal goals and objectives, tagged culture as the fyst priority to be addressed. "There's a lot of work to be done," said Mayor Marjorie Carroll, on the topic in last week's Chronicle. _ Truer words have never been spoken. Undoubtably they're being heard with great interest by the many arts groups which have petitioned Waterloo city council over the years for fjeancial, support, with little suwess. Equally intrigued must be the City of Kitchener, which has long been the sole supporter of Centre in the Square, although that facility is much-used by Waterloo residents. That there's so much work to be done is in large part due to the fact that culture, the arts and entertainment has never been much of a priority with city council before. Sports facilities, yes, have been a priority. Roads, sewers and the like have all been attended to. Keeping a close rein on tax increases was never forgotten. But culture, that has suffered. Past councils have consistent- ly refused to help'the deficit-ridden Centre in the Square, while at the same time not providing this city with an arts facility of its own. Council has also been downright niggardly in its grants to local amateur and semi-professional arts groups. Consider the 1987 City of Waterloo budget. Of the approximately $25 million in expenditures, less than $100,000 was allocated in direct grants to cultural groups. The situation becomes grimmer with the realiza- tion that $70,000 of that total went to two organizations, K-W Art Gallery and K-W Symphony Orchestra. PAaE6t6ATERuxrCtetttxE,gt-tttATttty1-te,t- Now that the "priority" has: finally been recognized, we hope the dollars will be made available for action to address the needs. Providing ftnaneial support to the Centre in the Square is a good rrrat start. Doing the some to keep UW’s theatres open would be a good second step, if it would alter the university) decision. Council should also take a close look at local cultural groups and re-examine its levels of support. Moat importantly, steps must be taken towards realization of the Futures Committee's proposal for an arts centre. Conveniently, the Waterloo Regional Arts Council is now examining the feasibility of establishing a community arts centre somewhere in the region. It might be to Waterloo council's and the city's advantage to work with the arts council to see iftheir project and that envision bytheFuturesCommittsecouldnotbeoneandthssams. Second Ch» In" war-u.- Nunber “a line “at: - Waterloo Chronicle office is located in the Mane . White law "ttice building (rear entrance. who“). Purim; at the near of the building. Open Monday to y I am. to 5 pm. Address all fit"attlrrg to Waterloo Mace. u Ertt st.E., Waterloo. 0m. N ILT. Telephone “no. News and Sports Culture calls mmutrer'. PUst Winkler Waterloo Chronicle is published every Wednesday by The Fairway Group Incorporated Publishing address 215 Fairway Rd. S.. Kitchener, Ont Display “venting: Helen Smiley, Paula Hummel, Gerry Mattice Cussined Advertising: Maureen McNab Senior reporter: Melodee Martinuk Reporters: lan Kirkby (news) Ctrctuntaw. Jens Fischer Typesetting and aunt-g: Fairway Press “at: Rick Campbell Natl', Karges I er: Greg Cassidy Mark Bryson (sports) Watching Lauren especially warmed our hearts, and made the parade extra special for us. Of course, she didn't know we were watching her as much as the parade, but what a joy she was to behold. Clapping and squealing at the arrival of each float, each cartoon character (to the one which she announced with mind-boggling accuracy) and singing along with virtually every Christmas tune played, Lauren was a charmer all right. She shouted hellos to each parade person, waved at dignitaries, and on more than one occasion, her pretty-in-pink rsgure, with hands cupped politely, caused candyaarrying clowns to come, shake her hand, and leave little treats with her. As you might expect, this caused Lauren to be ecstatic, but not so ecstatic that she didn't share We watched Saturday's parade from between a van and car bumper in front of Ontario Seed. You probably saw Beth and me bundled up, sitting in our lawn chairs, singing Christmas, carols as the hands went by, waving at the oolorfullycostumed characters. All the world loves a parade, and no one more so than my wife and 1. Why we loved Saturday's parade even more than most was because we saw it through the eyes of a Five or six-year-old child, tspecifically a darling young lady named Lauren, who along with younger sister Alicia and their Dad, stood with eyes like saucers, lapping up every wonder, ful moment. Hi Santa. How are you this year? It was really nice to see you at the parade on Saturday. The weather sure was nice for a change, wasn’t it? I suppose you were actually hot in your big red suit. Hope you didn't get a sunburn travelling down King St. Ha, ha. Someone beside me at the parade joked that it's a good thing you didn't act this year like the rest of the people in this town - or else there would have been a work stoppage on your toy assembly line, you would be fighting all the time with Mrs. Claus and the rest of your family, and there would be interrupted delivery on Christmas Eve. I didn't think that man was very funny. So how are Mrs. Claus and the elves anyway? Did you have a good year? Did you go on vacation anywhere? Were you really tired after delivering all those gins around the world last Christmas Eve? Thanks for the really neat gift you brought me, it has provided hours and hours of enjoyment for me. Dear Santa Claus: “A: soon as they know (you cm) they're going to come gunning for you every single time." It is written Iii, r) "é)); :51 Rick Campbell Chronicle Editor Dear Lauren ' CT s:..:,;','),!),"-'-'-,--"-';'; V t, Ilts fig 09% ' fy% I KEEPING up WITH THE JoNegeé L. Format Mulroney rel secretary Michel (luv ton on the vulturo- the undoub- of tho Home of Common- pro- (diary towards pol itieiana. her M and M's and candy cane with her little sister, who she made sure always had a good view of the proceedings. How right she was. What a wonderful picture, I thought, as the youngsters’Dad stood nearby, like hundreds of others on this special day, keeping mittens on his kids, hoisting them on his shoulders for a better view, keeping them well back, safe from any dangers, but close enough to soak up every bit of the glorious feeling of Christmas, of Santa, a child’s Wonderland un- folding before their eyes. PS. How did you ever get the ping pong table down our chimney? You really are a magician... You’re probably wondering why I'm writing all this Santa. and also why I'm writing so early this year. Well, actually, I'm not writing for myself or my family, I know you'll be good to us as usual. What I am writing about is a special request. You Bee, one of the neat things about the Santa Claus parade is that Canada Post ofrMeials travel the route, picking up letters to you from little children. Well. unfortunately Lauren and her sister didn't know about that, and so they didn't have their letters ready. As you can imagine, when they realized what was happening, it brought a tear to their eyes because they thought you wouldn't get their letter. Of course their concerned Dad assured them they could hand deliver their letter to you when they visited you in person. And I guess what I'm asking is that when Lauren comes to sit on your knee, and hands you her letter, you take good care of it, and let her know that you'll read every word of it. Because after her Daddy, youve the big man in Lauren's life right now, Santa, and I'm betting that will be obvious, in her letter to you. It will be special. I just know it. Because parade-watchers Saturday saw the rirtyt signs of Christmas unfold before their eyes. But what Beth and I saw unfold before our eyes was virtually indescribable Christmas magic, brought our way by darling little Lauren. s" "It's simple,'" declared Beth. "Just further proof that children are the product of their ur?1trintrintr." Her letter will be coming soon, Santa. Be ready, for if it is like its author, the song ofjoy it sings will simply overcome you. Yours truly, Your friend Rick 0' " / t N Ml ' -8EE PAGE 6.