The work continues on a new management and operating agreement between the city and the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium.

The facility has been at arms length with Thunder Bay for the last 36 years, and General Manager Bob Halvorsen tells Acadia News that both sides will take the year to negotiate and update the paperwork going forward.

“There are things in there that don’t reflect current realities, things that have changed (since the mid-80’s)” Halvorsen explained. “Obviously there are going to be some points that may become contentious, but I’m pretty sure that things can be worked out, they always have been.”

Halvorsen added when it comes to the 2022 Budget, the Auditorium funds are covered through the Cultural and Recreational Program which totals $740,000.

The Auditorium have had their doors closed since January 3rd when Ontario moved back to a modified Step Two in the Roadmap To Reopen.

That came on the heels of the suspension of ticket sales for upcoming shows on December 16th.

“We had the most shows on sale ever with probably a dozen shows in 2022,” a disappointed Halvorsen noted. “Some of them are now moving again, which is a little disheartening, but I think that with this latest round of the pandemic that it’s going to be over soon. All indications are from what the scientists are saying is that this is going to be a short lived spike and we’re going to get on the other side of this. You really don’t want to think of the alternative so I really got to be hopeful.”

The latest restrictions are in place until at least Thursday, January 27th, subject to trends in public health.