The multiplex concept did not go gently into the dark night. It went kicking, with three members of council fighting for it to the end. Councillors Shannon Adshade and Frank Monteiro, members of the city’s original task force, and Coun. Mike Devine all fought to see the multiplex built.

Adshade lamented that it was “a lost opportunity for the city.” It would have become “a source of pride" for the community and would “unite the city.”

Monteiro concurred, saying, “It should be one building.”

Devine maintained that council should listen to the public, who steadfastly wanted it built in a central location. With new development creating hundreds of homes in the city’s north end, building a multiplex facility on city land in southeast Galt was not a good idea.

Councillors Pam Wolf, Mike Mann and Donna Reid, however, favoured the change.

Wolf stated that although council worked hard to listen to the public, the multiplex is no longer economically feasible.

“This motion makes the best of our situation,” she said. “It allows us to build the arenas we so desperately need, building on land we already own.”

Mann talked about the deplorable state of the city’s arenas and the financial inability to put “everything under one roof.” He pushed to have the Preston arena twinned first and then move forward with addressing the city’s sports facility in stages when the city can afford it.

Reid talked about the new realities faced by the city.

“We are in a very different place than where we were four years ago. We are in a very different place today,” said Reid. “We have to consider the budget and the (impact) it is going to have on our budget. I don’t think we can do a multiplex all at once.”

Mayor Kathryn McGarry also favoured abandoning the multiplex concept, in light of the changing times.

“This will also allow us to reinvest in, and expand our existing facilities, which will mean we will have five new or renovated facilities spread out across Preston, Galt and Hespeler,” she said.

McGarry acknowledged the public feedback from the city’s community engagement survey, which urged council to move forward as quickly as possible.

“I’m very excited that this can move forward, and this decision represents a new chapter for the recreation complex and great news for our city,” she said.