After all, who wants to see the town’s most historic building sitting empty year after year? Especially when it holds potential to once again play an important role in the community.
Some, including this corner, have lobbied for its transformation into the next home of the Colchester East Hants Regional Library, a stance that we maintain still holds much merit.
But a strong case can also be made for the construction of a new library in the downtown core and if local municipalities eventually follow this route other options must be considered if Normal College is to enjoy any kind of renaissance.
One such option surfaced in the past week when Truro-Bible Hill MLA Lenore Zann resurrected her dream of the 135-year-old grande dame of local architecture becoming a home for dance and performing arts.
This time, however, the vision took a tiny step forward with Zann bringing Bengt Jorgen, of Toronto-based Ballet Jorgen, into the facility for a tour in hopes of making it a Nova Scotia home for his dance company.
During this visit Jorgen spoke with Truro Mayor Bill Mills, Margot Begin-Gillis from the Truro Dance Academy, Nova Scotia Community College Truro campus principal Kevin Quinlan, as well as representatives from the province’s Department of Community Services, affordable housing.
Zann has also spoken with the community services deputy minister about the possibility of including some affordable housing for Normal College in the form of lofts of studios.
It’s all pie-in-the-sky stuff at the moment and
it’s understood that not everyone in Colchester County cares a hoot about dance academies and such. Just like some don’t care about lawn bowling and community centres. Sometimes we wonder what some people do care about.
We’d also like to know who pays for what before offering any kind of endorsement.
But any idea that breathes life into Normal College is an idea that we believe is worth looking into.
After all, it beats the status quo.
