Exeunt the Congress Centre As Was - I

[dewline]

Exeunt the Congress Centre As Was - I
Originally uploaded by dwight_ew

The second comics convention I ever attended was held in this building.

Not so oddly, the shopping mall it was attached to is still in business.

Comments

[mencc1701.livejournal.com]

I'm looking forwards to seeing the new Congress Centre. The old one was pretty inadequate, all things considered.

[dewline.livejournal.com]

It held up pretty well for about three decades, though, right?

[mencc1701.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but for a city of our size and relative importance, it was dreadfully undersized to serve as our primary convention centre.

[dewline.livejournal.com]

So do we stand a better chance of hosting a Big SF-oriented event once the new digs are built?

[mencc1701.livejournal.com]

I think we'll stand a bigger chance of hosting big-anything oriented events once it goes up.

[dewline.livejournal.com]

One thing I'd been hearing on Radio One last year - or maybe on the web somewheres - was of the lack of facilities capable of hosting mid-size conventions. Apparently, one of our big issues was that we can handle either relatively small events or Really Big Deals(like political parties' conventions), but not much in-between. It was one of the factors that finally brought a halt to C-ACE a couple of years back, if memory serves.

A rebuilt and expanded Congress Centre may risk perpetuating that situation.

No?

[mencc1701.livejournal.com]

I suppose, but that's hardly the fault of the Congress Centre, if you ask me. I mean, it is supposed to be our marquee convention centre, so I don't think it can really be blamed for not creating mid-sized facilities.

[duncanmac.livejournal.com]

You're one of the very few people to still use Shakespearean English. :-)

As for the "shopping mall it was attached to," said mall took a beating due to the 51-day bus strike. If things don't pick up soon, many if not most of its merchants soon will close for good and all the business will go to the 'burbs. :-(

[dewline.livejournal.com]

Thanks. There's still the occasional ancient word in those plays that I like to keep in active usage every now and again, for my own amusement. Pleased I am indeed that others also find it entertaining!

As to the Rideau Centre, I take some comfort from this news: Apple's Canadian website recently posted openings in its "Help Wanted" section. Several of those openings are for one of their "house" stores. Said store will be opening this summer.

In the Rideau Centre.