The Vale Regional Community Centre is now officially the Thompson Regional Community Centre once again.

City Council voted on a resolution at Tuesday evenings City Council meeting that would have seen Vale granted naming rights to the facility until 2021. Vale would have contributed an additional $50,000 dollars towards the City had the resolution passed.

The argument from the councilors’ who voted in favour of the resolution was that the centre would not have happened without the contribution of Vale. Councillor Penny Byer spoke in favour of the resolution, saying that Vale contributed $3,000,000 to the project, which was well above what the city had asked for. Byer added that Vale’s name on the building was a small thing to thank Vale for all they do for the city.

Deputy Mayor Valentino also spoke in favour of the resolution, saying that the corporate naming of facilities is the standard practice for municipal facilities across Manitoba. She gave examples of Credit Union Place in Dauphin and the Keystone Centre in Brandon. She also added that the facility would not have been possible without the help from Vale.

Councillor Judy Kolada voted against the resolution, saying that the name should be kept as the Thompson regional centre, since a lot of taxpayer money went into the facility. She added that Vale should be recognized for their contribution, but that recognition shouldn’t be more than their name on a boardroom or other room inside the facility.

Councillor Dennis Foley also spoke against the resolution, saying that he had thought long and hard about it, and had decided that he believes the name should be the Thompson Regional Community Centre. After a lengthy debate, Foley put forward a motion to table the discussion so the proper information could be given to all councilors. His motion was defeated.

Councillor Wong also spoke against the resolution, saying that the name change to the Vale Regional Community Centre was illegal.

The resolution was defeated, as the vote was 4-4 and a majority is needed to pass a resolution. Councilors Byer, Ellis, Smook and Deputy Mayor Valentino voted in favour, while Councilors Foley, Wong, Matechuk and Kolada voted against.

Deputy Mayor Kathy Valentino was sitting in the Mayor’s seat for the vote, as Mayor Fenske had recused himself due to conflict of interest.