If video truly is the way of the future, things are looking bright for the City of Meadow Lake. During the regular meeting of Meadow Lake city council held Monday (Feb. 24), a motion was carried approving the installation of a complete integrated video system in the Legacy Hall event centre. The event centre will be part of the new Co-op Centre, the arena and recreation facility currently under construction on the city’s east side.

“Quorex Construction has provided a proposal for the supply and installation of video equipment in Legacy Hall,” explained recreation manager Regan Beck in his official recommendation to council. “This is an enhancement to the construction contract and was not originally included. This installation will ensure a superior audio-visual experience for anyone using the space. Benefits include excellent quality display in any level of ambient lighting, good visibility from any location in the room and customer-friendly ease of use of the A/V system controls.”

The system will include a four-panel, 135-inch video wall behind the stage at the west end of the hall, two 75-inch displays on each side wall and a control system integrated with the sound system. “The total net cost to the city, from Quorex’s quote, is $115,540.80 including PST,” Beck continued. “The budgetary effect, as confirmed by Colliers Project Management, is all remaining contingencies and cash allowances will now be fully used with the project’s bottom line increasing by $23,163. The total variance (overage) will increase from $337,451 to $363,614, which is fully covered by the $727,000 buffer allocated in the city’s 2025 capital budget.” Beck went on to note, however, the supplier cautions price increases are expected in the near future, and this price is guaranteed for a short time only as the order deadline is March 5. “Council, administration, the Meadow Lake recreation committee and the Legacy Hall sponsor (Kirt and Terri Prete) have consistently expressed their desire this facility should provide an excellent standard of service to the public, and especially the audio-visual equipment should be of a very high quality,” Beck noted. “At the time the event centre was approved, video equipment was not considered other than a standard LED projector and retractable screen. This proposal provides the opportunity to install the best available equipment with resulting ‘wow factor’ in line with the expectations of the community and council.”

While discussing the proposal, councillor Marty Bishop said, based on the difference to the overall bottom line, it’s a “no-brainer” for the city to have the video wall installed. “The difference between an LED screen and a video projector is hands down,” Bishop said. “If you were to get a projector with the quality of an LED screen, which you probably wouldn’t, you’d have to spend a lot of money.” Bishop also spoke to the other benefits of an LED screen versus a projector and, in response to questions raised by both councillor Connie Marsh-Yuhasz and mayor Merlin Seymour, said a technician would certainly need to be hired to operate the screen when it’s required for various functions held at the event centre.

“You’re going to need an A/V tech, I guarantee you that,” Bishop said. “You can’t let any Joe Blow run it. Every building I’ve been in (with a similar system in place) has had a tech. You’ve got so much integrated through that building, you can’t have just anybody operate it. It’s your building, so you need to look after it.” Bishop also said the city doesn’t necessary have to hire someone with a tech degree to do the job, but suggested there could be someone on staff with the city who is somewhat tech savvy. Beck, meanwhile, said the ideal plan would be to train as many staff on the system as possible to determine who has the aptitude to do it best. “If you do hire a tech, he or she doesn’t need to be full-time – or they could do other IT work for city hall in order to encompass a whole area,” Bishop said. The motion to approve the video wall was made by Bishop, seconded by councillor Conrad Read and subsequently carried.