Convention Corner's coming down. That's from Portage Regional Economic Development (PRED) executive director Vern May.

"We had a discussion at the PRED board yesterday (Thursday, March 16) related to Convention Corner," explains May. "And really, what it comes down to is, the idea of Convention Corner and the concept that was pursued when that space was developed was a good idea. It was a great idea. Unfortunately, it under-delivered."

Vern MayHe says not only that, but PRED's about economic development, not community development. May notes the Portage Community Revitalization Corporation, Portage Chamber and the Glesby Centre are about community development and events-oriented projects. He adds the mandate of PRED's being refocused to deal with our economy and attracting investment.

May says a lot of consultation was made with various community organizations before the decision was made in case another group was interested in developing something there. As it turned out, May notes, nobody was interested.

At the same time, he says, PRED doesn't want to gloss over the fact that many volunteers from the community spent their time and energy on creating Convention Corner. He says he explained the rationale for this change of directions to the groups who volunteered, and reassured them a different result could have been possible under different circumstances, but PRED felt it was the right move for this time.

The space should be vacant by the long weekend in May.