The Abbotsford Downtown Business Association (ADBA) is excited to announce the signing of a lease agreement for the Centennial Library Building between the ADBA and the City of Abbotsford.
“The stewardship of the Centennial Library building by the ADBA will not only relieve the City of ongoing
maintenance and costs associated with the improving the building, but it will also serve to revitalize a historic
building and restore Jubilee Park to the jewel it once was,” said Mayor Bruce Banman. “In addition to the
revitalization of the Centennial Library and Jubilee Park, much needed additional space will be made
available to community groups at no cost to the City and at low costs to user groups.”
While making every effort to maintain the integrity of the historic value of the building, the ADBA will
immediately begin plans to rejuvenate this wonderful landmark, the Centennial Library Building, and Jubilee
Park in Historic Downtown Abbotsford.
“On behalf of the Board of Directors of the ADBA, I am very excited to be moving forward with this project
alongside the Abbotsford Arts Council. The rejuvenation of the Centennial Library Building and Jubilee Park
will bring the vibrancy of arts, heritage and culture into the City’s Downtown.” said Tina Stewart, Executive
Director ADBA. “This agreement, allowing the ADBA to maintain and utilize the building, will permit us to
create a community hub that will benefit the community of Abbotsford as a whole.”
The Centennial Library Building, once having an uncertain future, now has a future bright and full of Arts &
Culture. Along with the ADBA’s office, the Abbotsford Arts Council’s gallery and boutique will make the
building their home. Plenty of meeting and activity spaces will also be available to community groups at
reduced rates.
“The Abbotsford Arts Council is thrilled to work with the Abbotsford Downtown Business Association in
creating an Arts & Cultural Centre for the City of Abbotsford. This historic building has been the center of our
community for many years and with this agreement, will continue to be so.” says Charles Wiebe of the
Abbotsford Arts Council President.
Although this may speak volumes for the ADBA and their membership, it certainly flies in the face of a small, often forgotten, group of people, the disabled.
Unless major renovations are made to the entrances to this building, we, the disabled, will be denied access to and movement throughout it.
The ADBA is very unfriendly towards those of us who are disabled. If they were truly interested in our business they would, or should, insist that ALL of their members make their establishments truly “user friendly” not only to the able bodied but also to the disabled.
Once again, the City of Abbotsford and the Abbotsford Downtown Business Association (ADBA) have shown how discriminatory they truly are against a small minority of the population of Abbotsford.
Need I say more?