"Roads are important: I just want somewhere to go." - Robert Metcalfe and the Prairie Theatre Exchange

Thursday evening, at the Prairie Theatre Exchange, was the opening night for the play Apple by Vern Thiessen. It is a well acted and sometimes intense play about a woman, Evelyn, who develops breast cancer and a love triangle that develops about the same time as she is diagnosed.

Before the play started, Director Robert Metcalfe talked to the audience about support for the arts - and specifically support from the Winnipeg Arts Council. He talked about the municipal election going on at the moment, and he urged those in attendance to speak to candidates for the positions of Mayor or Councillor to urge support for the Winnipeg Arts Council. Prairie Theatre Exchanges funding through the Winnipeg Arts Council was reduced last year - and as Robert Metcalfe said "Roads are important: I just want somewhere to go."

I have talked a lot about problems with roads on this blog recently. It is indeed important we have provincial and municipal governments which look after roads well. But attracting and keeping young people in Manitoba, and making Manitoba a vibrant province, depends on having strong cultural activities as well as good job opportunities (and support for cultural activities creates job opportunities too).