I met Tommy Douglas only once. It was 1984 in Ottawa, and Tommy was giving a speech to the student body of Carleton University.

I listened to the speech and afterwards I went up to him and asked him to autograph my copy of the Weyburn Review, which had an ad listing for sale the old Calvary Baptist Church building where he first preached. I talked to him about the church and asked him what he wanted done to the old building. He said, "If they save the old building, I don't want it preserved as just a museum to me. I want it to be a useful building."

Tommy was adamant in that demand, and when an opportunity arose to purchase the old church and move it to Signal Hill, a committee was formed for that purpose. The church was turned into the T.C. Douglas Performing Arts Centre. It is a functional building, not just a monument to the past.

I came back to Weyburn and joined Crocus 80 Theatre, and over the year I've come to appreciate the T.C. Douglas Centre. I know and admire the contributions that T.C. Douglas made to our community and province. The T.C. Douglas Centre is the most visible local reminder of his legacy.

It provides rehearsal space for Crocus 80 Theatre, Variations and Octavius choirs, as well as housing many other groups and individuals. The T.C. Douglas Centre also hosts the piano portion of the Weyburn Music Festival, the Royal Conservatory music exams in June, and the Signal Hill Summer Theatre in August.

As a performer, I appreciate the excellent acoustics and the unimpeded sight lines provided in the building. I have grown to treasure this little jewel in the midst of our community. Yet, its existence has always been a bit perilous.

At present, our community is filled with talk of the new performing arts centre, and I know a lot of people may feel that the T.C. Douglas Centre's time has passed. However, there are many people who use the facility, and those who enjoy the performances held there, who may feel the centre is needed more than ever.

It is not necessary to use a large facility for rehearsals of small groups and soloists. The intimate atmosphere of the centre is perfectly suited for small groups and ensembles. You can reach the audience in a small building in ways that are impossible in a larger facility.

We need both a small intimate facility, as well as one that plays host to larger gatherings. Yet a lot of people in this community have never visited the T.C. Douglas Centre. Others are unaware of its past history and its present transformation into a vibrant performing arts centre.

The T.C. Douglas Centre needs your help in order to keep our arts option open. To further that end, we are having two fund-raising concerts on Sunday, Feb. 13. A broad spectrum of the community came together to plan this event, and the result is a variety program that will feature talent from our high school students, community choirs, locally and internationally recognized writers, singers, musicians, actors and musical groups.

The concerts will take place at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the T. C. Douglas Centre, and will feature two entirely different programs, with a Valentine social at intermission.

Tickets are available for $8 each, with free admission for children under six years. They are available from any committee member or by calling Joanne Wormsbecker. Due to limited seating, tickets are available on an advance sale basis only.

We need your help to maintain the legacy that T.C. Douglas left for our community. I invite you to come out to the concerts and show your support for this unique resource in our community. Weyburn does have a place for both a large facility and a smaller, more intimate performing arts centre.

If you can't come out on Feb. 13, you are welcome to make a tax deductible donation at any time to help maintain the T.C. Douglas Centre. Any donations may be mailed to Box 487, Weyburn, Sask., S4H 2K3.