The Royal Inland Hospital Foundation says a performing arts centre would help recruit doctors to the area.

CEO Heidi Coleman says the facility would make Kamloops more well-rounded for its amenities.

“One of the things that a lawyer said to me was when he was talking to another lawyer about moving, they said they’re going to move from Vancouver to Kelowna because it has all the amenities,” Coleman says.

“They’re not considering Kamloops because they think they’re missing something here, so a performing arts centre would fill that gap.

“Yes, we’ve got the ski hills, yes we’ve got a wonderful city. We’ve got exercise and mountains and all that. But one of the things that is difficult is we have a great theatre here, we’ve got a beautiful symphony and a wonderful gallery, but it’s time for the city to grow.”

Coleman says workers are attracted to regions by the people, culture and activities in an area.

Designs for a performing arts centre were pitched at Kamloops council yesterday by local businessman Ron Fawcett, which offered a 103,000-square-foot facility with three theatres in the city’s downtown.