The name Colleen Weimer will be known by many future generations of students at the Weyburn Comprehensive School, as well as by the performers and patrons of the forthcoming facility known currently as the Triple C Centre. An anonymous donation of $500,000 to the Triple C has been recently contributed, conditional upon Colleen Weimer's acceptance of the naming of the commons area in her honour. On January 6, Weimer graciously accepted the naming of the commons, which will be called Colleen Weimer Hall.
"This donor is honouring a well-known, loved and respected member of our community," said Isabelle Butters, Triple C Fundraising Committee chair. "This woman has gone above and beyond the call of duty in sharing her musical talents in Weyburn."
In partnership with the City of Weyburn and Southeast Cornerstone School Division, the new construction on the north side of the high school and the extensive renovations to the existing building should be completed by the summer of 2013 with phase 1 being completed this summer.
The Convention-Culture-Community Centre will bring to Weyburn a 900-seat theatre with retractable sloped seating, enhanced state-of-the-art stage area, direct access to the Auditorium, a 700-seat banquet space, as well as an enlarged second gymnasium.
"Weyburn so deserves this new arts facility," said Colleen Weimer. "There are so many people in this community who believe in the importance of the performing arts and have done so much to promote it. It will be a facility to be enjoyed by all."
Weimer expressed genuine humility about the naming of the commons, considering it a collective honour.
"I hope that when former students see the name on the 'hall' that they know that each one of them is a part of it also," she said. "Everyone who has put time into making a musical or a concert happen has a part in this namesake. I share it with everyone in my family who has always been so supportive of what I do and I share it with every single person I have had the privilege to work with, in the school and in the community."
Colleen Weimer has been a music teacher for 28 years in the public elementary schools and currently teaches grades 1 through 6 at Haig and Assiniboia Park. For the past 11 years she has been the Choral Director at Weyburn Comprehensive School. This year, more than fifty per cent of the school population belongs to a Choral group, which totals approximately 260 students. Weimer leads grades 10 through 12 in a number of musical performances throughout the school year.
Weimer has also tirelessly served as a director for various choirs. She leads the Grace United Choir, organizes music and volunteers during the United Way Communithon and also serves a number of other community musical events.
Ever since she was a little girl, Colleen Weimer always wanted to be a teacher.
"The music thing just kind of evolved," she said. "I still remember the day my dad brought a piano into our home and it was the biggest thrill ever."
Weimer had plenty of positive musical influences while she was growing up.
"I loved singing and taking piano lessons with Mrs. Mary McLaughlin in Lewvan and I loved singing with Mrs. Diane Schneider in Colfax school," recalled Weimer. "When I came to school in Weyburn I was hugely influenced by my music directors, Larry Balog and Lyle Johnson. I think the biggest thing I got from them was their passion and love for music and how much they seemed to love what they were sharing."
Other gifted musicians who influenced Weimer are Helen Davidson and June Barber.
"I have learned so much about the art and finesse of music from June Barber, as she taught my children piano lessons for many years," said Weimer.
By naming the commons for a teacher who is still at the height of her career, the anonymous donor has done the community of Weyburn a great honour, because the Triple C is that much closer to its fundraising goal of $3.5 million. With this recent contribution, the Centre's fundraising efforts have reached beyond $2 million. According to Isabelle Butters, naming rights for the Centre are now being sold for $1 million.
No matter what the greater facility will be named, the vision for a performing arts centre in Weyburn has been fostered into fruition by a long line of patrons, performers and patient teachers who sought to inspire their students the way their teachers did for them.
"Life is about paying it forward and I think that's all I have done," said Weimer. "Passing on a love for doing something you enjoy doing."
