The Gallagher Centre will be keeping its name, at least for another decade.
At the regular meeting of Yorkton Council Monday it was announced George Gallagher has agreed to maintain his naming rights sponsorship with a donation of $500,000 over the next ten years “ensures the multipurpose centre will continue to carry the family name to 2025.
Gallagher had provided an initial sponsorship of $500,000 to the community facility in September 2005 for a ten year period, during which the centre gave his name. The facility opened officially September 16, 2006, explained City Councillor Randy Goulden Monday.
“Yorkton is the community where our parents met, married and raised six children. Dad was able to run a successful business that was highly supported by the citizens of this community and surrounding areas. Our parents are honoured to give back to the City of Yorkton,” said Gallagher’s daughter Shauna Loy in a prepared release also circulated at the meeting.
The new sponsorship agreement ensures the facility will continue to be known as the Gallagher Centre for a further ten years,” said Mayor Bob Maloney in the release. “We are incredibly grateful to George for continuing to sponsor our community and our destination recreational, sporting and conference centre,” he said. “We are very proud of the Gallagher legacy in Yorkton and the Gallagher Centre as a major tourism draw for the city.”
Goulden explained Gallagher had a long term relationship with the community before moving away in retirement.
“George started working with CJGX in Yorkton as the morning man in 1947. In 1966, he and senior staff members Ed Laurence and Merv Phillips purchased the station. George was manager of the purchasing company at that time and later became President of Yorkton Broadcasting Co. Ltd., the corporate owner of the station,” she said.
“In 1981, construction began on Broadcast Place at the corner of Smith Street and Seventh Avenue, the current home for CJGX in Yorkton.
“In 1989, George became sole owner of the station, maintaining control until 2004 when he sold his remaining voting shares in the company. CJGX marked 80 years on the air in 2007, and George noted at that time that he had been involved with the station for 56 of its 80 years.”
