The occasion was an open house on the multiple purpose recreation centre &151; a chance for folks to tell the planners, and architects what they'd like to see included in the better than 24 million dollar facility.

The response took even the most optimistic by surprize. They ran out of questionaires 3 times, and by the time the event ended about 500 completed questionnaires had been turned in. More of the questionnaires are being handed out, from the information desk at City hall.

Part of the interest in the Multiplex Open House was generated by soccer parents in the city. Soccer reps took out ads urging those with an interest in the sport, that takes in more kids than any other sport here, to include the need for an indoor soccer centre, in the questionnaires being made available at the open house.

Soccer is usually played in school gyms around the city, but with a steadily trising stream of kids wanting to get nvolved, organizers are saying it's time to free up the school gyms for other events, and plan for a space that's usable for indoor soccer in the new multiplex.

It certainly looks like the soccer fans answered the call, and turned out en masse.