Federal funds will pay for upgrades to the Sagebrush and Pavilion Theatres in Kamloops.
Standing in for Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly – Minister of Transport Marc Garneau says the $188,000 investment comes from a $300-million-dollar fund created in the 2016 budget for cultural infrastructure.
“I know how hard it is sometimes to raise the money to pay for some of the activities that are involved in the cultural world and so this is a way the Government of Canada to show that it cares about these activities.”
Evan Klassen is the Managing Director of Western Canada Theatre – the company that operates both venues.
He says upgrades to the Sagebrush include new emergency exit doors, lighting fixtures, carpeting and rigging.
“Our spaces are very busy. We’ve only just been able to complete the carpeting here in the lobby (at the Sagebrush) but over the summer we’ll be able to get through the rest of these projects both here and over at the Pavilion.”
He calls the funding a “game changer” for both theatres.