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Volume 8, Issue 38
Wednesday, October 18, 2017
68TH ANNIVERSARY
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Big Reveal for The Bank Theatre
By Bryan Jessop An innovative and modern design concept wasn’t the only pleasant surprise unveiled at The Bank Theatre over the weekend. Simply dubbed “The Big Reveal,” a special event at The Bank Theatre and Meeting Place offered guests not only a sneak peek at the local entertainment hub’s future appearance both inside and out, but also a significant showing of support from the municipal level. Moments after special guest Joe Passa of Passa Associates Architects publicized both interior and exterior concepts for The Bank Theatre, members of Leamington council and administration took to the stage to announce an investment initiative that could translate into a $400,000 contribution to help complete the ongoing fundraising drive to renovate the former Bank of Montreal site. Leamington mayor John Paterson, accompanied by deputy mayor Hilda MacDonald, councilors Bill Dunn, John Hammond, Tim Wilkinson and CAO Peter Neufeld, explained to The Big Reveal’s sold out crowd of 125 guests that plans for a dollar-to-dollar match program are in place to further support The Bank Theatre community project with funding up to $400,000. That amount would represent a third of the estimated $1.2 million in fundraising that must still be done in order to complete the facility’s restoration and transformation. “The arts are really underfunded compared to sports,” said Paterson while noting that the impending match contributions will not
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affect tax dollars. “It hasn’t gone unnoticed and I believe we have taken the focus that this is important to our community.” The mayor went on to explain that council has submitted a request to administration for a report on how to establish a fund for supporting future Bank Theatre construction and upgrades. “We know this is going to be good for the town as a whole, we know this is going to be good for the uptown core,” Paterson explained. “We’re really looking forward to seeing this completed.” The event was led by Bank Theatre board of directors member and building
“We know this is going to be good for the town as a whole, we know this is going to be good for the uptown core. We’re really looking forward to seeing this completed.” — John Paterson committee co-chair Dennis Dick as emcee, introducing guest speakers including Paterson, Neufeld, Passa, Bank Theatre president Ursula Tiessen, Chatham-Kent Essex MPP and critic for tourism, culture and sport Rick Nicholls, ChathamKent Leamington MP Dave Van Kesteren and special guest performer Tina Morgan. The 125 tickets to the event — representing the theatre’s current maximum seating capacity — sold at $60 apiece and included an appetizer and beverage sampling social gathering prior to announcements and presentations.
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Passa explained that the nautically-themed interior design chosen for The Bank Theatre was inspired by Leamington’s proximity to Lake Erie, noting that acoustic panels to hang above the theatre’s seating area will resemble the ‘bones’ of a ship. “If you look up the actual shipwrecks on the Great Lakes, there’s 2,000 of them — 250 right here on the Point Pelee passage right around Leamington,” Passa said. “We wanted to bring in that kind of theme.” “It’s been a really difficult last month for our building committee and board to have kept this a secret,” said Dick following Passa’s presentation. “It’s just a phenomenal look that Joe and his team have created.” The Bank Theatre community project began about seven years ago and was bolstered further about a year and a half ago with a Canada 150 grant that assisted with construction work on the front lobby space and ticket booth entrance. “There’s still work to be done both downstairs and upstairs and we hope to be
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The Bank Theatre and Meeting Place president Ursula Tiessen addresses a sold out crowd of 125 guests to the Saturday, Oct. 14 Big Reveal, held on site at 10 Erie St. South in Leamington. During the event, Leamington municipal council revealed a plan to match future donations dollar-for-dollar up to a maximum of $400,000. (SUN Photo)
able to do both,” said Tiessen. “Our hope is that we’ll have a beautiful art and performance centre for the community when all is said and done.” Tiessen noted that without presently having the money in place, a completion date for the ongoing project has not yet been established. She did however
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note that naming rights opportunities — with signage on the building’s walls — will soon be available as a chance for businesses, groups and individuals to invest in the community. “There are a few ways it could be done,” Tiessen explained. “There are different options available. The idea is still pretty fresh.”
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