Public Invited back to Blyth Memorial Community Hall Grand Re-Opening after a $4.2M renovation
Blyth Memorial Community Hall Grand Re-Opens after a $4.2M renovation
The Renovation Committee of the Blyth Memorial Community Hall revitalization project are excited to share the results of three years of work during the Grand Re-Opening of Blyth’s historical gathering space, village Cenotaph and home of the Blyth Festival.
The hall was under renovation for nearly eight months. Audience safety and comfort initiatives include new HVAC, theatre seating, a new commercial kitchen, refurbished stage and upgrades to the lighting grid. The lower hall has been completely transformed by opening up the windows blocked by prior renovations. Electrical, sound and internet services ensure this now world-class facility’s future for a variety of community, family and corporate events; small conferences and our resident theatre Company.
The project architect, Jason Morgan of Allan Avis Architect, and the construction team lead, Kevin Klein-Geltink of SKC Construction, have worked side by side with the renovation committee as they transformed the vision of the committee into a design and now the reality that is being revealed today.
The festivities were MC’d by local philanthropist and community champion Steven Sparling. Addressing the crowd gathered, an exuberant Sparling shared “You and I know that projects like this only succeed when each of us offers time, talent or treasure. Enthusiasm helps too, and around here, we have that by the truckload.”
The Blyth Festival Singers led the singing of the national anthem while the Canadian flag was raised by members of the Royal Canadian Legion. Greetings from major project funders included the Province of Ontario’s Deputy Premier, Deb Matthews, and the Reeve of the Township of North Huron, Neil Vincent. Congratulations were also brought by Huron County Warden Jim Ginn and the Chair of Huron County’s Economic Development Board, Jim Lynn. Project stakeholders including Ric McBurney representing the Royal Canadian Legion and Legion Ladies Auxiliary to Branch 420, Blyth and Artistic Director of the Blyth Festival, Gil Garratt and the Project Director of Blyth Arts & Cultural Initiative, Peter Smith each offered their appreciation for support of the community and the opportunities the facility presents for cultural activity.
The project was funded in part by the Province of Ontario, the Government of Canada and the Township of North Huron along with many private donors including a seat sale in the theatre.
About the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund:
The Canada Cultural Spaces Fund seeks to improve physical conditions for artistic creativity and innovation. It is also designed to increase Canadians’ access to performing arts, visual arts and media arts, and to museum collections and heritage displays. The Fund supports the improvement, renovation and construction of arts and heritage facilities, as well as the acquisition of specialized equipment. http://canada.pch.gc.ca/eng/1455203896312/1455204007503
LOOKING FOR LIVE THEATRE?
Since 1975, the Blyth Festival Theatre has put farmers and rural Canadians centre stage, telling our stories, sharing our history, and celebrating our way of life. A fully professional theatre, in the heart of Ontario’s bread-basket, the Blyth Festival’s ingenuity, tenacity, and creativity has irrevocably reinvigorated the region’s very imagination.