Evergreen Theatre gets expansion funds
A long-anticipated addition to Evergreen Theatre in East Margaretsville received financial support June 28, and on June 29 construction was supposed to begin.
West Nova Member of Parliament Colin Fraser took to the stage at the little mountain-top venue just before an 8 p.m. concert to announce $100,125 in funding through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.
Nova Scotia’s Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage added $50,000 to the project, and Annapolis County Counc. John Macdonald presented theatre manager David O’leary with a cheque for $20,000.
The funding, in addition to the generosity of many private donors and individuals, will allow for the construction of new washrooms, dressing rooms, as well as a lobby and a café at Evergreen Theatre.
This project is being partly funded through the Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program (CIP 150). Funding in Atlantic Canada is delivered through ACOA. These investments, to honour Canada’s 150th anniversary of Confederation, help create jobs, boost economic activity, strengthen communities and celebrate Canada’s rich heritage and history, ACOA said in a media release.
“The Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program allows the government of Canada to follow through on its promise to renovate, expand, and improve existing community and cultural infrastructure,” said Fraser. “The expansion of the Evergreen Theatre will improve its ability to attract talent to the region, draw larger audiences, and help drive economic activity.”
“Evergreen Theatre is an important part of the cultural fabric of this community and our province,” said Stephen Mcneil, premier and MLA for Annapolis. “It has been a home to the performing arts for 16 years and this project will help build on that success. Investing in community infrastructure is a priority for the provincial government because we know it helps keep communities together and makes them stronger.”