Bandshell in design phase

The design phase of the proposed bandshell for downtown Glace Bay is underway.

“We are talking to a couple of businesses to determine the costing of the project,” said bayitforward vice chair Dave MacKeigan. “We are hoping it will be all confirmed shortly.”

Fundraising for the project is continuing although the amount of money needed won’t be known until a design is in place.

“It’s not going to be huge, it will be a basic bandshell to fit this space, where we can bring in local talent,” he said.

“We threw $200,000 out there but we don’t know. There’s a lot of landscaping that’s going to have to be done and that’s quite expensive.”

Once the cost has been determined application will be made for provincial and federal funding, he added.

The group does not plan to ask the cash-strapped Cape Breton Regional Municipality for funding. The municipality has provided the land near Town House for the bandshell.

MacKeigan has wanted a bandshell built on Commercial Street since the one at Queen Elizabeth Park burned down in August 2014.

Bayitforward has taken on the project as part of the plan to rejuvenate the downtown core.

MacKeigan hopes the bandshell will bring local residents as well as tourists downtown.

“The (Cape Breton) Miners’ Museum is the number one reason for tourists coming in (from) cruise ships. We want to be able to capture that and grow on it but we also want to keep them in Glace Bay longer to spend money at Glace Bay businesses.”