Feds give $1.5M to Ancaster arts centre
Grant is ‘significant’ because it’s one of the largest of its kind in Canada
The Ancaster Memorial Arts Centre is closer to raising its curtain after Hamilton Liberal MP Filomena Tassi announced a $1.5-million grant toward the construction of the $16.5-million facility.
“This will bring Ancaster to the forefront of the arts,” said Tassi, during an event Monday, held inside the former Ancaster Memorial School building that will be transformed into a multiuse arts facility. The money is from the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund.
She said the $1.5 million for Ancaster’s centre from the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund is “significant” since it is one of the largest grants of its kind in the country.
Bob Wilkins, chair of the Ancaster Memorial Arts Centre community fundraising campaign, said the centre will become “our heart and soul” of the community.
“It will be a jewel in the crown of the city of Hamilton,” said Wilkins.
Gord Conroy of Theatre Ancaster, called the announcement “wonderful.”
“We have always dreamed of a 450-seat theatre,” he said. “And now that is a reality.”
The cost of the arts centre has jumped from about $12 million when it was first announced over four years ago to over $16.5 million because of some design issues, said Ancaster Coun. Lloyd Ferguson, who has been championing the creation of the facility.
He said it has forced the city to sell off three extra parcels of land to finance it. The city is already selling a portion of the former school property behind the building to construct 24 residential units for seniors.
But Ferguson said he will also be working with Tassi to encourage the federal government to come up with another $500,000.
The community fundraising campaign has netted about $3.6 million so far, surpassing its original $3-million goal. The Ontario government provided $3 million, while the city has contributed $8 million, plus $2.6 million to purchase the property from the public school board four years ago.
Ferguson said he remained “confident” the federal government will provide the additional money.
“I’m still working with Tassi,” he said. “This is a huge start. We are so grateful (for the money).”
The Liberal MP said she is “looking at other avenues” to help fund the facility.
“I continue to support this project,” said Tassi.
Ferguson also cautioned about potential higher construction costs because of higher steel tariffs. He said recent projects in the Hamilton area have seen their budgets jump because of the added material costs.
He said the city will be issuing tenders in October and then “we will find out what it will really cost. The true test will be the tender.”
Ferguson said the zoning for the property has been completed, the site plan is underway and the building permit has been submitted to the city. The final report on the project could be before the new council in either
December or January of next year, he said.
Despite the potential for added expenses, Lukas Keermaa, project manager for the arts centre, said the archeological digging is expected to be completed in about two weeks. He said about a “couple thousand” artifacts have been found and plans are underway to store them.
Ferguson said there is “no showstopper” archeological artifacts to impact the facility’s construction.
Ferguson suggested a future location for some of the artifacts could be at Fieldcote Memorial Park and Museum.