Representatives and audience members were all smiles as they celebrated improvements to the St. Jacobs Country Playhouse and enjoyed a performance of the Tony-Award winning musical comedy Spamalot on July 19.
“The St. Jacobs Country Playhouse is a year-round visitor destination that contributes greatly to this community and to the local economy,” said Kitchener-Waterloo MP Peter Braid on behalf of infrastructure and intergovernmental affairs minister Denis Lebel “I am pleased to celebrate the improvements to this distinctive venue and I look forward to witnessing the positive impact that these renovations will have for performers and audiences alike.”
“The province is proud to partner with our cultural attractions in recognition of their invaluable contributions that attract, inspire and entertain audiences from within our borders and beyond,” said Kitchener Centre MPP John Milloy. “Providing a stage for our talented artists and actors to perform, ensures a thriving arts and culture sector in Waterloo Region and across Ontario, that is integral to strengthening our tourism industry and supporting innovative jobs for Ontarians.”
“These long-hoped-for upgrades will allow us to increase the technical complexity of our stage productions, thereby enhancing the experience for residents and tourists frequenting the theatre each season,” says Alex Mustakas, artistic director and CEO of Drayton Entertainment.
This initiative is one component of a larger cultural infrastructure project which included the construction of the Dunfield Theatre Cambridge, and the renovation of three other theatres throughout Ontario: the Drayton Festival Theatre, the King’s Wharf Theatre, and the Huron Country Playhouse. Renovations to the St. Jacobs Country Playhouse included the construction of a multi-functional space and fly tower, the upper part of a stage where scenery, drapery and equipment can be suspended and moved out of the audience’s view.
Upgrades have improved the visitor experience and the quality of productions offered at the theatre, boosting tourism in the region and contributing to the local economy. The installation of new equipment is also ensuring an improved experience for theatre artists and crew.
The federal government contributed $534,000 to this project from the Major Infrastructure Component of the Building Canada Fund. Funds went towards the construction of the fly tower and the multi-functional space. The province also contributed $534,000 towards improvements, with Drayton Entertainment responsible for the balance of the total project cost of $1.67 million.
Canadian Heritage has also provided $725,000 through the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund to Drayton Entertainment for the purchase and installation of specialized equipment at the St. Jacobs Country Playhouse and Dunfield Theatre Cambridge to improve technical resources and the efficiency of the facilities.
The Building Canada Fund – Major Infrastructure Component provides funding for infrastructure projects of national and regional significance. Two-thirds of funding, on a national basis, is directed to five national priorities, including drinking water, wastewater, public transit, the core national highway system, and clean energy.
The Canada Cultural Spaces Fund seeks to improve physical conditions for artistic creativity and arts presentation or exhibition. It is also designed to increase access for Canadians to performing, visual, and media arts, and to museum collections and heritage displays.
Canada’s Economic Action Plan 2013 is delivering a New Building Canada Plan to build roads, bridges, subways, commuter rail, and other public infrastructure in cooperation with provinces, territories, and municipalities. Thanks to the Government of Canada’s leadership and our strong economic and financial fundamentals, the Canadian economy has recovered from the global recession better than most other industrialized countries. Canada’s economy has created over a million net new jobs since July 2009. The New Building Canada Plan, combined with other federal infrastructure investments, will support Canada’s infrastructure advantage, a key enabler of economic growth and job creation.
These investments also support Building Together, the Province of Ontario’s long-term infrastructure plan to repair, rebuild and renew the province’s roads and highways, bridges, public transit, schools and postsecondary institutions, hospitals and courthouses. Since 2003, Ontario has invested approximately $85 billion in infrastructure. Building modern, efficient infrastructure has created or preserved close to 100,000 jobs each year, on average, making Ontario’s economy more productive and improving quality of life, now and in the future.
