Amongst a number of federal grants to his riding, Denis Paradis announced one in Town of Brome Lake and another in East Bolton.
TBL theatre expansion reflects artistic reality
Brome Lake Theatre will be open year round. The announcement came following a $280,000 donation from the Federal Government to help with the renovations to the new lobby at the theatre.
“The expansion of the theatre reflects the artistic reality of our region,” said Denis Paradis, the federal Member of Parliament for Brome Missisquoi. “There are more artists per square metre, anglophone and francophone, living in our region than anywhere else in Quebec.”
The total cost of the expansion is $680,000. The $280,000 Federal grant came from the Canadian Cultural Spaces Fund. The rest of the money was raised locally by private donations.
The biggest change in the theatre is a dramatic new lobby, complete with washrooms, and a further winterization of the building so it can operate year round. It will be unique, one of the few live theatres open all year outside large metropolitan areas.
“Our new season will start in May and then the theatre will be open year round,” says Nancy Pelletier, the new Artistic Administrator at the theater. “We will be able to offer programs in English and French, in particular for school children. We can also offer programs with local restaurants and inns for special theatre programs.”
Ms. Pelletier started work in February, and her job was financed by a one-time $50,000 grant from the Town of Brome Lake.
“We know that the expansion of the theatre is going to be a real draw for tourism, because it will be open year round. It will appeal to anglophones and francophones,” said Mayor Richard Burcombe who was present for the announcement.
Until a few years ago the theatre ran only English plays and musicals in a short summer season. It now runs English and French productions, which will expand now that the theatre will be open all year.
“The theatre is going to be a bilingual cultural center,” says the president of the Theatre Lac Brome, Hélène Jalbert. “Along with live theatre we are going to have movies, concerts, perhaps even ballet. It will be a truly unique venue.”
Federal grant to an East Bolton association
L’Association pour la préservation du patrimoine bâti de Bolton-Est was the recipient of a $10,000 donation to preserve the heritage of Lt. Col. George Harold Baker.
Lt. Col. Baker was the only sitting member of Parliament to be killed in action during the First World War.
Image caption: TBL Mayor Richard Burcombe; Nancy Pelletier, Artistic Administrator, Theatre Lac Brome; Denis Paradis, federal Member of Parliament, Brome-Missisquoi