By Michelle Forbes 

Centre 64 has long been the centre of the arts in Kimberley, showcasing local artists, offering a space for children’s dance classes and concerts, offering art classes, and staging plays and events. One of the longstanding issues has been accessibility. The theatre is currently only accessible by stairs, making it inaccessible for those with mobility issues.

On the afternoon of March 29, volunteers, organizers, and representatives from Kimberley City Hall, the Kimberley Arts Council and contractors from New Dawn Developments, came together with members of the public and community groups, to break ground on an elevator which will be built on the outside of the building, to enable a dream of an accessible Centre 64 for all. Six red-ribboned shovels sat waiting to break ground as the crowd gathered outside.

Former Kimberley Arts President Mike Redfern welcomed the crowd gathered outside Centre 64, including representatives from city hall; contractors from New Dawn Development, the contracting company who will be working to make the elevator a reality; Lennon Delaney, newly elected President of the Arts Council; Caprice Hogg, honorary Chair for the campaign; Dennis Bathery, leading volunteer on the project; and Carol Fergus, the initiator of the project, and the one who made this project a reality.

Redfern called on various representatives to speak to the crowd. Lennan Delaney, Arts Council President, addressed the crowd, saying, “Centre 64 has been a cornerstone in the community,” and that the accessibility added by the elevator will be a “game changer” that will allow everyone access to all available events and facilities at Centre 64, a welcome change for those with limited mobility.

The fundraising has been a long process of applying for grants and holding fundraising events. The two largest grants are a $75,000 grant for Cultural Spaces from Heritage Canada, and a $60,000 grant from B.C. Gaming Association.

Additional grants, including an in-kind grant from the City of Kimberley, and fundraising from Have Camera will Travel, Give us a Lift Campaign, and also business sponsors, Cover Architectural Collaborative Ltd, New Dawn Construction Ltd., Roberts Elevators and Lifts, and dozens of community groups, choirs, and community businesses and individuals, came together to make this project possible.

The goal of raising $25,000 from the community was surpassed, as donations topped over $30,000. The Arts Council is continuing fundraising, and accepting donations to cover any unforeseen costs that may arise, and anyone interested in donating to the ‘Give us a Lift’ campaign is encouraged to contact Carol Fergus by e-mail at [email protected], or drop by Centre 64. All donations are tax deductible.

The first phase of construction will be the completion of the lift shaft, and is expected to be completed by June. After the shaft is built, the company, Roberts Elevators and Lifts, will build the lift to the exact specifications of the shaft, and expectations are that the entire project will be completed by September 2018.

The ground-breaking ceremony and speeches were followed by a reception at Centre 64’s art gallery, where the guests celebrated all the hard work that has gone into raising the funds to make Centre 64 truly accessible to all, as they look forward to the beginning of a new chapter in its continuing legacy in Kimberley’s community.

Photos by Michelle Forbes

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