Local group envisions a world-class arts and entertainment centre in Collingwood
by Judy Ross
photography by Jessica Crandlemire
If we could peer into the future, how will Collingwood look in 20 years? If predictions bear out, the population will be about 40,000; many more residential developments will be in place; there will be more hotels, restaurants and shops; the grain terminals may or may not be our waterfront landmark. It will be a different town. There will still be sporting activities like hockey. But what about the arts? Could the town become known near and far as the epicentre of arts, culture and entertainment in Southern Georgian Bay?
That’s the hope of a group of local citizens who want to build a sparkling new arts centre in Collingwood, a multi-use cultural facility that will support local talent and attract world-class artists.
The vision calls for a large theatre with a professional-sized stage and state-of-the-art sound and lighting equipment. Ideally, the showcase theatre would be designed to be flexible, able to morph from a 250-seat space to a large 600-seat auditorium. Other aspects of the facility could include rehearsal and educational spaces; gallery space for art shows, speakers’ series and receptions; retail space; food and beverage outlets; and outdoor gathering and performance spaces.
The idea arose a couple of years ago when local resident John Wiggins proposed tearing down the Collingwood Terminals building and erecting a performing arts centre on that site. Wiggins’ concept got the ball rolling, but the consensus now is that another site must be found. CACE, which stands for Collingwood Arts, Culture & Entertainment, is the name of the grassroots community action group dedicated to seeing this dream come true.
“The key for us right now is to get major support in the community,” says Donald Brommet, one of 10 board members who have been working since May 2019 to make the arts centre a reality. “We also need to get the various arts groups behind this. So far, we have identified over 20 groups, all of whom will benefit from an arts centre like this.”
Collingwood is sadly lacking in auditorium space. Many local organizations such as children’s theatre and dance groups, choirs and musical troupes have no facilities in which to hold rehearsals and recitals, requiring them to travel to other towns to hold their performances.
Collingwood’s largest venue is the New Life Church on Tracey Lane and Hurontario Street, which can seat about 400 people. Used by various performing arts groups and the Collingwood Summer Music Festival, it is also home to the Georgian Triangle Lifelong Learning Institute (GTLLI). On Friday mornings both the church and the parking lot are packed for these university-level lectures, one example of our need for larger facilities.
Daniel Wnukowski, organizer of the Summer Music Festival, which had its inaugural season last year and will be back again this year, said while the New Life Church is a good venue, it has its limitations.
The key for us right now is to get major support in the community. We also need to get the various arts groups behind this. So far, we have identified over 20 groups, all of whom will benefit from an arts centre like this.
“During our earth-shattering opening concert in 2019, which featured 65 musicians on stage, we realized the limitations of providing our patrons with the ‘full’ concert experience. Although everyone who witnessed the event remarked that they experienced a ‘Roy Thomson Hall’ quality of performance that night, we could barely fit all the performers on stage – in fact, the timpanist was bumped off-stage with his kettledrums and played from the front row of the audience,” said Wnukowski. “We also had to order special lighting in order to light up the backstage performers and to allow those musicians to see their music. There are many other smaller issues that pop up from time to time involving acoustics, numbered seating and the ability to serve alcohol during gala events or roll the piano off-stage.
“A professional concert hall solves all of these issues and would effectively put Collingwood right on the map as a top destination for world-class music performances – for both visitors and residents alike.”
Himself a concert pianist who plays the finest venues around the globe, Wnukowski says he’d love to see a modern purpose-built facility in Collingwood.
“A performing arts centre in Collingwood would quickly become a nurturing, creative hub that showcases talent of all sorts, from drama to the fine arts. It will stimulate the local economy and provide Collingwood with a greater sense of communal integration and purpose. In other words, a first-time visitor or long-term resident can navigate through the streets of downtown Collingwood and proudly say ‘I love this town!’ ”
Another strong supporter of the plan is Erica Angus, executive director of Theatre Collingwood, which is currently mounting its productions at several venues across the region after its 15-year relationship with the Gayety Theatre came to an end. Angus says a large, dedicated and fully accessible arts centre with state-of-the-art staging, lighting, sound and amenities is exactly what Theatre Collingwood needs.
“Ideally I would like to see it be a space that could be used by different artists and different groups, for smaller as well as larger events,” she says. “It blows my mind how many artists in various forms of art are in this area, and wouldn’t it be great if there could be some sort of facility that would facilitate those artists and also be a great economic driver for the community.
“We bring in some coach tour groups, but if we had something that was really a draw, we could attract so many more groups to come in, and when they come they want to go for lunch, they want to go shopping and they often want to stay over. There’s a lot of economic benefit. It’s a win-win.”
Dean Collver, Collingwood’s director of parks, recreation and culture (PRC), says CACE first approached the town in late 2019. “We were pleased to know that a group of like-minded community members was forming,” he says. “While PRC and the town have always been heavily invested in culture and the arts, and have been working with creators and arts organizations for years, it is always helpful when a group based on consensus comes forward to represent a collaborative voice of interest.”
The town recently approved the budget for a feasibility study and expects to be putting out a request for proposals on the study this spring. “We look forward to CACE’s participation, alongside the broader community, in the upcoming feasibility study,” says Collver.
Thomas Vincent, another of the moving forces behind CACE, says the concept of a dedicated arts centre will need strong community support to move forward. “I think the town council is aware that Collingwood is becoming more than a hockey town, and we need to show all levels of government that there’s strong support in the community,” says Vincent, adding, “This arts centre is for the future, for our kids and grandkids.” ❧
To learn more about the CACE project, visit collingwoodarts.com
