Stelly鈥檚 Secondary School is one step closer to having a state-of-the-art community theatre at its campus with the completion of a feasibility report and architectural drawings revealed this week.
The plan just needs the funds, says a community group making the pitch.
鈥淲e鈥檙e at the stage where we have a brilliant design and viable plan. All we need are the key partners to make this happen,鈥� said Ron Broda, president of the Community Arts Theatre at Stelly鈥檚 non-profit society.
The organization presented the professional feasibility report to local governments and community members this week, along with drawings from local architect Terrence Williams and HCMA Architecture and Design.
鈥淭here are so many benefits for this legacy project,鈥� said Broda, who helped form the society six years ago when his kids were still in high school.
All three of his daughters attended Stelly鈥檚 and were involved in the musical-theatre program. Broda said the program was excellent and had a huge impact on them, but the space 鈥� a multi-purpose room 鈥� always seemed inadequate.
鈥淲e want to provide an environment where we can give our kids a well-rounded education, and arts is a major part of that. The other side is to bring our communities together and benefit from a professional-quality venue,鈥� he said.
His group has spent years fundraising and planning for the project, including public consultations and raising $50,000 for the feasibility report. The report lays out plans for a $24.5-million 650-seat theatre (with a lower-cost 400-seat option) that would be built at the front of the school along Stelly鈥檚 Cross Road.
The group has toured facilities across the Island and Lower Mainland to glean ideas. Broda said he was inspired by theatres in Vancouver that are partnerships between the community and school, including a 1,100-seat professional venue at Sullivan Heights Secondary operated by the Surrey Schools District. 鈥淭he Bell Performing Arts Centre in Surrey blew my mind,鈥� Broda said. 鈥淭he acoustics are so good, the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra recorded there.鈥�
The region needs a modern facility, he said. 鈥淭he Royal and McPherson theatres are aging venues with limits.鈥�
Broda would like to see the Stelly鈥檚 arts theatre funded by angel investors, sponsors or government and operated by a non-profit society in collaboration with the school district to include educational programming.
Jason Reid, secretary-treasurer for the Saanich School District, said the district is excited about the prospect of a new theatre that would benefit both students and the broader community.
鈥淲e have a vibrant performing arts program at Stelly鈥檚 Secondary and our current multi-purpose room does not meet the needs of this great program, due to its design and seating-capacity deficiencies,鈥� he said.
He said the society has done a 鈥渢horough job鈥� of identifying key elements for a community theatre.
鈥淎s long as logistics regarding site location, parking, funding and facility management are addressed, such that the project aligns with other building initiatives currently being explored, we would love to see project move forward.鈥�
Reid noted there are also plans to expand the climbing facility at the school.
