For nearly four decades, the Confederation Centre of the Arts has acted as a proud national memorial to the Fathers of Confederation and as the centre stage for visual and performing arts in the heart of historic Charlottetown. The Government of Canada, through the Department of Canadian Heritage and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, announced today it will contribute over $5 million to renovations and upgrades planned by the Confederation Centre to fortify the facility far into the future.

The announcement was made in the Centre's Mainstage Theatre by the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Solicitor General of Canada on behalf of the Honourable Sheila Copps, Minister of Canadian Heritage and the Honourable Gerry Byrne, Minister of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.

"This significant investment by the Government of Canada will ensure that this beloved cultural facility will remain open to visitors as an accessible memorial to our Fathers of Confederation," said Minister MacAulay. "This centre is a treasure to the Island's cultural and performing arts community and to our local economy, generating over $26 million dollars of economic impact that is felt all across Prince Edward Island."

The funding will contribute to the cost of repairs and upgrades to the building's physical, mechanical and electrical infrastructure, much of which dates back to 1964. New fire protection and security systems will also be acquired, along with new equipment that will allow the Centre's theatre to meet modern standards.

More specifically, the project will address the following: exterior architecture and structure; interior architectural renovations; fire safety and sprinklers; interior plumbing revisions and repairs; heating, ventilation, and air conditioning; electrical; and theatre renovations and upgrades.

"I believe it would be difficult to overstate the role the Confederation Centre plays in Charlottetown's economic growth," said Mr. Shawn Murphy, Member of Parliament for Hillsborough. "Between May and October, the Charlottetown Festival attracts thousands of visitors to the city; and when they're here, they spend time in our shops, restaurants, hotels and visit our local attractions."

"This is wonderful news for the Confederation Centre of the Arts," said H. Wayne Hambly, Chair of the Fathers of Confederation Buildings Trust, which governs the national arts centre. "This project will allow us to provide our patrons with a top-quality facility where they can enjoy the very best in Canadian creativity in the performing and visual arts this year and in the future. On behalf of the Trust, I extend our deepest appreciation to the Government of Canada for supporting the Centre."

Work will begin immediately, and the majority of the work is expected to be completed before the launch of the 2002 Charlottetown Festival. Along with the family classic Anne of Green Gables - The MusicalT, this year's Festival will feature a reprise of The Legend of the Dumbells, the world premiere of If You Could Read My Mind: The Music of Gordon Lightfoot, a show called Fire for rock n'roll fans, and much more.

A facility audit completed by independent engineering consultants for the Confederation Centre in October 2001 outlined $15 million in renovation costs to upgrade the centre. The project announced today is the first step towards completing these renovations. The Department of Canadian Heritage will contribute $2.2 million to the project through Cultural Spaces Canada, a program to improve Canada's cultural infrastructure. The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency will contribute $2.89 million through the Business Development Program.

Peter Graham
Office of the Hon. Gerry Byrne
(613) 941-7241

Catherine MacInnis-Gordon
ACOA PEI and Tourism
(902) 368-0502

Kerry Edmonds
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage
(819) 997-7788

Kathy McMillan
Confederation Centre of the Arts
(902) 628-6101