Culture & Events Centre

2008

ACTIVE CREATIVE ENGAGED COMMUNITY GATHERING

An Arts, Culture & Convention Centre was identified as the #1 priority for the community.

2009

ARTS CENTRE STEERING COMMITTEE

An Arts and Culture Centre Committee was appointed by Council.

ARTS AND CULTURE CENTRE PUBLIC SURVEY

Bannister Research conducted a survey which determined there is strong public support and need for an Arts, Culture & Convention Centre in Whitecourt.

2011

ARTS AND CULTURE CENTRE FEASIBILITY STUDY AND OPEN HOUSES

RC Strategies Inc. conducted public and group meetings, and determined that there is high public demand for an Arts, Culture & Convention Centre. Open houses were held in June 2011.

CONVERSATION CAFÉ

Arts/Culture groups, the general public and instructors were invited to discuss their ideas surrounding an Arts, Culture & Convention Centre.

2012

LIBRARY NEEDS ASSESSMENT

Group 2 Architecture developed the report that highlighted the Library as being deficient in floor area and undersized for the community it serves. The report recommended a Library be included in the Culture & Events Centre, as this would provide opportunities for collaboration, and increase user and operating efficiency.

2014-2016
TOURS

Town Council and Woodlands County Council toured several arts, culture and convention centres throughout the province to determine what components they would like included in the Centre. The Arts and Culture Committee also visited centres in Saskatchewan and Alberta and provided input.

2015

ARTS AND CULTURE CENTRE OPEN HOUSES AND INTERNET SURVEY

Whitecourt and Woodlands County held open houses and conducted an internet survey that determined there was strong support for an Arts, Culture & Convention Centre with 84% of participants responding that the proposed concept was good, great or excellent, and 75% of participants supporting a tax increase for the construction and operation of the facility.

2016

ARTS AND CULTURE CENTRE BUSINESS PLAN

Webb Consulting developed a plan, including an operating budget, showing significant public support for a 550-650 seat Arts, Culture & Convention Centre. This plan demonstrated the positive economic impact the centre could offer the community, while also increasing educational opportunities for residents through conference and partnership capabilities. The plan included an operating budget.

CONCEPT DESIGN

BR2 Architecture was contracted to create a Concept Design for the Culture & Events Centre project which includes the Arts, Culture & Convention Centre with a 600 seat theatre, Library and Administration Office.

AD HOC BUILDING COMMITTEE

An Ad Hoc Building Committee comprised of community members was formed and worked with BR2 on the design.

2018

INVESTING IN CANADA INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT (ICIP)

Applied for $15.6M through the ICIP grant program for the Library and Arts, Culture & Convention Centre.

2020-2022

DETAIL DESIGN

Received notice that the grant was approved at the end of 2020. Commenced detail design for the Culture & Events Centre.

The Public Ad Hoc Committee began developing an education campaign.

FEBRUARY 2022

PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN

Public Ad Hoc Building Steering Committee conducted a public education campaign that provided a full picture of what this facility will include, offer and cost should it proceed. The campaign included a variety of virtual and in-person events, as well as advertisements posted in local papers and radio stations and on social media platforms.

NOVEMBER 2023

PUBLIC INFORMATION SESSION

New building design. Reduced cost by $16.9M. Combined theatre and large multipurpose room into one flexible space that can still accommodate 99% of the original proposed uses.

JULY 2024

CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT AWARDED TO CLARK BUILDERS

Council approved a contract with Clark Builders to proceed with construction of the Culture & Events Centre.

Regional Arts, Culture & Convention Centre

• Conferences / Meetings
• Concerts / Plays / Ballet / Opera
• Art Gallery
• Weddings / Anniversaries
• Film Festivals & Screenings
• Graduations
• Dance Festivals
• Music Lessons
• Parties / Galas
• Community Ceremonies

Regional Library

• Workshops & Seminars
• Maker Space
• Meeting / Work Space / Study Space
• A safe group space for everyone
• Community gathering place
• Free access to technology and Wi-Fi
• Community Programs

 Administration Office for Whitecourt

• Daily Municipal Operations
• Open Houses
• Public Hearings
• Council Meetings
• Town Hall Meetings
• Community Speakers
• Conferences
• Community Programs

How much will this facility cost me?

For the average household, the increased capital and operating costs would equate to an anticipated taxation increase of $56.20 per household once the facility is in operation. This includes both capital and operating costs.

Where We Are Now

Estimated Project Cost: $54.3M

• 54% ($27.9M) – Arts, Culture and Convention Centre
• 25% ($11.7M) – Administration Building
• 21% ($8.8M) – Library

Funding Plan

• 60% ($32.63M) – Grants
• 10% ($5.6M) – Debenture
• 21% ($11.49M) – Reserves
• 2.5% ($1.35M) – Sale of Assets
• 4.6% ($2.5M) – Sponsorships
• 1.9% ($690,525) - Operating Interest

*The figures above do not include other grants and partnerships being sought out and, if successful, would decrease the debenture amount required.

The Centre will:

• host concerts, weddings, graduation ceremonies, school Christmas concerts, Remembrance Day celebrations, business conferences, dance festivals, and dinner theatres;
• host outdoor events and summer camps;
• provide a safe place for youth to meet to complete school projects;
• provide a quiet and relaxing space to have coffee and read the newspaper;
• be a community gathering place;
• provide other educational opportunities.

It will have a general benefit for all residents as it will attract professionals and new industry to the community (doctors, tradespersons, engineers, lawyers, teachers, accountants).

Although there may be a tax increase, many of the activities that will take place at the Centre are ones that families from Whitecourt would normally access in Edmonton or other communities. By having the Centre in the community, families will realize more savings from less travel costs than the increase in taxation. For example, for a couple to attend a concert in Edmonton it would cost approximately $500 and to attend a similar concert in Whitecourt would be $150, for a cost savings of $350; or for a child to attend a dance festival in Edmonton it would be $450 compared to $30 in Whitecourt. It will not only provide an overall savings, but it will now make it attainable for many families who have not had the means to go to Edmonton to enjoy the same experiences in their own community.

It was 11.6%; however, it assisted in generating new growth in the community that a tax increase was not required. The Allan & Jean Millar Centre debenture was paid off in 2022.

Yes, it is and there is opportunity to expand portions of it in the future if required.

It will. It will be inclusive and provide the opportunity for local artists to showcase their art and talents in a professional facility.

Local trades will be utilized for portions of the project. Some of the materials will be purchased in the community. Crews not from our community that are working on the project will stay in the community, eat at restaurants, stay in hotels or rentals or buy houses, and purchase items in our community, etc.

The Culture & Events Centre will be located in downtown Whitecourt, and during construction will inject over $7.9 million into the tourism and materials/equipment supply sectors. 

Additionally, it is estimated that 25% of the project trade labour will be provided locally, which equates to approximately 100,000 worker hours ($5 million). 

Yes, they have. They have been surveyed, they have provided input through open houses, some have been interviewed and all arts, culture and service groups have had the opportunity to provide input into the design. Please see the "How It All Started" tab for more detail.

Both have accessibility issues that would not be able to be rectified. Building up is not possible at either building, and there is no room for a bigger footprint on the sites. The Town Office was built in 1967 when the population was 2,500 and now it is approximately 10,000. It has been renovated and retrofitted many times for different uses. It is more cost effective to build new than to renovate.

There are both capital and operational cost savings. Shared space has created a smaller footprint. When there is a smaller footprint, construction and operational costs both go down.

For example, when the Allan & Jean Millar Centre was built, a tax increase was proposed; however, while it was under construction growth occurred in the community (new projects can stimulate growth as it attracts residents and industry to the community, they can be economic drivers) and a tax increase was not required to support it. When there is growth, there is new assessment; so more residents and businesses to share in the cost, which makes the mill rate lower. The economy is slowly picking up and this project will give it some time as the building will not be operational until 2026.

For the average household, the increased capital and operating costs would equate to an anticipated taxation increase of $56.20 per household once the facility is in operation. This includes both capital and operating costs.

From hosting one dance festival alone, it is estimated that it will have a benefit of $750,000 in audience spending at local businesses. Hosting three festivals in a year equates to $2,250,000 in audience spending at local businesses. This is just dance alone. This does not take into account concerts, oil & gas trade shows, ballets, musicals, music festivals, dinner theatres, workshops, conferences, symphony, weddings and all other events taking place at the Centre.

246 stalls are proposed in front/ along east side of the building. 96 stall are proposed behind the building along the new 50th Street access, and an additional 173 stalls are in Festival Park for overflow parking. This compares to the Allan & Jean Millar Centre with 102 stalls.

We will be able to join in on other Alberta circuits that theatres in Alberta are part of. We are already a member of the Alberta Touring Alliance. We have already been able to attract some ‘A Class’ Performers, such as Terri Clarke. However, some A Class Performers have turned down our offers due to not having a suitable venue for them to perform in or have accepted our offers but we were not able to meet the sound and lighting obligations of their riders due to not having a fixed, equipped theatre.

The flexible theatre/multipurpose space and the multipurpose and meeting rooms.

It has not yet been decided if a Request for Proposal will go out for the operation of the kitchen, or if the kitchen will be available to rent. The business plan indicated similar revenues for both options and thus this will be decided in the future.

That is currently the plan and the lease holder would be responsible for any lease holder improvements.

Construction will commence in 2024 and the Centre will be operational at the end 2026.

Both of these facilities are currently outside the 20-year window on the 20-year capital plan based on growth.

Yes, they were updated in the fall of 2023 and the operating deficit is comparable with other comparable facilities, the business plan will continue to be adjusted until the Centre is operational in 2026. The operating deficit of similar facilities has been consistent between 2016 and 2020, with little fluctuation.

Yes, it does.