Capitol Centre gets access to ‘the Galaxy’

The Capitol Centre is in receipt of an Ontario Trillium Funds community Capital Funding Grant in the amount of $275,000 that will support a number of areas marked for improvement and the city is matching funds.

During Monday night's regular council meeting, council members approved a first charge against the 2012 capital budget to match the the Ontario Trillium Fund grant received by the Capital Centre.

The upgrades to the facility will most notably include an elevator to the stars. Well, in reality, an elevator to its third floor ‘Galaxy Lounge’. This area, a smaller staging area is used by many small groups that find the larger stage too much for meetings, training and rehearsals. A retrofitted elevator, keeping in line with the upcoming standards with the new municipal Accessibility Act, will give wheelchair and stair weary patrons the ability to easily access every part of the public areas of the facility.

As well, the funding will permit the creation of a 450 seat space for small or culturally diverse groups within the large theatre setting.

Under the agreement, work must be completed prior to December 31, 2012 and the Capitol Centre is responsible for matching funds in the amount of $275,000.

Within the city's capital budget there is typically an annual amount of $200,000 for capital works within the Capitol Centre. The annual amounts have been designated to complete a building assessment study as well as to address the items identified in the study. The annual capital budget contributions are also designated for facility and capital urgent issues that arise in the 80 plus year building.