‘The heart of North Bay’ is the title used to describe the Capitol Centre by Peter Handley, Chair of the North Bay Municipal Heritage Committee on Family Day Monday when he unveiled the plaque just outside the front doors of the community arts centre.
“It’s Heritage Week and we try and figure something each year to celebrate our heritage,” Handley said. “It really is the heart of the city. It’s not only located down here of course, but it does so much.”
He mentioned the years the Capitol Centre has spent offering movies—back in the earliest of days—until it evolved over the years to offer so much more as a theatre arts centre.
The Municipal Heritage Committee evaluates and documents properties throughout North Bay that have heritage value to the community. Handley said the Capitol Centre is part of over 20 sites across the city, such as arenas, baseball fields, and municipal buildings, but the Capitol Centre is the first with a glass plaque to show the evaluation of the heritage site, but with the outdoor plaque as well to share the story of the building.
Amber McCarthy of the Capitol Centre said it was an exciting day for the Capitol Centre, especially after her five years working with the organization.
“We have such a small team at the Capitol Centre,” she said. “We’re small but mighty and we accomplish a lot as a small team. So to have us recognized in such a permanent way in the community and have our history recognized is very special.”
The Capitol Centre operates on Main Street downtown and has been active since the early 1930’s. It's been an evolving home for arts and entertainment in North Bay, from film, to live theatre, to music, art shows, and much more.
McCarthy mentioned the upcoming appearance of Arlene Dickinson, one of Canada’s most successful communications entrepreneurs, who’s “been very vocal lately in our political atmosphere,” she said.
“It’s nice to pay homage to our history as we keep moving forward,” McCarthy said, mentioning how the Capitol Centre will continue to evolve to fit the needs of the community."
