Kimberley celebrated the grand opening of its new outdoor stage at Centre 64 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday, June 5.
The project is being praised as a major investment in the local arts community, providing a permanent outdoor venue for musicians, performers and community events.
Mayor Don McCormick called the stage a community gathering place and a platform for local talent.
“We are thrilled to finally pull back the curtain on this beautiful new space. This stage is more than just a structure; it’s a gathering place for our residents and a platform for the incredible musicians who call Kimberley and the Kootenays home.” said McCormick.
Kimberley Arts Council president Ed Alm said the stage will help support emerging artists, increase performances and create more accessible arts experiences.
“This stage represents a huge step forward for the arts in Kimberley. For years, we’ve seen the incredible talent that exists in this community, musicians, performers, artists of all kinds, and this space gives them a dedicated space to share that talent with us, so that’s exciting. We’ll be able to host more performances, support emerging artists, which is very important for that growth, and create more accessible, welcoming art experiences for the community.” said Alm.
Columbia Basin Trust helped fund the project. Christine Hoechsmann said the space will create lasting memories and bring the community together for years to come.
“Years from now, most people won’t be thinking about the construction project, they’ll remember all the concerts, performances and the celebration, and the community events that they experienced here. And that’s why Columbia Basin Trust was so proud to support this project. It’s an investment in a community space that’ll bring people together and create lasting memories for years to come. So congratulations to Central 64, and the Arts Council.” said Hoechsmann.
The opening event featured performances by the Selkirk High School Jazz Choir and Kimberley band Leather Apron Revival.
Alm highlighted the project as a successful collaboration among the City of Kimberley, Columbia Basin Trust and the Kimberley Arts Council.
“This has truly been a collaborative effort. We’re grateful to the city of Kimberly for their partnership and to the Columbia Basin Trust for helping make this vision a reality. Projects like this show what’s possible when organizations come together with a shared goal. I’d also like to give a special thanks to my team at the Kimberly Arts Council and Centre 64 for all the hard work and dedication over the past several years. Their commitment to arts and culture in this community is what makes spaces like this meaningful.” said Alm.
The stage is located on the former site of the Canadian Hotel.
The celebration was attended by many community members who shared appreciation for the new outdoor stage giving Kimberley a dedicated community gathering space for concerts, performances, and cultural events while supporting local artists and strengthening the city’s arts scene.
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