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Regional district supports Key City Theatre replacement

Theatre society, School District 5 appealed to the Regional District of East Kootenay for financial support

Key City Theatre Society and School District 5 have appealed to the Regional District of East Kootenay for support in replacing the Cranbrook theatre.

Key City Theatre is attached to Mount Baker Secondary School, which is slated for replacement once provincial funding becomes available.

Since it was built in 1991, the Key City Theatre has been operated by the non-profit Key City Theatre Society. Operational funding is provided each year by the City of Cranbrook and School District 5.

Now, the School District and Key City Theatre Society is asking the Regional District of East Kootenay to consider the theatre a regional asset, and support its efforts to secure funding for the replacement.

"The Key City Theatre is an integral part of our entire region," said Frank Lento, chair of the School District 5 board of trustees, to the regional board on Friday, April 4.

"What we're here for is to extend the partnership to include the regional district. What we would seek is approval in principle from the regional district to explore all avenues of replacing Key City Theatre, benefitting the entire region, and that the RDEK provide some preliminary support in our exploration of those avenues."

The board was asked to provide a letter of support for the theatre that could accompany any applications for grants that would fund the replacement; as well, the school district asked the regional district to next year begin setting aside money for the replacement.

The regional district board agreed to write a letter of support for the theatre replacement. However, the directors will wait until the summer to discuss providing money for the project.

“It’s through the arts that humanity’s efforts are worthwhile,” said Area B Director Heath Slee. “I would support something like this. But it needs a balanced regional approach in terms of money.”