The Northern View has confirmed that the Lester Centre has acquired most of the funds it requires to replace its aging seats and will go ahead with the project this summer.
The project, which will see all of the 694 seats replaces is estimated at approximately $600,000. Last month, the centre announced it had received an injection of $167,000 from the B.C. Arts Council. Combined with a previous grant of $85,000 from the federal government and local fundraising from the centre’s “Please Be Seated” campaign of $35,000, for a total of $288,500, the project was almost halfway to its goal.
While Chris Armstrong, general manager, confirmed enough funding is now available to go ahead with the replacement starting in July, the benefactor that provided the remainder is being kept under tight wraps.
“We are excited to announce our remaining funding partner at the completion of the project, as we celebrate this amazing new asset with the community,” Armstrong said.
The “Please Be Seated” campaign remains open so people can still “buy a seat” to contribute. Those who have and do will have their names emblazoned on a plaque that will be put up in the lobby area. They will also be able to take an old seat away with them, but Armstrong mentioned anybody who wants old seats can also come and take them away.
The old seats will be taken out in July and the new seats will be installed in August for a re-opening planned in September.
Aside from the obvious decay of the seats after almost 40 years of use, the orange colour has become kind of dated. Armstrong said the new ones will be more contemporary.
“The colour will be a nice amethyst, and the grade of the fabric will be similar to what’s in the theatre today,” he reported.
He also noted the armrests and backs will be light brown and there will be LED lights at the base of the aisle seats so patrons can find their way in the dark a bit better.
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