City unveils task force that will guide the redevelopment of the Kelowna Community Theatre

Members of the city’s new Task Force on Performing Arts were announced Monday afternoon.

Talks about replacing the existing theatre have been ongoing for a few years now but calls for a bigger, revitalized community theatre were renewed earlier this year by the ​​Citizens for a New Performing Arts Centre (CN-PAC) group.

“The community task force on performing arts is to provide recommendations to council on community-driven partnership opportunities to advance the redevelopment of the Kelowna Community Theatre,” said mayor Tom Dyas at the end of the meeting.

The 10-member group will focus on several objectives, including:

• Identifying partnerships opportunities for the redevelopment of the KCT

• Engage the public for their vision for the KCT redevelopment

• Increase integration all stakeholders involving the performing arts

• Identifying philanthropic opportunities to fund the new centre

CN-PAC president Myles Bruckal applauded the announcement and said the organization’s knowledge, research and expertise would be at the task force’s disposal.

“A tremendous amount of work has already been done on this project, so we look forward to the task force leading us toward the next stage of development,” Bruckal said in a release.

Key priorities, he added, could also include the scope and location of a new facility, as well as its cost, financing mechanisms and governance structures.

The members include:

• Shane Styles

• Robert Fine

• Ryan Donn

• Laura Doncom

• Lesley Cormack

• Lisanne Ballantyne

• Nikki Csek

• Rick Webber

• Mayor Tom Dyas

A tenth member will be added and announced at a later date.

Dyas said the task force is expected to hold their first meeting on Jan. 26.