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COURTENAY – Entertainers and participants in Alert Bay’s Seafest and Music Fest can look forward to enjoying a new covered amphitheatre for the popular annual weekend of community celebrations.
Seafest and Music Fest are part of a successful weekend festival of live performances and community activities that bring a large number of visitors to Cormorant Island each year. The existing platform stage that hosts the event does not offer protection from the coastal rainy weather. Current infrastructure lacks technical requirements needed by performers and limits shows the festival can attract.
“Creating a modern performance amphitheatre, with better weather protection, will provide a much needed venue for community cultural events and build upon the other cultural attractions on Cormorant Island,” said ICET Chair Phil Kent. “‘We are pleased to see that the project will benefit both the ‘Namgis First Nation and the Village of Alert Bay who have been working together to plan and implement enhancements to the local economy.”
The new performance venue builds upon the joint ‘Namgis First Nation and Village of Alert Bay “Tides of Change” economic development strategy adopted by the community in March 2015 and partly funded by the Island Coastal Economic Trust.
“Tourists seek out authentic, cultural experiences, and this new facility provides a modern, venue that will attract higher caliber performers,” said Alert Bay Seafest Society President Kim Mercer. “If we want to grow our tourism economy, and keep visitors in our community longer, we need to continue to invest in projects like this one.”
Along with Seafest and Music Fest, the amphitheatre will host ‘Namgis First Nation cultural events, night theatre, music performances, and will complement other local attractions on Cormorant Island such as the U’mista Cultural Centre, ‘Namgis First Nation Bighouse, and Alert Bay’s unique coastal fishing community.
The new amphitheatre will feature the following elements:
- A 25’ wide by 25’ deep stage
- Peaked and shingled roof designed to maximize acoustics
- Full electrical wiring to accommodate a variety of show requirements
- Theatre style lighting
- Plumbing to support future plans for an adjacent washroom and greenroom
The Island Coastal Economic Trust is contributing $38,900 to the $77,800 project, with $20,000 coming from local government funds and $5,000 in applicant equity.
The project will begin April 1, 2016 and is estimated to be completed by fall 2016.
