Kamloops family supports a new performing arts centre in a big way
KAMLOOPS – A $5-million donation has been promised to help with the construction of a new performing arts centre in Kamloops.
The Kelson Group Property Management company, run by Ron and Rae Fawcett, has promised $5 million towards the construction of the proposed centre, in anticipation the public votes yes at the upcoming referendum.
The city has pitched the idea of a performing arts centre complex at the former Kamloops Daily News building, which it purchased shortly after the newspaper ceased publication in 2014. Public houses were held to discuss the preliminary plans and council recently agreed to send the project to a referendum before proceeding any further with the planning.
The referendum, slated for Nov. 7, will ask residents if they are in favour of the city borrowing up to $49 million to design and construct the parkade and performing arts centre complex. With financial support of family-run, community businesses like theirs, the Fawcetts hope the referendum vote will be favourable.
“Kamloops has been our home for many years and we are proud to have our head office here,” Ron says. “We believe that the proposed performing arts centre will provide for an impressive revitalization of the downtown core and will be a focal point for the community for years to come.”
The Fawcetts are generous philanthropists, having made significant donations to the community previously. Their contributions include the John Tod Centre project on Kamloops’ North Shore, a study hall at Thompson Rivers University, and the development of the Fawcett Family Wildlife Health Centre at the B.C. Wildlife Park.
“A project like this will help Kamloops attract new visitors, enhance our remarkable arts community, and lead to a more vibrant lifestyle for those in our city and surrounding areas.”
To contact a reporter for this story, email Dana Reynolds at dreynolds@infonews.ca or call 250-819-6089. To contact an editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
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4 responses
What a great announcement from a good family.Ron, Rae and the Fawcett family are wonderful supporters of Kamloops, Kamloops businesses and the people that work for them.Thank you for sharing your legacy with so many people.
Such a generous gesture and I believe it would bring in far more professionals and hopefully Drs.
I am totally in favour of a Performing Arts Centre. Hate to see Kamloops say no as they often do. Even at $40/year on taxes it’s a cheap way to get the centre and parkade. Very generous of the Fawcetts. Thank you.
That’s a wonderful gesture that they have made. If I had won the $50 million in the lottery last Friday, I would also have contributed a similar amount to this project. A performing artscentre would really enhance the Kamloops lifestyle and might attract physicians and entrepreneurs to Kamloops. We live in an amazing place and this would make it even better.