U/C Dunfield Theatre Cambridge (Drayton)

[UrbanWaterloo]

Now under construction...

September 24, 2011



Looking North Towards George Street

[UrbanWaterloo]

December 20, 2011
















Public Meeting

The City of Cambridge Committee of Adjustment has received an application under the Planning Act

A public meeting will be held to hear this application which you are welcome to attend

Hearing Date: January 4, 2012
Time: 6:00 pm
Location: 46 Dickson Street 3rd Floor, Historic City Hall

[natcordev]

Construction of new theatre off to a good start


Feb 22nd, 2012 | Jeff Hicks | The Record | Link

CAMBRIDGE — Cambridge’s new $21-million performance theatre is rising along with the mercury of a mild winter.
“The weather has really co-operated for us,” Drayton Entertainment artistic director Alex Mustakas said. “We’re in good shape right now.”
So an early 2013 start to Drayton’s programming in the yet-to-be-named 500-seat theatre — being built with $6-million contributions from the city, province and federal government — looks like a lock at 46 Grand Ave.
Concrete was poured a few days ago for new rehearsal and production facilities. Steel girders were up as Drayton production people were to meet Tuesday with the company installing the Fly Tower, which flies scenery in and out of the stage.

[UrbanWaterloo]

March 7, 2012

[UrbanWaterloo]

NEW PERFORMANCE THEATRE IN CAMBRIDGE UNVEILS OFFICIAL NAME
May 7, 2012 | City of Cambridge | Link

In an unprecedented move of corporate philanthropy within the city of Cambridge, a $1 million pledge has been made for the exclusive naming rights of the Cambridge Performing Arts Complex.

Drayton Entertainment, operator of the city-owned cultural facility currently under construction, along with the Dunfield Retirement Residence Cambridge, owned by Shiplake Management and the L Group of Companies based in Toronto, today announced an agreement that grants 25-year exclusive naming rights for the live theatre facility.

Beginning today, the venue will be called the Dunfield Theatre Cambridge.

Construction on the new 500-seat theatre facility, located at 46 Grand Ave. S. in the historic neighbourhood of Galt, commenced in September. The facility will operate year-round and include Drayton Entertainment’s programming as well as myriad community events. The inaugural season is expected to launch in early 2013.

“As new residents in this community, we are proud to support the outstanding work of Drayton Entertainment and demonstrate our long-tem commitment to enhancing the economic, cultural, and social milieu of Cambridge with the naming of this glorious new theatre,” says Michael Latner, CEO of The L Group of Companies.

“This partnership works on so many levels,” says Alex Mustakas, Artistic Director & CEO of Drayton Entertainment. “We share the same value proposition, including a tremendous respect for our customers, a commitment to surpassing expectations, and perhaps most importantly, a genuine zest for life. We are only just beginning to scratch the surface of the synergies that will be realized in the years to come.”

“Our government is proud to support the Dunfield Theatre Cambridge, which will foster cultural and economic growth in this region,” said the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Member of Parliament for Cambridge, Minister of State for Science of Technology, and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario. “This theatre will serve as a dynamic hub for the presentation of Canadian arts and is an excellent example of what can be accomplished when the private sector and all orders of government work together.”

“This is an excellent example of partnerships bringing a community together and fostering economic prosperity,” said John Milloy, MPP for Kitchener Centre. “I congratulate all those who have worked so hard to integrate arts and culture for all generations. This is an exciting milestone for Waterloo Region.”

“Today’s announcement signifies the burgeoning strength of the Arts & Culture Master Plan for the City of Cambridge,” says Mayor Doug Craig. “We are blessed with a cluster of arts and culture that is rapidly evolving and creating a significant impact on the economy and enhancing our quality of life. Arts, culture, and heritage help attract and retain residents, and businesses cite these offerings as an important reason for choosing to locate and stay in the area.”

Under the terms of the 25-year agreement, the Dunfield brand will be incorporated into exterior and interior venue signage, as well as marketing materials including logo and web domain (www.dunfieldtheatrecambridge.com). The Dunfield brand will be included on all tickets as well as elements of Drayton Entertainment’s extensive advertising campaign for the new theatre.

The construction of the Cambridge Performing Arts Complex is part of a broader $22.0 million agreement that also includes funding for technical upgrades at four other venues operated by Drayton Entertainment, including: St. Jacobs Country Playhouse, Drayton Festival Theatre, Huron Country Playhouse, and King’s Wharf Theatre. The Government of Canada, through the Building Canada Fund – Major Infrastructure Component, committed up to $6 million toward this project. The Province of Ontario and City of Cambridge have also committed $6 million each. Drayton Entertainment, a not-for-profit charitable organization, is responsible for fundraising $4 million as part of its commitment to the project.

The Government of Canada’s contribution comes from the Building Canada Fund – Major Infrastructure Component (MIC), which targets larger, strategic projects of national or regional significance. This program supports major infrastructure projects that contribute to cultural, economic, sport, and tourism development.

This project supports Building Together, Ontario’s long-term infrastructure plan, to build better hospitals, roads and transit, and is part of the McGuinty government’s plan to create and support jobs for Ontarians. Building together will strengthen Ontario’s economy and help meet the needs of local families. Ontario’s planned investments of more than $35 billion over the next three years will create or preserve over 100,000 jobs on average each year. Since 2003, the Ontario government has invested more than $75 billion in infrastructure.


About Drayton Entertainment

Drayton Entertainment is an award-winning, not-for-profit charitable organization (12591 1313 RR0001) operating seven live theatrical venues in five unique Ontario locations – the original Drayton Festival Theatre in Drayton, Huron Country Playhouse and Playhouse II in Grand Bend, King’s Wharf Theatre in Penetanguishene, St. Jacobs Country Playhouse and Schoolhouse Theatre in St. Jacobs, and coming in 2013, the new Dunfield Theatre Cambridge.

This organization’s sustainable theatre model has emerged as a powerful force for culture and tourism in Ontario, and has been recognized by the office of the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario as well as the Ontario Innovation Excellence Awards.

Drayton Entertainment is recognized by the Canadian Actors’ Equity Association as the 7th largest employer of its members in Canada. Drayton Entertainment does not receive funding from any level of government for annual operations.


About the Dunfield Retirement Residence Cambridge

Un-retirement living in the Saginaw Parkway and Light Drive Neighbourhood

Designed in the style of a modern urban hotel with a resort-style atmosphere, The Dunfield Cambridge establishes a new standard in senior retirement living with a variety of studio, studio alcove, one and two-bedroom luxury apartment style suites.

The vision is to offer a flexible, “people first” retirement environment in an elegant, yet casual retirement residence. The complex appeals to a broad range of people offering a combination of independent living and assisted living suites and services.

Construction on the $30 million, six-story building commenced in October, and will house 145 residents upon completion in the Spring of 2013. The building will employ upwards of 75 workers and is predicted to contribute $5 million a year to the economy.

Dunfield Toronto, the company’s flagship resort-inspired rental apartment complex, opened at Yonge and Eglinton streets in that city in 2009.

The company has already ingrained itself in the community by supporting several noteworthy
initiatives including TBD.

The Dunfield Discovery Centre is located at 140 Hespeler Rd.

www.dunfieldcambridge.com


About Building Canada

Through its unprecedented $33-billion Building Canada infrastructure plan, the Government of Canada is providing long-term, stable and predictable funding to help meet infrastructure needs across Canada. Building Canada is supporting a stronger, safer and better country.

www.buildingcanada.gc.ca

[DHLawrence]

Good news for the theatre. And it's a much more sensitive exercise in naming rights than some in recent years--the recently rebranded "Canon Theatre" in Toronto comes to mind.

[UrbanWaterloo]

May 27, 2012

[metropolis]

I had not realized how large this building would be! What a disappointment they used 20th century thinking when orienting this building. Let's have the face of it embrace a parking lot that will sit empty 90% of the time and make the street facade as intimidating to pedestrians as possible by creating a brick wall there.

[DHLawrence]

A parking lot can become a public square so easily. Ask Waterloo!

[BuildingScout]

A parking lot can become a public square so easily. Ask Waterloo!

Right. It only took us, what, twenty-five years to transform that eye-sore into a public square?

[DHLawrence]

And it was originally built long before the revival of interest in walkable communities and decreased car dependence.

My point is that just because something exists as it does now does not mean it will remain so. Parking will be necessary in the short term because there is very little parking on that side of the Grand and the theatre is being built with both locals and out-of-town tourists in mind. Let the infrastructure develop and that will change. I know knee-jerk predictions of doom are more fun, but they get old quickly.

[mpd618]

My point is that just because something exists as it does now does not mean it will remain so. Parking will be necessary in the short term because there is very little parking on that side of the Grand and the theatre is being built with both locals and out-of-town tourists in mind. Let the infrastructure develop and that will change. I know knee-jerk predictions of doom are more fun, but they get old quickly.

Parking lots can change, but it is difficult to change a building so that it faces the street instead of backing onto it.

[panamaniac]

Parking lots can change, but it is difficult to change a building so that it faces the street instead of backing onto it.

???? I thought the theatre faced Grand Avenue and the river.

[mpd618]

???? I thought the theatre faced Grand Avenue and the river.

I was going based on what metropolis wrote. From what I can tell, you're right: it faces Grand Avenue (separated by a small parking lot). The street that it ignores is St. Andrews.

[metropolis]

May 27, 2012

This picture to me shows a building that in no way presents a friendly street facade. It is this picture (and the others not showing any other street from the other angles) I used to draw my conclusion.

[DHLawrence]

Despite being a bus route, St. Andrews is hardly an artery. Grand Avenue is where it's at; it links the theatre to the sculpture garden, the Library and Gallery, Southworks, the University, and two bridges to the east bank of Galt within walking distance.

[Ohsnow]

Consideration should be taken to into using the old railway bridge as a pedestrian like..... a mid point crossing of the river is now the missing link.

It has been discussed before but now it's time to make things happen.

[mpd618]

Consideration should be taken to into using the old railway bridge as a pedestrian like..... a mid point crossing of the river is now the missing link.

Wait, using what bridge? There's only one bridge that I can see, which is very much in use as it carries the CP mainline across the river.

[KevinL]

Wait, using what bridge? There's only one bridge that I can see, which is very much in use as it carries the CP mainline across the river.

There's been discussion in the past of adding a pedestrian facility to that bridge in some way (especially every time some daredevil - often one or more GCI students - is caught using the bridge as a shortcut across the river). It's usually dismissed as too expensive, though.

[DHLawrence]

There isn't a bridge any more. There used to be; the Grand River Railway used it to serve the industries on the west side of the Grand River. It's been gone for decades but the central support pillar is still intact and begging to be used.