Editor: Spring in the Bow Valley is transformational. Here on Treaty 7 territory, we are fortunate to witness the mountains removing their winter caps while glacial waters melt and flow. It’s a time that welcomes change and renewal.
In the spirit of new beginnings, Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity is honoured to have received a significant gift from the children of Jenny and the late Hy Belzberg in honour of Mrs. Jenny Belzberg, to revitalize the Eric Harvie Theatre, the preeminent performing arts venue in Canada’s first national park.
Their generous gift will ensure that the legacy of arts creation at Banff Centre and throughout the Bow Valley will continue to live beyond our mountains.
When I first met Mrs. Belzberg it was apparent that her love of arts and culture has been a lifelong affair. Born in Calgary, Mrs. Belzberg would embark on day trips to Banff with her children to escape the city and find solace in the mountains. Her eyes twinkled as she recalled early memories of seeing artists gathered together to paint the majestic landscape. “There’s something magical about this place,” she said. “Banff Centre is in my heart.”
Since its opening in 1967, during Canada’s Centennial Celebration, the Eric Harvie Theatre has hosted thousands of artists working in dance, opera, theatre, music, and more. The theatre has staged some of Canada’s greatest productions, many that have gone on to win awards and receive global acclaim, including Quest, Kafka’s Chimp, Pride and Prejudice, Filumena, Betroffenheit, King Arthur’s Night, and Orphée+.
Every year this theatre in the heart of the Rockies hosts internationally renowned events including the Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival and the Banff International String Quartet Competition, which collectively host an audience of 30,500.
While the revitalization work will be felt on campus, Banff Centre has made every effort to ensure that artists and audiences will not be impacted during this time. Operations will carry on as planned during the revitalization, and we welcome the community to continue to enjoy all that Banff Centre has to offer. We pride ourselves on being a creative asset for the Bow Valley, and we will continue to serve the community – and the country – as a cultural and social hub during the revitalization and long after its completion.
This project is an important milestone as Banff Centre approaches its 90th anniversary in 2023. With this update of the theatre, Banff Centre can continue to meet the needs of artists and audiences as the preeminent performing arts venue in the region. We are excited about what this means for you, our local community. On behalf of Banff Centre, I extend my sincerest thanks to everyone in the town of Banff and the Bow Valley for your continuous support of arts and culture in the valley, and I look forward to seeing you on campus.
Janice Price,
President & CEO
Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity
