Campaign News

$500,000 GIFT FROM IRVING BROTHERS PUTS CAMPAIGN OVER THE TOP!

November 26, 2009

SAINT JOHN - The announcement of a $500,000 gift to Imperial Theatre’s Capital Campaign from Arthur and Jack Irving certainly hit a high note following a concert by the Saint John String Quartet, NB Youth Orchestra and Symphony New Brunswick.

“I’m flabbergasted,” General Manager Peter Smith said.  “We’re ecstatic.” Arthur’s son, Kenneth Irving, chief executive of Fort Reliance, and Jack’s son, John Irving, who is president of Commercial Properties Limited, made the presentation and joined Smith on stage at the end of the musical evening, inside what will now be called the Fort Reliance Auditorium for the next 15 years.

 “I want to say that my father Jack Irving and my uncle Arthur understood the importance and necessity of this venue for our community, and they stepped up to the plate when they were asked and they immediately, without hesitation, made a substantial contribution,” said John Irving.

“Saint John is very important to Jack and Arthur Irving and since the Imperial Theatre is a focal point for the community, it makes perfect sense for them to make this donation,” Kenneth Irving said.

“They feel it’s the right thing to do when they understand the need the Theatre has and have seen it first hand for themselves,” said Cindy Millett, a spokeswoman for the Keep IT Live Capital Campaign and a retail aviation sales manager with Irving Oil.“They have lived here all their lives and have always been interested in seeing cultural organizations and artists in the community flourish.”

The gift brings an end to the Theatre’s Campaign, which was launched in June 2008, with a total of $2.9 million.“About $1 million of that money is pledged funds,” Smith said. “The Irvings’ gift will be useful as cash flow to pay for construction projects that have already started.”  “When we originally drew up the goal of $2.5 million, it was based on everything that would be done, and everything we could predict would need to be done in the next 10 years,” Smith said.  “But as anyone who knows anything about construction knows, everything takes longer and costs more - so it’s going to help deal with that,” he said of the $500,000 gift.

The Theatre has already completed the first phase of construction of the stage house exterior cladding which was leaking, causing internal damage.  New sound, ticketing and hearing assistance systems have already been installed, along with new lobby and house lighting controls.  The Campaign also aims to pay for new seating, a new stage floor, updated washrooms, carpeting and an air handling system.

Any money remaining will go to the Theatre’s Foundation endowment fund, which provides an annual operations grant to the Theatre.“It’s all an incredibly wonderful thing, and Fort Reliance has been incredibly generous,” Smith said. “It’s because (the Irvings) think the Imperial Theatre’s an important part of their city.”Millett said over the course of the Keep IT Live Campaign, many different people have been brought together - patrons, performers and volunteers.  “It’s a sign of how the Theatre unites the community,” she said.

“It’s serving many needs of the community from an artistic perspective, and that’s important.”

Story excerpts from
Telegraph Journal article, November 27,

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