When it opened under then mayor Lou Sekora, there was a reserved celebration for the Evergreen Cultural Centre.
The much-awaited arts hub in the rapidly developing City Centre was “born in hope, nurtured in controversy,” according to The Tri-City News article from Oct. 30, 1996.
Critics called the black box theatre too small and the $8-million building itself aesthetically unpleasant.
But others saw it as the city’s future focal point with the “potential to unleash a burst of artistic activity and creativity,” we wrote in our editorial, adding, “The centre may not be all that it could be; the challenge now — for all of us — is to help make it what it should be.”
And that, we did.
Over the last 20 years, the Evergreen has become a leading arts institution in the Lower Mainland, recruiting top performers and visual artists from around Canada and beyond.
Today, ECC is run by executive director Jon-Paul Walden, who joined the city-run facility in June 2010 and oversees more than 260 days of activity a year at the Lafarge Lake venue.
There are high-quality exhibits in the art gallery — a 1,500-sq. ft. space run by visual arts manager Gregory Elgstrand, a Centennial secondary graduate — and around 85 shows a year in the 257-seat theatre programmed by performing arts manager David Mann, who this spring was named Presenter of the Year by the BC Touring Council.
Staffing has gone up to meet demand, too. Currently, there are 15 full- or part-time members plus more than 140 volunteers, co-ordinated by Filio Kondylis, to welcome the 80,000-plus visitors annually.
With an operating and capital budget at around $1.5 million, the non-profit group that’s governed by a board of directors relies on the city as well as ticket sales, corporate donations and rentals to pay the bills.
One of the user groups is Place des Arts, the first arts centre in Coquitlam that, because of space limitations at its Maillardville venue, has had to include Evergreen’s rehearsal hall (for some dance classes) and theatre (for its APEx Theatre and musical theatre companies), said Michael Fera, Place des Arts’ program and events co-ordinator.
Now, as the Evergreen marks its second decade with a dance fundraiser next week featuring the sounds of the SweetPea Swing Band and Brickhouse, its leaders are looking at the next 20 years.
The Evergreen Line, due to open just before next spring’s provincial election, will play a major part in its development.
Walden hopes the new $1.4-billion rapid transit will bring in guests from across Metro Vancouver. “Overall, we see the Evergreen Line having a positive effect,” he said. “It will clearly establish the ECC as a hub for arts and culture in downtown Coquitlam.”
Doug Matthews, president of Evergreen’s board of directors, said high on his wish list is to see the construction of a new regional theatre with up to 1,000 seats, which was part of the vision in 1996.
Eight years ago, with the city’s approval, Evergreen studied growth concepts and produced renderings; however, the economic picture wasn’t so rosy and the ideas were put-on the back burner by city council.
Matthews said the Evergreen continues to burst at the seams and “we have made known to the city our desire to begin the planning process for an expanded facility.”
But that will come with a hefty price tag. Still, as city council wades into budget talks this fall, Walden believes the city needs to ante up to serve the rising population that’s set to double by 2041.
Matthews said the community has supported Evergreen over the years and it continues to welcome new patrons.
“To those who have never experienced our performing arts presentations in the theatre or visited our first-rate art gallery, please take the time to do so,” Matthews said. “You will not be disappointed.”
• Brickhouse and the SweetPea Swing Band perform at Evergreen’s 20th anniversary party on Sept. 16. For tickets at $20, call the box office at 604-927-6555 or visit evergreenculturalcentre.ca.
@jwarrenTC
CONTEST
Want to win a pair of tickets to Evergreen’s 20th anniversary party? Email [email protected] by Monday, Sept. 12.
