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An injection of federal cash will help restore the beloved Roxy Theatre back to its Westmount roots. Randy Boissonnault, Member of Parliament (Edmonton Centre), on behalf of the Minister of Canadian Heritage Mélanie Joly, announced $330,270 in funding on Friday to support the architectural design and engineering phase for the construction of a new Roxy Theatre.
The rebuilt venue will rise on 124th Street from the same location its historic ancestor fell, after a devastating fire ripped through the 200-seat theatre in January 2015. Owner and operator the Theatre Network Society relocated to a smaller 140-seat spot on Gateway Boulevard shortly after the building was demolished.
"The Roxy Theatre has been an integral part of Edmonton's arts scene, and home to a host of live theatrical performances," said Boissonnault. "The destruction of the original historic building has been a tremendous loss for our community. I am delighted that the Theatre Network Society is now one step closer to realizing its dream of a new and improved Roxy Theatre."
The original theatre was built in 1938 and designed in the Moderne style by local architect William G. Blakey. The Theatre Network Society had been operating out of the space since 1990.
The investment from the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund is being complemented by a $208,000 contribution from the City of Edmonton through its Community Facility Partner Capital Grant Program. The new Roxy Theatre is scheduled to make its debut by 2020.
