Community Celebration Planned for The Capitol Theatre
The Capitol Theatre’s long-awaited 100th anniversary celebration is finally on the way. With generous support from the Government of Canada, the City of Windsor will present the Capitol Legacy Celebration as part of Family Day weekend this year in partnership with the Capitol Theatre, Windsor Symphony Orchestra (WSO), WIFF Windsor International Film Festival, WindsorEssex Community Foundation, and Museum Windsor.
Event: Capitol Legacy Celebration
Date: Saturday, February 18, 2023
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Location: The Capitol Theatre, 121 University Avenue West
This community celebration and the Capitol Theatre multi-phase project are made possible, in part by the Government of Canada’s funding of $500,000 through the Legacy Fund component of the Building Communities through Arts and Heritage program from the Department of Canadian Heritage, which provides funding for community-initiated capital projects intended for community use.
As previously announced, the City of Windsor added $1.8 million to bring the total investment to $2.3 million in the historic theatre in downtown Windsor. The approved grant application sought funding for a multi-phase project to commemorate the venue’s milestone anniversary with a legacy installation; community celebration; and extensive infrastructure improvements to meet user needs, improve accessibility, and increase energy efficiency.
The celebration program will include the following:
10:00 a.m. & 11:30 a.m. WSO Family Concerts. $5 ticket cost per person
12:45 p.m. & 3:00 p.m. Downtown Windsor Heritage Walking Tours
1:00 p.m. Anniversary remarks and legacy update
2:00 p.m. Artist showcase featuring Windsor Dance eXperience, 4th Wall Music, and the Windsor Symphony Youth Orchestra
3:30 p.m. & 4:00 p.m. Capitol Theatre tours
4:30 p.m. & 6:30 p.m. WIFF screenings of Disney’s “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”
10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. WSO pop-up exhibit at the Chimczuk Museum, 401 Riverside Drive West
Call for Anniversary Video Messages:
As part of the celebrations, the Capitol Theatre is asking individual artists, arts organizations, and residents to show their love for the historic gem by submitting a video memory for the Capitol Legacy Showcase taking place at 2:00 p.m. at the event.
Video submissions will be accepted until February 7, 2023, and interested parties are asked to send questions to 100years@capitoltheatre.ca by email. Submitted content will be included and edited at the discretion of the Capitol Video Team.
Work is currently underway on the project’s infrastructure elements, including:
Upgrades for ten 25-year-old HVAC units
Renovations adding 2,000 square feet of useable space
Replacement of 7,300 square feet of ornate carpet throughout the theatre
Enhancements to video and lighting equipment
Stage upgrades
For event updates and information, visit www.CapitolTheatreWindsor.ca.
This project has been made possible in part by the Government of Canada.
Ce projet a été rendu possible en partie grâce au gouvernement du Canada.
Quotes
“The Government of Canada is proud to partner with the City of Windsor to support the revitalization of the Capitol Theatre, which has drawn our community together, told our local stories, and reinforced our cultural diversity for over 100 years.”
– Irek Kusmierczyk, Member of Parliament for Windsor-Tecumseh.
“The City of Windsor invests in the arts, and embraces and supports creative endeavours. Council’s dedication and commitment to the arts is evident, in part, through the purchase of the Capitol Theatre, establishment of a home for the WSO and WIFF within the facility, and ongoing investments into enhancements at the historic theatre. Throughout the Capitol’s over 100-year history, the community, municipality and upper levels of government have provided support to the theatre’s restoration and preservation. We are thankful for the federal government’s current investment at the Capitol Theatre, and for the support of the WSO as we work together to enhance the theatre’s accessibility and role in the arts, culture and heritage community in Windsor. It is wonderful to see this cultural institution celebrated and honoured in this way.”
– Drew Dilkens, Mayor of the City of Windsor.
“Recreation and Culture, part of the City of Windsor’s Community Services division, is committed to acting as a catalyst and facilitator to ensure the provision of a range of affordable and accessible opportunities for engagement in cultural activities, services, initiatives and facilities. We regularly work with community partners, like the Windsor Symphony Orchestra and WIFF, to build up a base of unique cultural assets and experiences for visitors, residents, investors and businesses. Windsor is growing, creatively, and we understand the economic and quality-of-life impacts that are possible through these significant investments in arts, culture and heritage. We look forward to celebrating the storied history of the Capitol Theatre later this month.”
– Ray Mensour, Commissioner of Community Services, City of Windsor.
"We are thrilled to recognize and celebrate the centennial of this historic and cultural gem in such an exciting way. Reflecting on its 100-year history, the Capitol Theatre was a place where many residents saw great films and made amazing memories. Since its reinvention in the 1990's thanks to the efforts and support of many people, the Capitol Theatre has been an incubator and a venue for performing arts in our region. Within the last decade, the WSO and WIFF have called the Capitol Theatre home. The WSO is proud to manage this vital community asset on the part of the City of Windsor. The Building Communities through Arts and Heritage program truly lives up to its name, as it will create a lasting legacy for our entire community. We are extremely grateful for the leadership and support of the City of Windsor administration, dedication from our Mayor and Council, and the support of the federal government in helping to create this legacy."
– Sheila Wisdom, Executive Director of the Windsor Symphony Orchestra.