April 1, 2014 – Chester, Nova Scotia – Department of Canadian Heritage

Member of Parliament Gerald Keddy, (South Shore–St. Margaret’s), on behalf of Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages Shelly Glover, today announced that the Chester Theatre Council Society is benefiting from a boost of $11,021 to its fundraising efforts through the Sir Christopher Ondaatje Theatre Foundation.

The Government of Canada is providing this funding for the Sir Christopher Ondaatje Theatre Foundation to manage and invest on behalf of Chester Theatre Council Society through the Endowment Incentives component of the Canada Cultural Investment Fund, which encourages Canadians to donate to professional arts organizations.

Quick Facts

• The building now known as the Chester Playhouse was originally a movie theatre but now showcases a variety of performing arts. It was purchased by Sir Christopher Ondaatje in 1987 and donated to the Chester Theatre Council Society in1992.
• The mission of the Chester Theatre Council Society is “to foster, promote, encourage and develop the performing arts and to maintain a community arts facility in the municipality of the district of Chester.”
• With this latest grant, the Sir Christopher Ondaatje Theatre Foundation has received a total of $135,167 in grants over the life of the program, matching $176,428 in private-sector donations to the endowment fund to benefit the Chester Theatre Council Society.
• In the last seven years from 2006–2007 and including 2013–2014, the Endowment Incentives component has provided more than $132 million to various endowment funds in Canada, while the private sector has provided $185 million, for a total of over $317 million.

Quotes

“Performing arts play a vital role in ensuring the cultural and economic vitality of our communities. Our investment supports the Chester Theater Council’s philanthropic efforts while benefiting the residents of Chester.”
—Shelly Glover, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages

“We are pleased to support the Chester Theatre Council in fulfilling its role of showcasing performing arts in Nova Scotia. Today’s announcement demonstrates that we are serious about supporting organizations that enrich their community’s cultural life and strengthen its economy.”
—Gerald Keddy, Member of Parliament (South Shore–St. Margaret’s)

"On behalf of the Chester Playhouse, the Ondaatje Foundation, and the community served by these organizations, I thank the Government of Canada for its support and generosity. This strategic funding and the interest it generates have allowed our Playhouse to budget its income more predictably.”
—John Cowans, Vice President of the Ondaatje Foundation

src:news.gc.ca