20 June 2014 / Ottawa – Mayor Jim Watson unveiled an art installation, the renovated theatre, and reception hall kitchen at the Bronson Centre this past Friday.
Sister Joan Cronin Superior General of the Grey Sisters was there to celebrate. Over 150 people attended the event. A barbecue lunch was served up by Liz Gauthier and many volunteers of the Good Day Workshop (Shepherds of Good Hope) and music was provided by the Leading Note Foundation.
The artwork, “Community Channel” by Andrew O’Malley, features larger-than-life silhouettes representing community members. It is illuminated with coloured LED lights that change throughout the days and seasons to depict individuality and unity. The work is part of the Bronson Avenue Renewal project commissioned by the City of Ottawa Public Art Program.
Transformations to the Bronson Centre’s 850-seat theatre, supported by the Ontario Trillium Foundation and the Community Foundation of Ottawa, will accommodate a wider range of uses. The public and many of the Centre’s 40 permanent tenants rely on the theatre to raise funds and celebrate community.
“Audience and artist can be in one and the same space. It is a very exciting opportunity for Ottawa performers and audiences,” says project architect Angelo Spadola. He calls the theatre’s new design “unique and versatile for Ottawa”.
The Bronson Centre reception hall community kitchen is also undergoing a renovation. Thanks to the support from the federal New Horizons for Seniors Program, the kitchen will see new appliances installed by this fall.
Renovations showcased at this event are part of a broader plan to improve the Bronson Centre’s infrastructure and sustainability. Fund raising is well underway to cover facilities upgrades, retrofitting for energy efficiency, and other modernizing.
Everyone is welcome to come visit the exterior artwork at the Bronson Centre at any time of the day or night! Just bike, walk, bus, or drive to 211 Bronson Avenue, Ottawa, and look up over the main entrance to see “Community Channel”.
Since 1996 the Bronson Centre is a registered charity that empowers people and communities to live with renewed dignity and hope. Through our affordable offices and facilities, non-profits provide direct services to diverse populations. The Centre fosters a positive environment where tenants and patrons can be productive and successful.