The complicated relationship between the school board and the Town is causing headaches when it comes to the future of the Rene Caisse Theatre.
Reporting during the latest Town council meeting, Friends of the Caisse council representative Andrew Struthers said the organization was recently denied a Trillium Grant, partially due to the fact that there is no agreement in place with the Trillium Lakelands District School Board (TLDSB).
The theatre is operated through a partnership between the TLDSB and the Bracebridge Arts Council, who oversee the operation and management of the performing arts facility. Friends of the Caisse is a fundraising committee seeking to encourage donors and income opportunities.
“We thought we had closed our agreement and it was up for signatures but (the TLDSB) came back and said, ‘it’s awfully confusing and we might have to take this to the trustees. Why don’t we just issue you a permit instead?’,” said Struthers. “The (Friends) board rejected that because we have a significant investment in equipment and time. We need to push forward with a real agreement that respects the original agreement and why it was built as a theatre for the community.”
Mayor Rick Maloney said he was glad that the Friends of the Caisse held their ground when it came to the agreement with the school board.
“It’s disappointing that you continue to struggle to reach an agreement,” said Maloney. “The purpose of that theatre has been and always will be a community theatre. It’s not classroom 305.”
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