Stage Door News
Stage Door News
Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, July 27, 2013 . . . People with disabilities living in and visiting Niagara will soon benefit from improved accessibility at places like the Shaw Festival as a result of funding from the Government of Canada. The announcement was made Friday by the Honourable Rob Nicholson, P.C., Q.C., Member of Parliament for Niagara Falls and Minister of National Defence, on behalf of the Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Employment and Social Development, at the Shaw Festival, which is receiving grant funding under the Enabling Accessibility Fund.
“The Shaw has been entertaining both local and international audiences for over 50 years, and our Government is proud to help people with disabilities gain better access to all of their wonderful productions” said Minister Nicholson. “We are dedicated to ensuring all Canadians have the opportunity to enjoy and participate more fully in all that Niagara has to offer.”
The Shaw was particularly honoured to host Minister Nicholson, and his wife Arlene at Friday evening’s opening of The Light in the Piazza in the Court House Theatre.
The Shaw is receiving $50,000 which will allow it to improve accessibility in three of its four Niagara-on-the-Lake-based theatres. The main purpose of the grant is the construction of a new entrance and the installation of a lift at the Royal George Theatre. Additionally, funds have also been allocated for the installment of seven automatic door openers in the Festival Theatre, Production Centre and Royal George Theatre’s accessible washrooms. This funding is being provided through the Enabling Accessibility Fund, which has supported over 1,000 projects across the country since the first call for proposals in 2008.
To continue to improve accessibility in facilities across Canada, including workplaces, the Government of Canada proposed in Economic Action Plan 2013 to extend the Enabling Accessibility Fund on an ongoing basis at $15 million per year.
The celebration continues tonight with the opening of the Eda Holmes-directed Arcadia, Tom Stoppard’ multilayered masterpiece, at the Studio Theatre.
For more information on our 2013 season, performance schedule and ticket information, please visit www.shawfest.com or call 1-800-511-SHAW.
Arcadia is sponsored by Paradigm Capital Inc.
Photo: Court House Theatre. ©2007 Shaw Festival.
2013-07-26
Niagara-on-the-Lake: Shaw Festival receives accessibility funding from the Government of Canada