BONNYVILLE - Clayton Bellamy cut the ribbon during the grand opening ceremony for the Strathcona Performing Arts Centre on April 30, in Bonnyville.
Bellamy is a musician and songwriter who grew up performing in Bonnyville and is the lead vocalist and guitarist for the band The Road Hammers. Bellamy is also the president of the Clayton Bellamy Foundation for the Arts – the group that fundraised over $2 million towards the completion of the new theatre.
“This is a celebration of community vision, perseverance, creativity, and collaboration. A dream three years in the making, brought to life through the commitment of so many people who believe in the power of the arts and bringing people together,” said Bellamy.
The event hosted guests to join in the ribbon cutting ceremony, hear speeches from sponsors and dignitaries, and enjoy performances by renowned fiddler Calvin Vollrath, and surprise performer Brett Kissel. Clayton Bellamy also took to the new stage for the first time.
Bellamy noted the theatre is in the heart of the Lakeland, and it is more than just a building.
“It's a stage for our stories, a home for the arts, and a space where our kids' imagination and expression can thrive. It will be a place where students find their voice, where musicians, actors, and dancers come live, and where audiences from across the region will come together to experience something unforgettable,” said Bellamy.
He thanked donors, volunteers, and supporters for their community spirit and assistance in creating a theatre that will be enjoyed by generations.
Corita Vachon, President of the Lakeland Society for Truth and Reconciliation, provided a land acknowledgement, and gifted Clayton Bellamy with a white spruce seedling.
“The white spruce tree is seen in our culture as a sign of resilience, renewal, and protection. In the spirit of respect, reciprocity, and truth, I give to you today this tree. As you watch it grow, may we always be reminded of our friendship, commitment, and journey together,” said Vachon.
Bonnyville born and raised playwright Lyle Victor Albert, who had the community’s previous theatre named after him, wrote a letter for the opening ceremony, which Bellamy read for the crowd.
“In a world seduced by algorithms and the latest TikTok trends, the performing arts deliver an old-fashioned flesh and blood, eye-to-eye, communal experience that can't be replicated through an iPhone or computer screens. Performing arts is as real as it gets, baby,” wrote Albert.
Albert thanked all the people who put so much hard work into the creation of the theatre, and said “It’s these people that make the arts perform.”
Town of Bonnyville Mayor Elisa Brosseau described the theatre as a gift to Bonnyville.
“We know it will become a cultural cornerstone for the entire region. As mayor and council, we recognize the vital role that arts and culture play in building a vibrant community . . . let’s celebrate this incredible achievement,” said Brosseau.
MD of Bonnyville Reeve Barry Kalinski gave a speech about the young community members he knows will benefit from the theatre.
“There’s a young gentleman in my area who plays guitar in our church . . . This kid loves Johnny Cash and he can really play, it’s impressive, and I'm pretty sure he’s going to be on this stage someday. It makes me proud of our area,” said Kalinski.
Dale Babiak, Chief Operating Officer at Strathcona Resources, said they are honoured to be a part of the project.
“We believe that having a dedicated space for artistic interests and passions is critical to developing a sense of belonging and community. The Strathcona Performing Arts Centre will provide the opportunity to support young and promising local artists to follow their dreams while engaging in entertaining the community,” said Babiak.
Canadian country singer Brett Kissel, who comes from the Flat Lake area, recalled performing at the old Lyle Victor Albert Centre in Bonnyville when he was young. He told the audience that he jumped at the opportunity to come and help celebrate the opening of the new theatre and acknowledged the incredible amount of work that Bellamy and his team put into spearheading this project.
“I had such a great start at the Lyle Victor Albert Centre, and there's going to be so many kids who are going to be playing and performing and spending time on this stage. So again, thank you to each and every one of you for making a difference,” said Kissel.
Bellamy highlighted the many upcoming performances booked at the Strathcona Performing Arts Centre, and told the audience that although their Heartstrings and Honky Tonks event is sold out, people can still tune into it live on CFCW radio on May 3 at 7 p.m.
Bellamy reminded people about their third annual Golf and Gala fundraiser on Aug. 29 and 30.
“We’ve got Patricia Conroy, Emmerson Drive, and a whole bunch of amazing artists are going to be there, and we’ve got our million-dollar hole in one again. . . It’s our major fundraiser to keep the doors open and the lights on at the theatre,” said Bellamy.
The crowd rose to give Bellamy a standing ovation for his efforts in making the theatre a reality.
“Thank you for being a part of this historic evening. Let's celebrate what we built, and all the stories still to come,” said Bellamy.
