After St. Clair College ended contract last year, two external groups came forward with proposals to take over, but based on a scoring matrix of several factors it was recommended the Municipality assume management of the facility.
However not everyone around the council table was happy with the decision, including East Kent representative Steve Pinsonneault.
“To me, I think it should have been explored a little more,” Pinsonneault says. “We shouldn’t be in the theatre business.”
On the other hand, Ward Six Councillor Brock McGregor believes having the Capitol in municipal hands is the right choice.
Based on the recommendations it was really the only choice moving forward,” McGregor says. “It’s important we view this as an opportunity to keep the Capitol Theatre as a cornerstone and something that’s really important in our cultural community and really important to downtown Chatham.”
It will cost just over $500,000 to run the theatre each year.