The Donor: Peter Partridge

The Gift: $1-million

The Reason: To help build the Performing Arts Centre in St. Catharines, Ont.

Peter Partridge has been involved in the music scene around St. Catharines, Ont., for nearly 50 years, performing in just about every type of venue.

“As an organist, choir master and conductor, I have performed in every conceivable church, chapel, auditorium, gymnasium and banquet hall in St. Catharines,” Mr. Partridge, 71, said from his office at RBC Dominion Securities in the Southern Ontario city where he is a portfolio manager.

“And this experience has taught me St. Catharines genuinely needs a performance venue.”

So when plans were announced a couple of years ago to build a new Performing Arts Centre in the city, Mr. Partridge eagerly got involved and took on the job of raising the last $5-million needed to complete the project.

To get it started, Mr. Partridge made his own donation of $1-million.

The $60-million centre is expected to open in the fall of 2015 and it will include a 775-seat main concert hall and three smaller venues for dance, live theatre and film. It will be located in the downtown core and near Brock University’s new Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts.

“I’m happy to join people in their goals and dreams in a partnership in building something that is going to be here, not just for us, but for our children and our grandchildren and on and on for generations,” he said.

“I can’t wait for it to open.”

NIAGARA THIS WEEK

By Scott Rosts (April 3, 2013)

Peter Partridge is no stranger to the performing arts, but when he took to the centre stage on Tuesday, it was for a completely different reason.

Peter, his wife Janet, son Pete and his wife Poppy, and his other son John, stood centre stage as the crowd around them provided a standing ovation for the family’s lead gift of $1 million to the fundraising campaign for the city’s Performing Arts Centre. The announcement was made during a lunchtime event at the Holiday Inn & Suites Parkway Convention Centre, as the city prepared to ramp up its efforts to reach the $5-million goal.

Partridge said he was honoured to have been asked by Mayor Brian McMullan two years to serve as the chair of the fundraising campaign, and he and his family went above and beyond by providing the major gift. Partridge said he was inspired by the contributions of his wife Janet’s family, the Burgoynes, and how they’ve impacted the community. The Burgoyne name is throughout the community — the Burgoyne Bridge, Bill Burgoyne Arena, and even the pool at the YMCA bears the family name.

“They gave so much back to the community… we thought how do we keep that going?” Partridge said. “(I thought) the next generation should step up and contribute with the goal of giving back like the Burgoyne family did. Our generation, we wanted to do something for the future.”

Now, the Partridge family name will live on at the performing arts centre, with the donation being recognized in the facility’s 775-seat main concert hall, which will be named Partridge Hall. The facility is something Partridge said he strongly believes in — one he called a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” available to the community.

“The new performing arts centre, for all the Niagara region, is the biggest and most important resource or facility of its type that we’re ever likely to see in our lifetime,” he told the gathering. “We will be creating four world-class performance halls, all housed under one roof.”

Partridge, a regular fixture in the arts community who has served as an organist, choirmaster and conductor, said he has performed in a wide variety of venues in the city. But as wonderful as those venues were, the community needs something more, he said.

“It taught me how St. Catharines generally needs a performance venue of the scope and scale of the one we’re here to support today,” he said, adding it’s a long overdue project that will not only help inspire the arts community, but also be a key to downtown revitalization.

Partridge said he hopes the gift from the family will inspire others to consider contributing to the project. From individuals and families, like his own, to businesses, he said there are many opportunities to contribute to the campaign — including a variety of naming opportunities for the other performance venues, and the facility itself.

“We’d love someone to come forward and contribute for the naming opportunity for the entire facility,” he said, noting arts and culture is at “the heart” of the community.

The luncheon, which also featured a two-song performance from The Tenors, was a chance for potential donors to learn about the facility, and Partridge hoped his donation inspires others to give. Steven Solski, performing arts centre executive director, said he hopes it serves as an example as they forge ahead with fundraising for the $60-million, 95,000 sq. ft. facility, which will include venues for music, theatre and film

“This was such a wonderful gift, and hopefully it will provide us some momentum as we move ahead with fundraising,” said Solski.

Momentum, he said, is key as they forge ahead with the project, as they aim to keep it front and centre, and ensure the buzz continues. Just a few weeks ago they unveiled the latest designs for the project at an open house, and those were approved by city council. The project now goes to tender next week, and then by late May, after tenders close, the aim is for council to award the construction bid to allow work to resume on the site at the corner of Carlisle and St. Paul Streets.

The goal is to open the doors to the facility in 2015, with plans to host 600 events annually, and welcome about 125,000 visitors through the doors each year, in addition to 500 Brock University students daily.

By Marlene Bergsma (April 2, 2013)

A St. Catharines family with a decades-long history of generosity is kicking off the fundraising campaign for the new performing arts centre with a $1-million donation.

Peter and Janet Partridge, with their sons, Peter Jr. and John, and daughter-in-law, Poppy, were honoured at a luncheon to celebrate the announcement Tuesday.

Peter Partridge said he was delighted two years ago when he was asked to be the fundraising chair for the centre’s $5-million campaign because he is such a passionate supporter of the arts and because his wife, Janet, is a member of the Burgoyne family, known for its long tradition of supporting community projects.

“How could I possibly turn down the opportunity” to be part of something that will have a transforming effect on the city? he asked.

Partridge said as an organist and choral conductor, he has performed in every “church, chapel and banquet hall our fair city has to offer.” It was all “wonderful,” he said, “but it taught me that St. Catharines genuinely needs” the four new venues that will be part of the new downtown facility.

He said the city needs the centre both as a way to inspire the arts and as a way to rejuvenate downtown.

“Music will flourish, live theatre will thrive and films will be studied and celebrated,” he said. “Urban renewal will breathe new life that is so badly needed in our downtown core. It will have a transformative effect on our entire community.”

Partridge said he was also inspired “on a deeply personal note” by the philanthropic example of Janet’s family, the Burgoynes, former owners of The Standard, “who have done so much over so many years to give back to our community and create public amenities where once before they did not exist.”

Partridge introduced The Tenors, who sang “Lead With Your Heart” and “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen.

“You will love them here but wait ’til you hear them in Partridge Hall,” he said, referring to the new name of the performing arts centre’s biggest venue, the 775-seat concert hall.

Guests at the luncheon gave the Partridge family a standing ovation, but Partridge also put them on notice that they will be asked to give as well.

Partridge told them they had been invited because of their potential as donors, and said they will all be receiving follow-up phone calls.

“Think about what you can do and then do something about it,” he said. There are naming opportunities for donations of every size, he said later.

Arts centre executive director Steve Solski said the centre will have both a direct and indirect economic impact.

“This place will create jobs, this place will create wealth,” Solski said.

“Five years from now, you will not recognize downtown St. Catharines. I am thrilled to be part of it and I can’t wait to get this project started.”

Performing Arts Centre by the numbers

• $60 million total project cost
• 600 events per year
• 125,000 visitors per year
• 500 Brock University students daily
• Seven-day a week activity for 48 weeks of the year
• 20 full-time staff
• 70 part-time staff
• To be built in conjunction with Brock University’s Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts

Concert hall to be named Partridge Hall

St. Catharines, ON – The Partridge family of St. Catharines has made history as the single largest family donor in support of the Performing Arts Centre with today’s million dollar announcement.

Members of the Partridge family, including family patriarch Peter Partridge, joined Mayor Brian McMullan on stage at a lunchtime event to announce the family has donated $1 million to Niagara region’s newest cultural destination.

In recognition of the donation the facility’s 775-seat main concert hall will be named Partridge Hall.

“I am thrilled to be part of this incredible project,” said Mr. Partridge, who is also fundraising cabinet chair of the PAC. “This is an exciting time for the Niagara region. The new Performing Arts Centre is an integral component in the total rejuvenation of St. Catharines’ downtown core and I know many residents, including myself, are looking forward to ushering in this new era.”

As both an accomplished musician, who served as the organist and choirmaster of St. Paul United Church for 27 years before retiring in 2007, and a dedicated community supporter, Mr. Partridge’s involvement in the PAC represents the aligning of his two passions: culture and community. His dedication to the community is shared by the entire Partridge family, who continue to be involved in a variety of charitable and non-for-profit organizations in St. Catharines.

“On behalf of City Council, I would like to express our sincere appreciation for Janet and Peter Partridge’s generosity,” said St. Catharines Mayor Brian McMullan. “Peter is passionate about our community and the arts, and is dedicated to help breathe life into this stunning new cultural and academic complex. We are confident this will build momentum for our PAC fundraising campaign.”

Today’s event to recognize the Partridge family’s generosity was the kick-off of the $5 million public capital campaign for the Performing Arts Centre, slated to open its doors in 2015 in Downtown St. Catharines.

“There are many ways to contribute to our fundraising efforts,” added Mr. Partridge. “This year we will be concentrating on naming opportunities, the major gifts for this project. It is an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have your family, your company or your organization permanently remembered by lending your philanthropic support to this outstanding project”.

The St. Catharines Performing Arts Centre will be a 95,000 sq. ft. facility comprised of four state-of-the-art performance venues. Designed by Diamond + Schmitt Architects, this $60 million academic and cultural complex will annually host 600 events and bring 125,000 visitors downtown. The PAC will be located in the heart of Downtown St. Catharines, on the corner of Carlisle and St. Paul streets, adjacent to the new home of Brock University’s Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts.

By Doug Herod (March 22, 2013)

It appears Brock University may have changed its mind about relocating its arts school to the former Canada Hair Cloth building.

The large banner that for more than a year had pronounced the building as a future Brock expansion was removed from the facade Wednesday morning.

Bummer.

I’m guessing the university will move its school of fine and performing arts to the Pen Centre to take advantage of the synergies with Empire Theatres and, of course, the Laura Secord chocolate store.

You know, Brock…Secord… that whole War of 1812 thing.

What’s that? The banner was removed to make way for the renovation of the Hair Cloth building?

Drat! So much for that scoop.

Now that I have your attention at least, perhaps an update on the Brock project is in order.

That only seems fair, considering the recent ink given to fellow downtown mega-projects, the spectator facility and the performing arts centre.

OK, technically the city’s arts centre isn’t a real project yet. There’s still that potentially troublesome tender process to go through.

But I’ma dewy-eyed optimist, so let’s presume all will end well when the bids are opened in mid-May.

At any rate, we’ve recently seen some updated renderings of the redesigned arts centre, and we’ve been subjected to the constant pounding of pilings for the puck palace. Lost in this activity has been Brock’s school.

Indeed, little has been heard about the project since it was announced in mid-January that a deal had been struck with Bird Construction to do the job. Until the false scare about the removed banner, that is.

I blame Brock for the lack of buzz.

Nearly two months after work started on site, still no ground-breaking ceremony.

Such a fete was supposed to occur in February. But those plans were bumped to March. Not going to happen this month, though. The reason for the delays is that school officials don’t want to risk holding an outside ceremony in chilly weather.

Artsies, eh?

For those of you who don’t get downtown much, take note that the first job on hand was to demolish a centre block in the Canada Hair Cloth complex. Its removal, now complete, clears the way for the construction of a new structure.

Brock vice-president of finance Brian Hutchings said foundations for the new building are being put in place.

Interestingly, while excavating the site workers stumbled upon some buried foundations. Hutchings said it’s believed they were part of the original raceway in the canal valley.

The centre structure will be the only new build in the entire project. The rest of the work involves retrofitting existing buildings, notably the showpiece 19th century stone-and-brick main factory.

Preliminary work has just started on the renovation of those structures, said Hutchings.

The school, including the existing buildings and the new construction, will have a total of 94,500 square feet. The construction cost estimate is $30 million, up from the initially budgeted $26 million.

There you go. An update of sorts.

Yeah, I know it wasn’t much. But the recognition was important. And don’t forget, there was that news about the big banner being removed.

Plans call for a May 2015 move-in, with the first academic term scheduled to start that September.

Hutchings also let it be known the ground-breaking ceremony has been scheduled for May.

Better hope it’s warm.

By Doug Herod (March 7, 2013)

By Standard Staff (March 4, 2013)

The City of St. Catharines is holding a Thursday public open house showcasing updated renderings of the downtown Performing Arts Centre.

It takes place at Market Square on 91 King St. from 4:30 to 7 p.m. and includes samples of interior finishes.

On hand will be representatives of the design team, city and arts centre.

Last November, St. Catharines councillors unanimously approved a scaled-down version of the centre.

They also agreed to send the revised design to tender in April, with the hope of hiring a builder in May, and construction starting that month.

The changes were required to stay within a $42.7 million construction budget.

This after the arts centre suffered a setback last year, when the low bid came almost $10 million higher than the city’s estimate.

New designs unveiled at open house March 7

New designs for the St. Catharines Performing Arts Design will be unveiled during an open house next month.

The open house will be held on March 7 from 4:30-7:30 p.m. inside Market Square.

Updated renderings of the facility will be presented and representatives from the design team, the City and the Performing Arts Centre will be on-hand to speak with residents and answer questions about the new facility.  

The new design is slated to go before council March 18 for approval. After council approves the design, the four pre-qualified bidders – Bird Construction; Carillion Construction; Ellis Don Construction; and Graham Construction and Engineering – will be invited to bid for the above grade construction on April 2.

Council will award the contract May 27, with construction slated to begin in June.

The arts centre will be built at the corner of St. Paul and Carlisle streets and will include four separate venues: a 775-seat concert hall, a theatre/dance venue with up to 210 seats, a 187-seat film theatre and a 300-seat recital hall.

It will be built alongside Brock University’s Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts, which will be constructed in the former Canada Haircloth building.

The new designs come after the tenders for the original design came in more than $10 million over the project’s proposed budget. The bids from four pre-approved general contractors ranged from $52.5 million to $59.9 million, well above the budgeted amount of $42.7 million.

Substantial completion is expected in May 2015, with a propsed grand opening in fall 2015, in time for the inaugural performance season.

By Daria Zmiyiwsky (February 26, 2013)

The seventh annual Singathon fundraiser for Chorus Niagara was held on Feb. 9 at Seaway Mall.

Singathon is Chorus Niagara’s major fundraiser of the year. The 100-voice choral ensemble under the artistic direction of Robert Cooper entertained crowds with a variety of works from their popular and classical repertoire, including Handel’s Hallelujah.

The Chorus Niagara’s Children’s Choir under the direction of Amanda Nelli delighted the audience with their angelic voices.

The choir had a lot of fun with this fundraiser, they invited a few of us from the community as guest conductors. Although Robert gave us instruction on conducting, it wasn’t easy. Symphony conductor Bradley Thachuk was the only one who had the beat nailed. Steve Solski from the Niagara Performing Arts Centre and I struggled, but we had fun.

We are so fortunate in Niagara to have a choir of this calibre. Niagara Chorus Niagara is celebrating 50 years of choral excellence this year.


A special thank you to Jeff Baker for taking fabulous photos.