For Immediate Release
September 07, 2007

John Baird Opens New Home of the Great Canadian Theatre Company

(OTTAWA) – The Honourable John Baird, Minister of the Environment and Member of Parliament for Ottawa West–Nepean, yesterday offered words of congratulations to the Great Canadian Theatre Company on the opening of its new home, the Irving Greenberg Theatre Centre.

“This facility is a significant addition to Ottawa’s cultural infrastructure,” said Minister Baird.  “The new centre will not only allow the Great Canadian Theatre Company to better showcase Canadian theatre talent, but is also a great example of green architectural design.”

“The Great Canadian Theatre Company appreciates the support of the Government of Canada and is pleased to have had Minister John Baird join us for the official Grand Opening,” said Nancy Oakley, General Manager.  “Minister Baird is a long-time friend of the GCTC, and has supported this project from the very beginning.  His participation was especially fitting given his leadership as Minister of the Environment and the new Irving Greenberg Theatre Centre’s green design.”

The newly-built theatre complex includes two separate performance spaces. The main theatre will seat 265 people, and the smaller studio space will seat 90 people. A distinctive feature of the new facility is its cutting-edge environmental design.

The Government of Canada approved financial assistance of $3 million towards the construction of the Irving Greenberg Theatre through the Department of Canadian Heritage’s Cultural Spaces Canada program. Cultural Spaces Canada supports cultural infrastructure projects that increase access for Canadians to performing, visual, and media arts and that improve physical conditions for artistic creativity and innovation.

Further information:
Office of John Baird, MP                                                         
Ottawa West-Nepean
613-996-0984