Financial constraints faced by the Gibsons Landing Heritage Society have not slowed its pace or breadth of activities, attendees heard during the organization’s annual general meeting on Oct. 24. The gathering was held at the Heritage Playhouse in Gibsons, which opened as a performing arts venue a quarter-century ago following years of renovation by the nonprofit body.
“We’re happy to say that we’re busy as audiences continue to attend the entertainment offered at the playhouse,” said society president Dianne Evans, “from films to music, dance and drama and — this year — an all-candidates meeting.”
The society was formed in 1987 to spearhead restoration of the playhouse. The structure was originally raised in 1929 by the Howe Sound Women’s Institute, but later spent three decades serving as a school district maintenance building.
By obtaining grant funding, the group’s seven-member volunteer board has overseen a series of technical upgrades during the past two years. Energy-hungry incandescent lighting was supplanted by efficient LED fixtures, decreasing the latest annual electricity bills by $1,700. In 2024, a $5,000 injection from the Sunshine Coast Regional District (matched by the Stewart Foundation), led to upgrades for the facility’s sound system and a digital timing mechanism for outdoor lights.
Another energy-efficiency initiative — the addition of a heat pump system — led to unexpected costs that compelled the society to borrow funds. After installation was initially estimated at $30,000, costs skyrocketed even further.
“In January 2024, having exhausted all the fundraising avenues open to us, we approached the Sunshine Coast Credit Union,” said Evans. “We were successful in obtaining an interest-only loan for the full amount of $30,000 over one year, and we’ve just been able to extend this arrangement for one more year.”
A fundraising campaign launched this month aims to amass resources for loan repayment and extensive building upgrades. The Sunshine Coast Film Society became the inaugural donor with a $5,000 donation to the initiative.
“Basically, we’re just running the way we have been,” said treasurer Dona Reel. “Really, we can’t charge that much for all of our stuff because it’s a community facility and it’s a limit to how much parents will pay for kids to dance and all that kind of thing.” Reel noted that a reduction to the number of dance productions at the playhouse this spring led to a $6,000 decrease in revenues.
Although the Heritage Playhouse property and building are wholly owned by the Town of Gibsons, the society itself is responsible for insurance, maintenance and operation costs. Evans credited the facility’s manager Zeta Gaudet for her “wonderful” oversight of administration and bookings that offset expenses.
Meanwhile, the society’s heritage committee of Diana Robertson and Fred Inglis has become active in historical advocacy within the Gibsons area. “We’ve continued to develop relationships with both the town and the museum to talk about how we might work together on education and advocacy on behalf of the community’s heritage,” explained Evans.
The board of directors has expressed concern about the impact of new developments on heritage values particularly in Lower Gibsons, including in a midsummer submission to Gibsons council. “Unfortunately, without a municipal Gibsons Landing Heritage Bylaw or heritage planning guidelines in place, new developments and off-coast investors may easily erase conservation and revitalization efforts to meet provincial quotas for new apartment/condo units,” they wrote in July.
Using a one-time grant from BC Heritage, the society plans to launch a newly-updated database of Gibsons-area heritage sites and a related website by the year’s end.
Details about Gibsons Landing Heritage Society initiatives and donation opportunities are available by browsing to heritageplayhouse.com.
