THUNDER BAY – Confederation College is celebrating the completion of a multi-million dollar renovation of its main lecture theatre and performance hall, bolstering virtual learning and the school’s film program with cutting-edge projection technology.
The $2.7 million revamp was supported with a $447,750 grant through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC).
Thunder Bay–Atikokan MPP Kevin Holland was on hand to announce that contribution at an event Friday celebrating the completion of years of work on the theatre.
“The room is remarkable,” he said. “I can’t believe the transformation from when I first saw it. It’s going to enhance the programming here.”
Renamed the Dibaajimogamig Lecture Theatre, the space seats over 170 people and is used for classes, events, and student film screenings and theatrical productions.
Improvements include “smart classroom” technology, audio-visual equipment that will support connection to the college’s seven regional campuses, and accessibility upgrades including a new ramp, making the room compliant with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).
Film program coordinator Eric Weller said the improvements will be a boon for film students thanks to a new high-resolution 4K projector and 7.1 surround sound system.
The room’s visual update included the addition of wood panelling, art including prints by Norval Morrisseau, and theatre-style seating.
Vice-president academic Richard Gemmill called it a stunning transformation for a theatre that still bore the hallmarks of its 1970s-era construction until the roughly two-year renovation completed around the New Year.
“This is the core learning space for multitudes of programs,” he said, including the college’s new standalone four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.
Gemmill also touted the benefits for the school’s respected film program.
“The theatre experience in here is similar to if not better than what you’d see at SilverCity,” he said. “This is why the film folks are really excited… When they’re doing their film night where the students screen their films, they’re actually getting to screen their films just like they would in Hollywood or down in Toronto at a major theatre.”
