News
October 28th 2009
What’s in a name?
Winnipeggers can leave their mark all over the city
These chairs in the CanWest Centre for Theatre and Film will soon be replaced by permanent seating bearing the names of donors who shelled out $500 per seat. by Naomi Simiyu
There are plenty of opportunities right now for Winnipeggers to put their individual stamp on their city.
The CanWest Centre for Theatre and Film is currently selling the naming rights for seats in its new theatre building. For $500 per seat, donors will have their name engraved on a plaque on the back of a seat.
The money earned from the seat sale is expected to go towards purchasing permanent seating in the theatre. The centre sold around 40 seats in the first two weeks.
Tim Babcock, chair of the theatre department at the University of Winnipeg, said the seat sale has had a great start “largely due to the fact that it’s not too expensive and sponsors will see where their money is going.”
While the university’s campaign seems to be taking off, similar efforts by the city appear to have stalled.
The City of Winnipeg is currently working on a public fundraising campaign called Sponsor Winnipeg. The campaign, announced over a year ago, involves selling the naming rights of public facilities like community centres, libraries, swimming pools, parks and certain buildings.
According to Ed Shiller, manager of corporate communications for the city, the program is not yet fully launched, and the city is laying the groundwork for the project while negotiations with potential sponsors continue.
“It looks hopeful that it will achieve some degree of success from ... Winnipeg,” said Shiller. “It offers mutual benefits for both the city and the sponsors. There is no reason as to why the project would not succeed.”
Any organization involved in the campaign will have to pass through a vetting process to ensure it’s an organization the city would like to be associated with.
While the seat sale at the U of W is picking up speed, more funds are needed to further develop the centre.
The theatre is currently named after its building sponsor CanWest, and Babcock said the possibility of future contributions from companies in further development of the theatre would probably see some of the facilities in the theatre named after its sponsor.
However, Babcock said the centre welcomes contributions from both individuals and organizations.
A date has not yet been set for the official launch of Sponsor Winnipeg, however Shiller expects it to be launched soon.
To purchase a seat in the new theatre go to http://www.uwinnipegfoundation.ca or call 789-1470.
This article appeared in Volume 64, Number 09 of The Uniter, published October 29th 2009.
