Fredericton breaks ground on citys new performing arts centre – New Brunswick [Video]

City leaders and Fredericton Playhouse representatives broke ground on the city’s new performing arts centre, symbolizing a beginning to its construction.

Tim Yerxa, the Fredericton Playhouse’s executive director, said it took over a decade to get to this milestone.

“This has been a project that has been anticipated, and worked on, for a long time, so it’s very exciting to get to this point,” he said at the ceremony.

In 2019, the centre was projected to cost about $45 million, but current estimates put it at $81.7 million or higher.

“Will things go up, will things change? Yes, that’s true — individual tenders, some will come in high, some will come in low,” Yerxa said after the ceremony.

Fredericton Mayor Kate Rogers said the city will provide between $22 million and $24 million for the project.

But community remains a key focus. The ground-breaking included a time of smudging by Wolostoq Grand Chief Ron Tremblay, …