The York Theatre Asks For Your Support

The newly renovated York Theatre in East Vancouver needs help from the community. The Cultch, which manages the York Theatre, hopes to name the stage of the newly renovated theatre and place exterior signage on the building to recognize a financial contribution offered by West Coast Reduction Ltd. 

In order for The Cultch to receive the $2 million gift and move forward with these changes, the naming agreement and signage proposal must be approved by City Council. The Cultch's executive director Heather Redfern has issued the following request for community support:

Dear friend of The Cultch and York Theatre,

We need your support! This December, The Cultch opened the newly renovated York Theatre to wild acclaim and packed houses with the family hit Jack & the Beanstalk: An East Van Panto. This production was the first of many to come in a building that will be an invaluable community resource.

Over the next few months, the York will be home to a variety of organizations and productions including the PuSh Festival’s Nanook of the North, Patrick Street Productions’ Out of a Dream and Floyd Collins, and City Opera’s world premiere of Margaret Atwood’s Pauline. Our vision is that the York will revitalize the north corridor of Commercial Drive between Venables and Hasting Streets. But, in order to ensure that vision is a sustainable reality, we need financial support.

How can The Cultch and the York Theatre be sustainable? 
The East-Vancouver-based and family-owned and operated business of West Coast Reduction Ltd. is poised to contribute $2 million to The Cultch, thus providing much needed financial stability during a time of immense change and growth for the organization. Following in the Vancouver tradition of the naming of other heritage buildings such as the “Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage” and “Scotiabank Dance Centre,” The Cultch hopes to name the stage of the York Theatre and place exterior signage on the building that recognizes West Coast Reduction’s contribution. This gift represents the single largest corporate donation made in The Cultch’s history, and is a critical piece to the York Theatre’s viability.

How will this help?
The significant funds raised from this naming will support the ongoing operations of the York Theatre. It will keep the lights on, the theatre clean and warm, and most importantly it will enable The Cultch to support outstanding theatre, music and dance, especially from local artists in East Vancouver.

Who is West Coast Reduction Ltd.?

West Coast Reduction Ltd. (WCR) is an East Vancouver- based, family-owned and operated business since 1964 that likes to pay it forward, especially within its own community. For over two decades, WCR has been an ongoing annual supporter not only of The Cultch, but also of a number of East Vancouver-based community organizations including the Kettle Friendship Society. Because many of WCR’s staff live and work in the Grandview-Woodlands community, this extraordinary company has a deep investment to the community it operates in. As a critical environmental player and key recycler in Vancouver, WCR strongly believes in sustainability at the community level.

What will the exterior sign look like?

• It’s low-tech and unobtrusive
• It will progressively dim as it gets darker; by evening the sign will only be at 30% of its brightness
• It will be controlled and monitored by The Cultch
• On the fascia sign, the lighting will come from below the sign and point upward
• The sign’s lighting will be turned off at 11 pm each day

How can I help?
Over the next week, the City of Vancouver will be conducting a phone poll. We ask that you share your support for this proposal! In order for The Cultch to receive this $2 million gift, City Council must approve this naming agreement and exterior signage proposal.

You can also submit your support by:
email: mayorandcouncil@vancouver.ca
mail: City of Vancouver
City Clerk’s Office
453 West 12th Avenue, Third Floor
Vancouver, BC V5Y 1V4

If you’d like to speak at the Public Hearing on Tuesday, January 21 at 6 p.m. at City Hall, please register individually before 5 p.m. on January 21 by:
email: publichearing@vancouver.ca
phone: 604.829.4238
in-person: 5:30 to 6 p.m. on the day of the Public Hearing

Please spread the word by sharing this with your networks!

Please do not hesitate to contact me at 604.251.1766 or heather@thecultch.com, if you have any questions or would like to chat further.

Thank you so much for your ongoing support of The Cultch and the new York Theatre!

Heather Redfern
Executive Director