PUGWASH, N.S. — For several years Lisa Betts has been watching as the Pugwash Gathering of the Clans continues to grow, but something was always holding it back.
That something was an aging stage that was used for the Highland dancing competitions and entertainment during the July 1 celebration of the community’s Scottish heritage.
Replacing the facility has begun in historic Eaton Park and that project got a significant boost Tuesday when three levels of government came together to announce $450,000 in funding for the project that will be ready for the annual celebration.
“This will give us a first-class performing arts amphitheatre, not only for the Gathering of the Clans, but for other events in Pugwash,” Lisa Betts, who coordinates the annual festival, said following the announcement. “We will have a real backstage so the dancers can actually change and practice and not have to worry about getting their feet wet and for our artists and entertainers will actually have a bit of a green room instead of having to use my office at the village hall.”
The amphitheatre includes a new outdoor stage with a full sloped roof that will amplify sound projection, a larger performance area, two dressing rooms, two washrooms, a storage room and an office.
Betts, who is also village clerk for Pugwash, said the festival attracts approximately 25,000 annually and creating the new performing space shows how far the festival has come in the past decade after almost coming to an end.
“We came close to dissolving about 12 years ago and it became a village project,” Betts said. “It needed someone committed to bringing in the acts and the dancers and coordinating everything. It’s a big project and this announcement certainly enhances what we can do and ensures we can offer a quality festival every year and Eaton Park can host numerous other events.”
Cumberland-Colchester MP Bill Casey knows the importance of the Gathering of the Clans to the community.
“As a venue for local events, like the Gathering of the Clans, HarbourFest and the Tall Ships Festival, this amphitheatre will be a primary gathering point for community members and visitors,” Casey said. “This investment will enable the village to replace, transform and improve a key piece of community infrastructure.”
Village commission chair Bill Martin the project is an important one for the village.
“This is not a stage, we’re trying to build something bigger and better – an outdoor performance centre and we’re hopeful much more will take place in this centre than the traditional events that are held in the park,” Martin said.
The federal government is committing $250,000 through ACOA’s Innovative Communities Fund, while the Municipality of Cumberland is providing $75,000 and the Village of Pugwash is providing $125,000 - $40,000 of which is coming from the proceeds of the Gathering of the Clans.
