Lincoln town council has committed $200,000 to the development of a new theatre at the future West Niagara Secondary School.
In return, the town, through a service agreement, will get access to recreation and cultural amenities in partnership with the District School Board of Niagara, as well as a commitment to work together on the future of the Beamsville District Secondary School site.
The new high school being built on land in Beamsville, near the border of Lincoln and Grimsby, off Hwy 81. It is scheduled to open in 2022 and will include a theatre that will be a shared asset between the school and the community.
“We are pleased to work with our community partners to contribute to a community asset that will serve the needs of our local community and that will be enjoyed by many in west Niagara,” said Lincoln Mayor Sandra Easton. “The new school and theatre will enrich the lives of not only the students, but also the community as a whole while supporting Council priorities of a connected and vibrant community.”
“This project comes with many community benefits for residents of Lincoln,” added Town of Lincoln CAO Mike Kirkopoulos. “The theatre will provide a space for community and private events and help ensure that Lincoln continues to be a destination for residents and visitors alike. We see this as an asset to our tourism community.”
The District School Board of Niagara has allocated $4.2 million of the required $6.8 million needed to build the new school. The Friends of the Arts in West Niagara committee has launched a campaign to raise the remaining $2.6 million needed for the completion of the theatre.
More than 1,500 students expected to attend the new school, which will accommodate students from the now-closed South Lincoln Secondary School and soon-to-be-closed Grimsby Secondary and Beamsville District Secondary School.