The executive director of the Massey Theatre Society says the New Westminster school board might knock down  a historic performing arts facility to make room for a new high school.

In a phone interview with the Georgia Straight, Jessica Schneider said many experts have recommended transforming the 1,260-seat  Massey Theatre into a civic facility because it serves the community very well.

"We have a 25-year, very accountable, well-governed board of directors that's raised a lot of money, maintained the theatre, and operated it," she said. "New Westminster has a lot of large-scale arts organizations as a result of this theatre."

The Royal City Musical Theatre, the Royal City Youth Ballet, and the New Westminster Symphony all rely on the facility. It provides space for community, educational, and professional groups.

Schneider said that part of the problem is that the City of New Westminster and the school board don't have a joint planning process for  an enormous  block bounded by 8th and 10th avenues, and 6th and 8th streets.

The city owns half the site. Its portion includes a stadium, a skate park, and an arena, according to Schneider.

The school district owns the land that houses New Westminster secondary school and the Massey Theatre.

"The school district doesn't own any other land," Schneider said. "They need a new high school."

Report raises concerns:

Schneider said her worries about   a potential demolition were elevated by a building-assessment report that went to the school board on September 29.

Written by Atelier Pacific Architecture, it claimed that the Massey Theatre is "reaching the end of its useful life expectancy and has major deficiencies". It claimed it would cost $18.2 million to upgrade the building.

The report specifically cited the following areas of concerns:

* structural issues, including poor seismic resistance

* electrical shortcomings, with a required energy upgrade to the majority of the lighting

* asbestos, PCBs, lead, mercury, and stored chemicals that are prevalent throughout the majority of the facility

* the need for mechanical replacements, including a new rooftop air-handling unit for the main theatre space

* architectural refinishings that would be necessary as a result of asbestos removal and seismic upgrades

A separate report by Gage-Babcock  & Associates  found that the general fire and life safety aspects of the building are "deficient". However, it noted that they are in reasonable condition when compared to similar buildings of its age.

Schneider described the Atelier Pacific Architecture report as a "turnoff", which could  enhance arguments for the demolition of the theatre.

She said  the report  includes unnecessary recommendations, such as the replacement of all the seats.

"We need to lay to rest any sort of belief that it's not a safe and functional and viable theatre,"  Schneider said. "It absolutely is. It's unique in the region. It has huge potential and it has been mired in these issues forever."

She  pointed out  that the Massey Theatre Society was not offered any opportunity to provide input into the study, even though this was requested.

"We've been requesting access to the school-development site process for years," Schneider added.

Site also contains burial grounds:

The Massey Theatre was built in 1949 by the provincial and federal governments, and it was transferred to the school district.

Canadians for Reconciliation, which is a group of historical activists, has waged a campaign this year to highlight  unnamed graves on the site.

Spokesperson Bill Chu told the Straight that many Chinese pioneers and others who were from marginalized communities were buried in various locations.  

"They don't know exactly where the Chinese cemetaries were," Chu said.

He said the school district should do  "nondestructive testing", which can be conducted with radar, to  determine if there are bones buried in any areas before considering construction of a new school.

He noted that bones have been found near the existing school on the site.  

"We are not speaking for the Chinese," Chu said.  "We are speaking for all the marginalized people who were buried and...they should have some respect."

Schneider said that any cemetaries on the site was never decommissioned and the bodies were never removed. Structures were simply built on top of the ground.

"The lines of the original cemetary are quite broad," she said. "So it's really not known what part was actively used for burial and what part wasn't. The school district is in the situation where they are not allowed to build a new school where the old school is."

City plans new facility:

Meanwhile, the City of New Westminster is planning a $35-million site in the downtown area, which will include a theatre.

A 2008 city-commissioned report--prepared by Lydia Marston-Blaaw and Associates Consultants for the Arts--  identified a need for a 300-to-400 seat flexible theatre.

It would provide a home for dance, music, ethnocultural events, theatre, multimedia presentations, and interactive performances.

Schneider noted that this recommendation was made on the understanding that the Massey Theatre would continue to exist.

The city-commissioned report  stated, in fact, that the Massey Theatre is "very important to New Westminster's cultural activity". It added that it is also a vital asset to the region because of its size and capabilities.

"Although fraught with complications of ownership and use, this theatre is an irreplaceable and profoundly valuable community asset,"  the Marston-Blaaw  report noted.

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