Former Okotoks church receives town's 1st historic designation
Church was built in 1906 and became the home of the performing arts centre in the 2000s
A popular community landmark has become the first building to receive a heritage designation in Okotoks, Alta.
Town council approved the bylaw for the designation on Monday.
The Rotary Performing Arts Centre's building has been a mainstay on Elma Street for more than a century.
Originally built in 1906 by the Methodist Church for $5,100, it became home to of one of the first United Church congregations in Canada in 1917.
The merger of the Methodist and Presbyterian congregations happened eight years before the churches formally amalgamated across Canada.
In 2002, the church was put up for sale, and the town's arts council purchased the building and turned it into a theatre. It received a $1-million renovation in 2009, to fix the building's foundation which was found to be severely compromised.
The church's unique design, steeply pitched roof and bell tower all added to its historical value.
"Recognizing this beloved community landmark as an historical resource demonstrates how heritage conservation supports the Town of Okotoks vision, including aesthetics, history, culture, economy, tourism, sustainability and the retention and enhancement of Okotoks' character and unique sense of place," said Mayor Bill Robertson in a statement posted to the town's website.
Okotoks is exploring an additional 15 sites that could have potential for heritage designation, including Old Macleod Trail and the Okotoks Art Gallery at the Station.
With files from CBC Calgary News at 6