ThunderBay Community Auditorium Almost 40 Years Old!

BYSCOTTA.

I sat down with recently appointed General Manager of the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, Trevor Hurtig to talk about some history, recent changes to it’s organizational structure and future direction.

The ThunderBay Community Auditorium has been prominent in the region forquite awhile now Trevor?

“ The Thunder Bay Community Auditorium opened October 16,1985 so getting close to 40 years old. The building was very technologically advanced for it’s time and to this day many of the artists that come through still consider it to be very warm and one of the finest halls in Canada. The acoustics are second to none. There are somethings that need updates but the acoustics and audience chamber are hold- ing their own. Today the building is valued at $40 million dollars but would probably cost even more now to build from scratch.”

The ThunderBay Community Auditorium has played an important role in ThunderBay and region?

“It has done what everyone hoped it would I believe. It was supposed to be an entertainment hub, not just for Thunder Bay, but the entire region. We still spend a lot of time reaching out into the region letting people know this is the Community Auditorium and the community stretches beyond Thunder Bay. I do a little radio show on CFNO in Marathon and have people coming in and want to talk to Trevor. We get people coming in from Marathon, Geraldton and Manitouwadge who will drive in, see a show, spend the night and do some shopping.We also have people from the west coming in from as far as Dryden or Red Lake.They may have a medical appointment as well.”

On average how many show have you done overthe years at the ThunderBay Community Auditorium before Covid?

“ We were averaging about 100 shows a year and seeing about 140,000 to 150,000 people through the doors during the season. We reopened about a year ago after Covid and had 81 shows or events in that period with just over 60,000 people through the doors, so we are coming back up. It has been a bit of a climb but we are getting there.”

The ThunderBay Community Auditorium has a good economic impact on the city and region?

“Yes, Tourism Thunder Bay has done some reports over the years especially when we did Bluesfest and it was in the millions.”

There are a broad range of types of events at the ThunderBay Community Auditorium from rock symphony etc.

“The building was built to be able to do a variety of shows. The orchestra pit was done to be able to do Broadway type shows.We also retro fitted that so we could turn it into a mosh pit for certain rock concerts or up beat country shows or some of the punk shows that have come through here. It also allows the symphony to sit on the edge of the stage if you will. The ceiling will drop down on the stage and create an acoustic situation where the sound will project better into the audience. Also there are wooden panels that come out at the back of the stage to help project the sound forward to the audience chamber. You can tune the hall with draperies down the side raised or lowered to make the sound more lively or dead if you will. It allows us to do many different things in here.We have a loose slogan that “we try to do something for everybody” and based on our numbers we get a good percentage of the population through here at some point in time. Ballet, symphony, comedy- we try to do a bit of everything.We are still climbing out of the hole that Covid left us but getting there one step at a time.”

How many staff work at the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium?

“We have 7 full time staff and about 150 part time staff and that would include the technical staff on the stage, ushers, bartenders and box office. We are currently working to fill some positions as well.”

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