Beaver Regional Arts Society Celebrates its 40th Season

Beaver Regional Arts Society Celebrates its 40th Season

Michelle Pinon News Advertiser

It was a bright Sunday afternoon. The temperature was hovering around minus 4 degrees celsius.

Perry Story, along with several other volunteer members with the Beaver Regional Arts Society (BRAS) were standing outside of the Paragon Theatre in Holden waiting to greet and hold the doors open for concert goers arriving to hear Arrival, an ABBA Tribute Band from Vancouver perform on stage. It was a full house in the 285 seat theatre as tickets had been sold out for weeks.

Inside Christine McKay and several other BRAS members were taking tickets and visiting with patrons. “On average we have two buses,” said McKay. But today, (Feb. 23), there were four charter buses from Edmonton. Bruce Lacon and Helen Skuba, a couple of the passengers from the Sage Seniors Association of Edmonton were chatting before the show. It was the second time they had been to the theatre, commenting on the nice drive and how they were enjoying the fun outing.

George and Christine Gardiner, seated near the front row, said they decided to attend the show because it was a great price and knew the entertainment would be good. George’s mother Pearl Komarnisky came from the Holden area, and he worked and lived in the community as a technician with Alberta Government Telephones in the sixties and seventies. Over the years the couple would make several trips to the area to visit George’s cousins and were happy to be back in the village.

“I graduated in 1980 on this very stage,” said Vince Hrabec. He hadn’t been back to the theatre since, but said it was a part of his roots, and had fond memories of watching movies at the theatre growing up. It was Hrabec’s friend Gerry Severn who had bought him and a couple of other friends tickets to the show. They, along with other guests of the show were treated to anniversary cake and punch during intermission. Guests also enjoyed a delicious supper, that is prepared and served by community and church groups at the community centre after the show.

Posters, pictures and memorabilia were displayed throughout the theatre to commemorate the 40th anniversary. Some of the previous headliners were: Bobby Curtola, Danny Hooper, and Gary Fjellgaard to name a few.

BRAS hosts four shows a season, and the Canadian Country Music Legends will close out the 40th season on March 22. Members of this group include: award winning singer Joyce Smith, leader George Myren, fiddle champion Alfie Myhre, the Rodeo Wind Band, and Randy Holler, who will be performing a tribute to Wilf Carter.

Ticket takers offer up their best smiles and gracious hospitality for patrons attending the ABBA tribute show.

The Paragon Theatre was built in 1952. It operated as a movie theatre until 1964 or ’65. It remained closed for 13 years. George Baker, who worked as a parks and recreation administrator with Beaver County, had a dream of having a regional arts centre in the community. With the help of other civic minded individuals Beaver County purchased the facility for $1 and formed the BRAS in 1976. Its mandate was to manage the facility, and officially opened the performing arts centre on March 17, 1979. BRAS operated the facility until 2016 when the Beaverhill Players took over operations and changed the name back to the Paragon Theatre. BRAS now rents the theatre from the Beaverhill Players to host the annual season series.