Confed Centre renos delayed several months as final fundraising push begins

Islanders will have to wait a few more months to get their first look at the renovations at the Confederation Centre of the Arts. CEO Steve Bellamy says it will probably be April before they can open their doors to the public. As of recently, we're just a little bit behind. There was a strike recently of the Atlantic Canadian elevator technicians. And of course, we have two elevators as part of this development. So that did put us a little bit behind. The renovations are taking place in the area where the library used to be, but still close enough to the main building, which hosted a busy summer of performances. Because we've maintained 100%, of our operations during the construction, we have run into some challenges, particularly in the backstage area, which is right underneath where we're standing now. Bellamy says the renovated space will host the Centre's Arts Academy, which will offer arts education as well as the Palmer Institute for Canadian Leadership. We also will engage the public through the Arts Innovation Hub, which is our name for the spaces and resources that we put to creating new Canadian content. The renovations will cost about $65 million, which is part of the center's $71.5 million fundraiser called Shared Voices, which also includes $5 million for programs. We're looking to PEI to collectively get us over with another million dollars. Bellamy says despite initial concerns about the construction project, he believes it has caused little disruption and when it's completed will add to the city's downtown. And I think the aha will be people just walking into that atrium in the middle of the building or walking into this Clancy Hall and realizing these incredible new facilities that we have in downtown Charlottetown. So we just we can't wait. If all goes as planned, Bellamy says staff at the center will move in here in February or March. Nancy Russell, CBC News, Charlottetown.