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WHO WE ARE

The Government of Alberta

As Government of Alberta buildings, the Northern and Southern Jubilee auditoria were built
to stand as cultural and community institutions in the province. Under the leadership of
Premier E.C. Manning, the facilities were created as a gift to Albertans upon the 50^th anniversary of the province. In a similar move, Premier Ralph Klein took steps to renovate the buildings in celebration of the provincial centennial. After substantial main theatre renovations throughout 2004-2005, the facilities are ready to serve Alberta’s future generations.

Friends of the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium Society

To assist with patron services at both Auditoria, the Government of Alberta created a
not-for-profit organization called the Friends of the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium Society, as well as a sister Society for the northern facility.

Each society is led by a board of directors. The board of directors of the society consists of volunteers from the community who offer their skills and experience for the betterment of
the facility.

The Jubilee Auditoria Foundation

As a group of dedicated community and corporate leaders, the Jubilee Auditoria Foundation
was tasked with the efficient completion of centennial renovations to the twin auditoria in Edmonton and Calgary. They have been charged with the management of all fundraising efforts to strengthen the long-term sustainability of both facilities.

Auditoria History

In 1955, the province of Alberta, celebrated its 50^th anniversary. To mark the occasion and to promote arts and culture in the province, the government planned for two identical auditoria
to be created — one in Edmonton and one in Calgary. The buildings were developed to be centres of cultural advancement, community engagement and celebration.

In announcing the decision to provide these auditoria, Premier E.C. Manning said, "The need
for such centres has long been apparent. The government believes that they will be both appropriate and practical memorials to the fifty years of development and to those pioneers whose foresight and fortitude made that progress possible." Dedication Week ceremonies held
in April, 1957 included performances by the symphony, the opera and many other civic groups — displaying a genuine celebration of arts in Alberta.

There are a number of other dates of note in the Jubilee’s history. In 1978, a new wing was added to the building. During the 1982-1983 season, the lobbies were refurbished and in 1983, the Banquet Room was built. During the 1986-1987 season, the Rehearsal Room was renovated and upgraded and its designers won an Alberta Architects Award as a result.

On April 11, 1997, the Friends Society was formed to manage the operations of the Jubilee in cooperation with the Alberta Government Office of Community Development. Their mandate is to ensure extraordinary experiences and outstanding operation of the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium.

To mark the provincial centenary in 2005, the two auditoria underwent significant renovations. There are now 2,538 seats (2,416 when the Orchestra Pit is in use) and the acoustics are state-of-the-art. They both received upgraded seating with improved sightlines, technologically advanced acoustics, enhanced air conditioning and ventilation, and numerous additions to create a modern, artistic ambiance. The Jubilee Auditorium continues to play a vital role in the arts in Alberta.