ST. CATHARINES, Ontario — The downtown performing arts center here has a name: The FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre. The $60-million facility will open in the Autumn of this year with a new name that reflects a $3-million contribution by the credit union, which has acquired naming rights for 25 years.
“We couldn’t wait to entertain the offer. The whole board is very excited. We just wanted to be part of this,” said board chair Carey Smith. “We’re about giving forward,” he said. “We wanted to give forward and make St. Catharines culturally rich and financially stable. We believe in St. Catharines and the Niagara area and we want to contribute to the really tangible renaissance.”
The credit union has also secured naming rights to the FirstOntario Centre in Hamilton, Ontario.