Cade ready to bid adieu

Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: August 06, 2009 6:00 PM

A driving force in Vernon’s cultural scene is preparing for new challenges.Michael Cade, who has been the Vernon Performing Arts Centre’s managing director since prior to it opening in 2001, will leave in October to assume similar duties at a cultural centre in Chilliwack.“He’s played a leading role and contributed to the cultural and arts scene in Vernon,” said Sigrid-Ann Thors, Vernon Performing Arts Centre Society president.“Right from the beginning he promoted the theatre as a community theatre. Every decision made was based on the fact that we are a community theatre.”Cade began working in Vernon in April 2001, just six months before the performing arts centre opened to the public. “It’s been incredibly exciting coming into an established arts community and working with them,” said Cade.“I’m proud of seeing the arts community working together closely.” “I’m proud of seeing the arts community working together closely.”

However, there have been some challenges during Cade’s tenure, and he points out that parks and recreation facilities receive more taxpayer support than their cultural counterparts.“At what level of commitment will local government participate? I’m still surprised that local government doesn’t support the community music school,” he said. Prior to coming to Vernon, Cade was the manager of the Pavilion and Sagebrush theatres in Kamloops and production manager and scenic designer for the Western Canada Theatre. There is no timeline for the Vernon Performing Arts Centre Society to hire a new director as it is currently negotiating a new five-year operating agreement with the North Okanagan Regional District. If a new administrator is not in place prior to Cade’s departure, Thors is confident theatre operations will continue as they have in past. “We have very capable employees and they will continue and the board will be involved,” she said. “And Michael has left us in really good shape.”