History
The Memorial Centre was built in 1951 memory of those who lost their lives in World War I and World War II
Red Deer International Folk Fest date c. 1970-1972. People in traditional clothing performing for a large crowd in front of the Memorial Centre at the International Folk Fest in Red Deer, Alberta. Source: MG 322 Eric Bundy fonds. Image courtesy of Red Deer Archives.
Interior of the Memorial Centre, in Red Deer, Alberta, during a Northwestern Utilities Ltd. gas cooking and appliances demonstration. Date: September 15, 1954 Image: N5961. Courtesy of Red Deer Archives.
The Memorial Centre on 58 Street, Red Deer, Alberta. Image: N3592. Courtesy of Red Deer Archives. Creator: Henry Mar. Date: [195?] Source: MG 306 Foto Arts Studio fonds
The auditorium is the largest soft-seat performing arts facility in the City of Red Deer.
Originally part of the A-20 Training Camp during WWII, what we now know as the Memorial Centre was the camp’s drill hall. The drill hall was converted into an auditorium and gymnasium in 1951.
At that time the hall was given its current name and renovated to include a memorial wall in the lobby as a tribute to people from Red Deer and district who lost their lives in World Wars I and II.
Playing host to a wide variety of artists and events, both local and international, the Red Deer Memorial Centre plays an integral role in the arts scene in central Alberta.
In 1994
in a mutually beneficial lease agreement with the City of Red Deer,
Central Alberta Theatre (CAT)
took over the operation of the 700-seat Memorial Centre. CAT started as a community theatre company in 1970, making it now one of the oldest non-profit, volunteer-based community theatre companies in Canada.
