Bringing back the Tivoli - $15m restoration campaign

Standing on the stage of the Tivoli Theatre, Belma Gurdil-Diamante closes her eyes to imagine the room filled with visitors from the past.

In one dust-covered seat, she sees the mother of her hairdresser, who came to the theatre to socialize with other Italian immigrants.

A few rows back, she envisions her husband sharing his first kiss.

"There's so many people that are attached to this place," says Gurdil-Diamante, rubbing goosebumps on her arms as she looks around the decayed but still opulent auditorium. "I want to bring those people back."

In a few weeks, the Canadian Ballet Youth Ensemble will launch a $15-million capital campaign to restore the historic theatre, which has sat empty since its partial collapse five years ago.

Gurdil-Diamante, the group's CEO, is waiting until the launch to reveal how much money has been committed to date, but says she's confident the project will go ahead.

In the past few weeks, crews have been inside the James Street North theatre, removing mould and asbestos and installing a new electrical panel. The stabilization work, which cost $300,000, is to be funded one-quarter by the city.

Next week a parkette will be built in front of the theatre where part of the building was demolished after the initial collapse.

Once the park is complete, boarding along the street will be removed to allow passersby to see the property.

Wally Lanosky of Copper Cliff Metals and Wrecking Corp., which is doing the demolition work and donating the parkette, suspects the unveiling will be a reminder that the theatre is still standing.

"Everyone thinks the Tivoli is gone," he said.

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