It’s the largest donation ever from a donor living in Fredericton to a local project.
Ron and Erma Hawkes have donated $3.5 million to the new performing arts centre in Fredericton.
“We’re pretty excited and thrilled to announce this incredible transformational gift from Mr. and Mrs. Hawkes,” said Tim Yerxa, executive director of the Fredericton Playhouse Inc. “It helps our community campaign meet its goal of raising $10 million to go towards the construction of our performing arts centre and also towards expanding our programming that we will be able make available in that centre when it’s open.”
The new 72,000 square-foot performing arts centre will include state-of-the-art acoustics, technology and design, and two theatres totalling 1,150 seats.
It will also be home to large lobby spaces that will serve as a hub for the community.
In recognition of their gift, the new building will be named the Ron & Erma Hawkes Centre for the Arts.
“This is the story of a Fredericton family, a Fredericton couple who are making a gift to the community where they live,” said Yerxa.
From Woodstock and Chipman originally, music has always been a part of Ron and Erma’s lives from their home to Australia and then back to Fredericton for semi-retirement.
Erma has been a piano player since she was seven years old and Ron played trombone while in a reserve army band.
Both are also singers who have performed with various groups and choirs throughout the province.
“They love this community,” said Yerxa. “Music and live performance has always been an important part of their life and so for them to give back to the community where they live in this way through the arts is really, it’s really just a wonderful story of great people doing great things.”
The new performing arts centre is currently under construction at the corner of King and Regent streets in the heart of the downtown area.
“It’s an amazing project,” said Yerxa.
Construction is ongoing and the Ron & Erma Hawkes Centre for the Arts is scheduled to open in early 2027.