Harrison Memorial Cultural Centre

Performers are drawn to the venue by its excellent accoustics

by Margaret Tessman

Harrison Memorial Church has been a fixture in the East Shore community of Crawford Bay for over 100 years. The church was constructed in 1920 by Commander Matthew Harrison in memory of his departed family: two sons who were killed in the First World War; a young son who died from scarlet fever; and his wife of 45 years, Lucy.

Groups from any recognized denomination were welcome to use the church for worship, and it later became part of the Anglican Diocese of Kootenay. It also has a noteworthy association with the Crawford Bay Women’s Institute, which was started by Harrison’s daughter Anne in 1926, and which cared for the church until 1974.

In 2020 the deconsecrated church came up for sale. Historically, the church had been used for occasional concerts, so it felt important to maintain it as a performance venue. Support from the community slowly grew and the ArtConnect Society was formed. A mortgage was secured, and the building was finally purchased in November 2021.

Now renamed the Harrison Memorial Cultural Centre, the building retains its original stained-glass windows and a two-storey bell tower. A building inspection has shown it to be in excellent condition, although it lacked amenities such as an indoor toilet and air conditioning. Challenges included navigating through COVID and ongoing fundraising to pay down the mortgage and make needed alterations.

The society’s first event was a Christmas concert in 2021. Since then, it has sponsored performances and art shows and has gradually built up membership and participation. The goals for this year include more connection with local indigenous groups and expanding the use of the building for poetry readings, book launches and art shows, as well as continuing with a successful series of musical performances. The venue draws audiences from neighbouring East Shore communities, and from as far afield as Wynndel and Creston.

ArtConnect Society president and artistic director Zora Doval calls the process of acquiring the building as “quite an odyssey.” She says that the building evoked for her memories of growing up in Europe, where each village had its church that was always open for people to come in and meditate or sing. “I have a sense of history and respect and gratitude for the past,” she says. Doval hopes that the vision for the venue will expand to include “other muses,” such as healing arts, community forums and cinema nights. “Some musicians just want to play in our venue for its acoustic qualities. Several groups have rented the building for recording sessions and a film shoot.”

On December 4, a Ukrainian cultural gala is planned, with traditional food and fusion folk music. And on December 22, the annual community Christmas concert will take place.

Lorna Robin, the society’s publicity director, says that “Zora has been able to secure some wonderful performances, and the Harrison now is on the map with performers contacting us. The acoustics of the building are outstanding, and performers constantly comment on that, as well as their enjoyment of the beautiful and intimate space.”