On any given day at the ATCO Performing Arts Centre, dozens of youth are getting an education in how to become better singers, but roof issues threaten to put a sour note on those dreams.

Leaks that have appeared half-way through a 10-year expected lifespan for the centre’s roof have led to drips inside performance spaces, over spots where guests watch performances, and in rooms where community groups rent space.

Megan Emmett, CEO of the Youth Singers of Calgary—which owns the building, said that more than 600 youth use the centre as part of the Youth Singers, over 50 members of Rhythm of the Rockies use the spaces for choir practice each week, and that dozens of community groups from chess tournaments, to spelling bees, to fencing tournaments use the centre for their own events.

“The whole city of Calgary needs to make sure that this building remains accessible and open, and doesn’t need to shut down and gets a beautiful new roof,” she said.

The Youth Singers are looking to raise $80,000 of a total of $600,000 required to repair and replace the existing roof with something that will ensure the long-term viability of the arts centre.

What that repair and replacement looks like is fixing the leaks that happen after rains and periods of melting snow, alongside adding a slight slope to the existing flat roof to allow for drainage.

Emmett said that the not-for-profit plans to cover much of the cost through grant funding from the Government of Alberta, through an in-kind donation by their roofing consultant, and from the organization’s operating reserve.

She said that they have begun consultations to have a Alberta Roofing Contractors Association certified roof installed on the building, in order to ensure the longevity and quality of installation, but that it has led to an increased cost of repair.

“It also comes with a more robust warranty and a more sense of security for us as a not-for-profit, that we’re not taking a risk in any way,” Emmett said.

Calgarians making donations will have their money matched by the province

What remains is an ask of the public to help them reach the remaining amount.

The Youth Singers are using the Government of Alberta’s crowdfunding platform for charities and non-profits as a way to raise those funds, and to access additional matching funds from the province.

“The Government of Alberta has been a big supporter of Youth Singers through annual operating grant programs to the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, and then also they have contributed to this building through their different community investment programs over time. The big match will be if we’re successful with their Community Facility Enhancement Program,” said Emmett.

“On the individual donations level, they’ve launched this new crowdfunding initiative. They will match up to $5,000 of those individual donations per year, so if we carry this over into January for raising the last bit of money, then we’re looking potentially at another match there as well.”

The Youth Singers are among a number of local not-for-profits and non-profits that are using the government’s platform as part of what the province is calling the summer of love for Alberta’s non-profits.

“I encourage all Albertans and non-profits to take advantage of the Crowdfunding Alberta platform. The critical work of non-profits never stops. From kids’ camps to animal rescue, donations through Crowdfunding Alberta help non-profits achieve their community goals,” said Tanya Fir, Minister of Arts, Culture and Status of Women, in a prepared media release on the topic.

All of the campaigns that are allowed to run on the government’s platform are pre-screened to ensure donations are going to legitimate causes.

Emmett said that the ultimate goal for the roof replacement was to offer safety to the people who use the ATCO Centre for Performing Arts.

“Because we’re working with children and some other vulnerable populations, safety’s first for everyone. Roofing can cause all kinds of other problems that nobody wants to have. We have big issues and definitely need to fix the drip,” she said.

Donations can be made through the GOA’s crowdfunding platform at https://give.crowdfunding.alberta.ca/ysc-raisetheroof?ref=sh_0DTuo8_ab_AISZ1j6NSEOAISZ1j6NSEO.