U of R’s Darke Hall receives $1.5-million donation

Renovations to the University of Regina’s Darke Hall got a significant boost Monday with a $1.5-million donation.

The Ann and Roger Phillips Foundation announced a $1-million gift to the building on the U of R’s College Avenue campus, with a matching pledge of $500,000.

The foundation will match any future donations given to the Saving Darke Hall campaign, up to $500,000. To date, donations to the campaign total $51,300.

Darke Hall was originally built in 1929 and is currently closed as renovations are being done as part of the College Avenue Campus Renewal Project.

The hall so far has undergone repairs to the roof, as well as exterior upgrades. Now, the Phillips’ donation will allow for work to focus on the interior.

Scheduled to open in January of 2021, the hall is to be a 500-seat, fully accessible hall as a cultural hub for Regina.

“I’m feeling really good about the prospects in getting Darke Hall restored,” said philanthropist Ann Phillips, who made the donation on behalf of herself and her late husband, Roger, who passed away in 2013.

“I think it’s an excellent place for the community and if it were not being fixed up then it would just sadly go unused.”

Phillips said she has been passionate about arts in the community, but being able to donate to the iconic building on behalf of herself and her husband is special.

“(Roger) has always been interested in the community and helping out in the community,” Phillips said. “He in particular had wanted to do something about Darke Hall before he died and so I’m very happy to be able to continue through with that.”

The patron of the arts said she’s looking forward to a space that works for all types of art performers like theatre, dance and music.

University of Regina president Vianne Timmons said the donation brings renovations one step closer to completion.

“Darke Hall is a beautiful, beautiful building and I’m so excited about the potential of having it open,” she said. “It’s like Western Canada’s Massey Hall and so I think that every penny that people give to it are going to see the benefit of it.”

Timmons said some 500 donations have been submitted so far, and hopes the promise of the Phillips’ foundation to match donations will increase that number even more.

More so, Timmons stressed the importance of Darke Hall to the community, not only in its ability to generate revenue but also as a cultural asset to the city and province.

Phillips agreed with the hall’s importance to the community and encouraged others to donate, no matter how much.

“This is your hall, you can enjoy it again,” she said. “There’s so many people who remember recitals, getting awards, school awards (or) graduation ceremonies (in the building) and I think they might welcome the chance to see it going again.”