A $4 million gift just put a name on a theatre that doesn’t exist yet. As of October 7, 2026, it’s the newest item on the Werklund Centre’s own news page, dated September 17, 2026, and it comes straight from the page itself.
The newest name
According to the Werklund Centre’s transformation news page, a flexible theatre space in the expansion will be the McCann Family Studio Theatre. The page ties the $4 million contribution to the centre’s 41st performance season, and says construction is moving along on both the expansion and Olympic Plaza.
Names on the doors mean a building is real. Love that.
What you’re getting
The City of Calgary’s project page describes a three-level building next to Olympic Plaza with about 170,000 square feet of new space. Picture a 1,000-seat theatre and a 200-seat studio theatre.
The City’s project page lists construction as starting in December 2024 and wrapping in 2028, while the centre’s FAQ gives January 2025 as the start. Sources differ by a year, so call it 2028 and keep your fingers crossed.
The big theatre has a name already. The centre announced in August 2025 that it will be the Osten-Victor Playhouse, honouring Al Osten and Buddy Victor, according to its media release.
What else is going right
In November 2025 the RBC Foundation committed $1.4 million so the expansion can use Calgary District Heating as its main heat source, according to the centre’s release. The centre says that means no traditional on-site boiler. Smart, and kind of cool.
The City page says the second phase, a renovation of the existing 560,000 square foot building, will start once funding and regulatory approvals are in place. Dates there can change, so check the centre’s page before you plan around them.
The new building is the part with a date, and the old one is waiting its turn. Names, money and construction are all moving, so the next announcement could land any day. Bookmark the news page and check back.
More reading: Six rooms, four names and one very busy arts centre, The Calgary Film Centre Began as a City-Owned Studio, and That Is Wild and Calgary Buildings Never Forget Their Old Names.
If this one hooked you, we think Joyce Doolittle Helped Build Calgary Drama From the Ground Up and A Pipe Organ Started Calgary’s Music Centre are a good next read.
Quick answers
The McCann Family Studio Theatre is a flexible theatre space in the Werklund Centre expansion. A $4 million contribution put the name on it, according to the centre’s transformation news page, dated September 17, 2026. The expansion is next to Olympic Plaza.
The City of Calgary’s project page lists construction as starting in December 2024 and wrapping in 2028, while the centre’s FAQ gives January 2025 as the start. Sources differ by a year, so call it 2028. The new building is three levels.
The 1,000 seat theatre will be the Osten-Victor Playhouse, honouring Al Osten and Buddy Victor, announced in August 2025. The 200 seat flexible space will be the McCann Family Studio Theatre. Both sit in the new building next to Olympic Plaza.
