'A preventative measure': Fence installed outside Alix Goolden Performance Hall due to safety concerns
Security fencing has been set up around the Alix Goolden Performance Hall in downtown Victoria in a move to protect the heritage building and its visitors.
The Victoria Conservatory of Music says fencing has been installed along the outside of the building on Pandora Avenue and Quadra Street.
"As anyone who has driven down Pandora Street or tried to walk it (knows), the situation continues to be a challenge," said Jane Butler McGregor, CEO of the Victoria Conservatory of Music, on Wednesday.
"We felt as a precautionary and preventative measure we had to put the fencing back up to protect our building."
The fence was installed on Wednesday: Nov. 24, 2021: (CTV News)
This is the second time the conservatory has installed temporary fencing around the building.
A smaller amount of fencing was also set up over the summer but came down in September when the conservatory opened up for its new term.
The conservatory says its performance hall, located next to Our Place Society, continues to face challenges with members of the unsheltered community.
The performance hall sees frequent loitering and a "tremendous amount of vandalism," according to McGregor.
With the entrance on Pandora Avenue now closed, the performance hall can now only accommodate about half of its usual capacity, meaning large concerts will be cancelled for now.
The conservatory is now exclusively using its entrance on Johnson Street, which was recently upgraded with permanent security fences.
'TREMENDOUS CHALLENGE'
McGregor says the fencing is a temporary measure that will remain until "positive changes" are made in the area.
She hopes that provincial and local governments will soon "wrap their arms around this tremendous challenge that's affecting so many people," adding that she's heard some people who access services at Our Place also feel unsafe at times.
Funding for the security fencing is paid for by the conservatory.
"As a not-for-profit organization we have to raise the money to pay for these types of things," said McGregor.
The conservatory offers a range of programs, including music therapy, lessons for families with young children, and a two-year diploma program with Camosun College.
McGregor says the conservatory's youngest student is roughly four months old, and its oldest is 91-years-old.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Federal government grants B.C.'s request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces
The federal government is granting British Columbia's request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces, nearly two weeks after the province asked to end its pilot project early over concerns of public drug use.
Testifying in hush money trial, adult film actor Stormy Daniels describes first meeting Trump
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential election 10 years later.
MPs agree Canadian gov't should improve new disability benefit
The federal government needs to safeguard the incoming Canada Disability Benefit from clawbacks and do more to ensure it actually meets the stated aim of lifting people living with disabilities out of poverty, MPs from all parties agree.
King Charles too busy to see son Prince Harry during U.K. trip
Prince Harry will not be seeing his father King Charles during his current visit to Britain as the monarch will be too busy, Harry's spokesperson said on Tuesday.
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history and will become Scouting America. It's a significant shift as the organization emerges from bankruptcy following a flood of sexual abuse claims and seeks to focus on inclusion.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Trudeau's handling of Poilievre's 'wacko' House turfing a clear sign of Liberal desperation
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca
Security guard shot, seriously injured outside of Drake's Toronto mansion
A security guard working at Drake’s Bridle Path mansion in Toronto was seriously injured in a shooting outside the residence early Tuesday morning, police said.
Katy Perry's mom was fooled by AI images of the singer at the Met Gala
Katy Perry did not attend the Met Gala on Monday, but some of the singer’s fans – and even her mom – thought she did.