$75 million gift from David Werklund and his family sets stage for arts and community renaissance

Calgary’s Arts Commons is on the brink of a historic transformation, driven by a record-breaking $75-million donation made by David Werklund and his family.

The philanthropic gesture is not only the largest ever made to Canada’s performing arts sector but has also propelled the Arts Commons Transformation project dramatically closer to its $660 million fundraising goal, with nearly $500 million now secured.

Werklund, an Alberta businessman and philanthropist known for supporting education, youth leadership, and community initiatives, has described his gift as a way to encourage integrity, trust, and positive change in Calgary.

The Werklund family’s generosity will result in a complete reimagining and renaming of Arts Commons; beginning with the 2025–26 season, the facility will be called the Werklund Centre.

The transformative donation will fund extensive renovations, including new educational spaces and permanent endowments, and will ensure that the arts remain accessible and central to Calgary’s downtown for generations to come.

Preparations for construction are gathering momentum: Olympic Plaza, which sits adjacent to Arts Commons, is scheduled to close at the end of 2024 to make way for the first phase of redevelopment, with a new 1,000-seat theatre and a 200-seat studio theatre among the highlights.

Construction is currently in motion.

In tandem with expansion plans, project leaders are developing a dedicated Werklund Education Wing and several institutional funds to support ongoing operations, accessibility, and programming.

Civic and arts leaders have praised Werklund’s donation as more than a financial boost.

They view it as a catalyst for revitalizing Calgary’s arts community and downtown core, as well as a national example of charitable leadership.

The project is now firmly on track to deliver a world-class gathering hub that will nurture creativity, family connections, and civic engagement — all made possible by the Werklund family’s vision and generosity.