The Town of Bracebridge, Ontario, has officially forgiven an $862,930 loan owed by Theatre Muskoka to ensure the arts group can stay in business. The decision, made by the General Committee on March 3, 2026, aims to provide the local non-profit with long-term financial stability.
In addition to clearing the debt, the town will provide the theatre with $39,000 in annual funding from 2026 through 2028. This support helps the organization continue running performing arts and educational programs at the René M. Caisse Memorial Theatre.
Clearing these records helps the theatre group, which was formerly known as the Friends of the Caisse, qualify for future grants and financial aid from other organizations. Local officials noted that this move is a strategy to make sure cultural events and community theatre remain accessible to residents.
The town had already planned for a large part of this cost by setting aside $646,000 in previous budgets to cover the debt. Because of this planning, the town only needs to record a one-time non-cash expense of $216,930 for the current 2026 year.
