CALGARY, Oct. 20, 2015 /CNW/ - Riaz Mamdani, a local businessman with a passion for community involvement is giving his name in a three-year partnership agreement that sees a renaming of the Calgary Opera Centre. This commitment came about in an effort to keep the Calgary Opera at its historical location while plans develop around the Opera's future new location.
The former Wesley United Church, a local landmark and home to Calgary Opera, is now known as the Mamdani Opera Centre. Riaz Mamdani, is the CEO of one of Canada's largest privately held real estate companies, Strategic Group. Established in 2001, Riaz has expanded its real estate portfolio into a successful investment company with subsidiaries in a variety of industries.
The Mamdani Opera Centre is more than just a home for Calgary Opera; it is a community hub that supports over 40 groups, such as Decidedly Jazz Danceworks, Spiritus Chamber Choir, Red Deer Symphony and One Yellow Rabbit Theatre that utilize the Centre for rehearsal and event space every year.
In July of 2005, Calgary Opera took over the historically designated Wesley United Church, converting it into the Calgary Opera Centre. Located in the Beltline District, at the corner of 14th Avenue and 7th Street S.W., this beautiful heritage building has taken Calgary Opera to a whole new level offering unprecedented opportunities for community connections and artistic development. "This building has a rich heritage but also plays an important role in providing much needed facility space for today's cultural community," said Calgary Opera General Director & CEO, W.R. (Bob) McPhee C.M. "We are proud to continue to call it home and thank Mr. Mamdani for keeping it in the family."
Supporting our community's art and culture initiatives is very important to Mr. Mamdani and to Strategic Group who have established values of making an impact with partnerships and are committed to building legacies through continued involvement. "I am very aware of the impact the opera has on our city. In my view, to be able to make an impact to our community with an organization that is creative and unconventional makes for a great partner," Mr. Mamdani says.
The Calgary Opera and Mr. Mamdani partnership will continue to provide quality and innovative programming that our discerning community has come to expect.
For more information on Calgary Opera and the Strategic Group partnership, visit calgaryopera.com.
SOURCE Strategic Group
Image with caption: "Strategic Group CEO, Riaz Mamdani with Calgary Opera General Director & CEO Bob McPhee in front of the newly named Mamdani Opera Centre. (CNW Group/Strategic Group)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20151020_C7392_PHOTO_EN_525115.jpg
Calgary Opera media contact: Alyssa Berry, 403.650.8090, [email protected], Follow us on Twitter: @calgaryopera; Strategic Group media contact: Lisa Maragh, 403.234.3231, [email protected], Follow us on Twitter: @StrategicGrp
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