A long chapter in the Sunshine Coast arts community has come to a close with the resignation of Karen Careless from the board of directors of the Gibsons Landing Heritage Society (GLHS), the organization responsible for the original fundraising and ongoing operation of the building that is now the Heritage Playhouse.
“To my knowledge, Karen has been the longest serving director on the Gibsons Landing Heritage Society,” former board member Colleen Elson told Coast Reporter. “The rest of us all sort of wore out, but Karen carried on regardless. She’s been the backbone of the society.”
Careless, 72, is living with multiple sclerosis, and reluctantly acknowledged that it’s time to go.
“It’s not because I really want to step down,” Careless said in an interview. “I’ve just found it’s too much now.”
The building that today is the Heritage Playhouse was built in 1929 as The Women’s Institute Hall, and for decades was a town community centre. In the 1960s, it was turned over to the school district, which housed its maintenance department there for about 30 years. The GLHS was formed in the 1990s with a plan to transform the dilapidated building into a theatre. And for that, the society needed cash.
“We did all sorts of things to raise funds,” Elson recalled. “I don’t think there’s a business in Gibsons that didn’t donate in some way to the creation of that building. But Karen was a very big part of that.”
When funds were desperately needed, Careless would come through personally, Elson said. “She’s been a great donor. Especially when things were getting tough. She was always there to help with money.”
For her part, Careless expressed confidence in the board going forward. “They’re an incredibly capable group,” she said.
Careless’s last day on the board will be Saturday Oct. 30, when the GLHS holds its annual general meeting.
