The Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony Orchestra officially filed for bankruptcy on Thursday.

Additionally, Canadian Culture Minister Pascale St-Onge said Wednesday that her office was in contact with the orchestra’s management about its current financial difficulties.

We are absolutely devastated by this outcome said Rachel Smith-Spencer, chairman of the board, in a press release. Over the last three days, we have engaged all of our key stakeholders and exhausted all available options to immediately secure the $2 million we need to continue our operations.

Earlier this week, the orchestra announced the cancellation of its season.

Questions in the house

The Minister of Canadian Heritage was made aware of the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony Orchestra’s financial difficulties in the House of Commons on Wednesday.

Kitchener Center MP and Green Party member Mike Morrice asked the federal Liberals what they could do to support the organization.

During question time in February I was told that a solution would be found if nothing was done. Two months ago, I and four other Waterloo Region legislators wrote [premier ministre] to implore the federal government to intervene with a one-off measure. We did not get an answerMr Morrise said during question time on Wednesday afternoon.

We continue to support and collaborate with arts organizations through a range of programs [direction de l’orchestre] to see how our programs could support themexplained Ms St-Onge in her reply to Mr Morrice.

The organization’s financial difficulties are not new. In 2006, the orchestra’s management sought $2.5 million to continue its activities.