A sad start to 2026 for the Capitol Theatre.

For the past 12 years, Kevin the Corgi shared the hearts of staff and visitors.

Kevin was Managing Director Kim Rayworth’s fur baby. Sadly, he passed away before Christmas.

“In 2014, I asked our boss, Marc Choiunard. I said, I think it would be really fun to have a dog at the office. So right from the get-go, with Marc’s approval, I brought the dog, and everybody just thought that he was a hoot, and we had so much fun with him. He was a real delight,” Rayworth explained.

“He was a quiet dog, but a friendly dog. The staff, I think, were quite thrilled that they worked in a place that could be considered a relaxed business atmosphere. It’s a place where they felt pride, that the organization saw the value in being a friendly, warm and inviting place. I think that’s what Kevin brought to the organization. He was a representation of how we liked to come to work and be together here at the Capitol.”

You may remember Kevin as a three-legged corgi.

Rayworth explained to our newsroom what happened.

“That happened two years ago. He had fractured his right front paw, and there were no options. So the vet said dogs have three legs and a spare.”

She added that it was really the hardest decision they had to make.

Kevin inspired the Capitol Theatre mascot. “What is more adorable than a giant corgi? There’s no real, known connection between corgis and a performing arts centre, but we thought, he’s so adorable. A member of the team here had worked with a mascot, costume production, and manufacturing company in Toronto.  They were able to produce a life-size human mascot costume,” Rayworth said.

They created a life-size corgi wearing a volunteer usher burgundy vest, black bow tie and a dog collar with the capital stylized C.

He became a part of the Capitol brand and family and now has his own merchandise.

“I’m seeing on Facebook this morning, people are commenting that they have his fridge magnet at home. There are stickers. We have a tote bag with Kevin on it,” Rayworth stated.

She said it was a great way to reach out to the children and helped to show that the theatre is a warm, inviting, inclusive space. “It’s a great way for people who could be newcomers in the region, or people who may not speak English or French. Kevin, the mascot, can’t speak. It’s a great interactive way to reduce those barriers sometimes. People just love taking pictures with him, and they light up when they see them.”

Rayworth said it’s great to know that Kevin, their family pet, will live on and continue to bring joy to others.