Royal Winnipeg Ballet studios, archives severely damaged by flooding

A worker repairs sections of a studio damaged by flood waters inside the Royal Winnipeg Ballet building downtown on Sept. 8, 2015.

The Royal Winnipeg Ballet recently completed a major renovation project, but crews were back at work in the dance company’s downtown studio Tuesday for another overhaul.

The RWB building was badly damaged by a major flood that occurred Saturday, August 22.

The flood water has since been traced back to a broken toilet in the third floor physiotherapy room. It pumped water out at full strength for nearly 30 hours before it was detected. Hallways, offices, and important studio space were all under water.

"It ran through the building third floor, the second floor, into the top of the parking garage, where the ceiling came down from the weight of the water," said RWB Executive Director Jeff Herd.

The flood also attacked something far more difficult to fix – the ballet company's history.

The archive room; filled with papers, pictures and mementoes dating back to 1939; also ended up under water.

"Heartbreaking is a very good word for it actually. You can't replace really many things in the archives," said Gayle Degagne with the RWB.

Wet archive material has been brought to a special drying room.

All of the damage is covered by insurance.

The RWB hopes to have everything repaired in a couple of weeks.