$2.5 million raised for elevator project

Heather Wright/The Independent

Petrolia council has given the green light to prepare to tender the $3.7 million additions to Victoria Hall. That could pave the way for construction on the first of two elevators and public washrooms possibly before the end of the year.

In 2023, council gave Victoria Playhouse Petrolia approval to begin fundraising for two additions – one on the north side will include an elevator to the balcony and 10 new washrooms on multiple levels, the other on the south side of the building is for an elevator for staff to carry equipment to the stage area. It would also allow performers with disabilities to access the stage.

In March, Director of Marketing, Arts and Communications, Laurissa Ellsworth, told council about $1.65 million had been raised for the project.

Monday, Ellsworth told The Independent about $2.5 million has now been raised.

That prompted council to give staff the okay to work with CIMA+ to prepare the advanced engineering drawings which will allow the town put out a tender for a builders.

Ellsworth hopes to have the tenders in and ready for the new council’s approval after the municipal election.

A big part of the work in the next few months will be with the federal government on the heritage aspect of the project. Victoria Hall dates back to 1889 and has survived a major fire in 1989.

Ellsworth says the Heritage Ministry is concerned about the maintaining the style of the building with the addition, which means the elevators, which will be built into the back of the building, must be “no higher than the roof line, no higher than the cupola, like materials where possible, sympathetic design.”

The additions won’t be anchored to the original structure.
“Because they use that original foundation and then built inside of it for the current building (in 1989)… tying into that foundation as an exterior tie-in is not probably the best idea,” Ellsworth said.

“Because they make these elevators basically a freestanding column now, it was really easy for us to have it drawn and engineered in that way, and then just tied in as required” at the different floor levels for patrons.

Ellsworth says project will be split into two phases, with the elevator and washrooms for theatre patrons in the first phase.

“Our hope and dream is that through continued fundraising, we finish one and start the next, because … One is as needed as the other,” says Ellsworth.

“Our hope is that as our patrons and residents and visitors and friends see the work starting, that they say, “Wow, they’re really going for that. It’s going to happen. Maybe now’s the time to make that consideration of a monetary support.”

David Hogan, co-artistic director of Victoria Playhouse Petrolia, urged councillors to move the project forward. Hogan says it is very difficult for a 90-year-old patron to make it down to the basement to use the washroom and return to their seats during intermission

“It’s not a vanity project; it’s an accessibility project, and it’s the dignity of our age-friendly people. We have to look after them over here.”

Once council approves a builder, Ellsworth says it will take about a year to complete the elevator project.
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