Update On Preserving Victoria Hall

Let’s look back.

In 2025, the Town issued a Request Expression Of Interest (REOI) for three Town-owned properties: the Armoury, the café space at Town Square, and Victoria Hall — a process approved by Council. Our goal has always been clear: Town facilities should not sit empty. They should be active community assets that serve residents while generating revenue for taxpayers whenever possible.

This approach is not new. Many municipalities successfully utilize their assets in this way. For example, the Town of Newmarket owns the former Cachet restaurant property and has leased it to a private operator. This is simply smart municipal management — putting public assets to work as part of a thriving community.

Through that REOI process, Council approved lease agreements for the Armoury with Slabtown Cider Co. and for the Town Square café with My Indie Coffee Roasters. For Victoria Hall, staff reported to Council in closed session and Council unanimously gave direction to staff that aligned with the results of the REOI and that would benefit the Town financially and economically while serving the community.

These discussions have involved all members of Council. While no final decision has been made on a potential use for Victoria Hall, Council is fully aware of the conversations and possibilities — just as they were for the Armoury and the café.

It is also important to understand the current reality of Victoria Hall. As a Town asset, the building is sitting empty, unused, in need of repair, and providing no benefit to residents in its current state. Leaving the building as is would amount to demolition by decay — and that is not an option for a site of this historical significance.

As I have stated before, we realistically have three options: renovate, sell, or demolish. I don’t believe anyone in our community wants to see this part of our history demolished, nor do we want to sell this important public asset. That leaves renovation as the responsible path forward — so that we preserve the building while creating an asset that can generate a return on investment for residents.

The planned renovations are necessary to bring the building up to today’s standards so it can be usable again. This is not a cosmetic renovation. It involves a full restoration — including significant structural, electrical, and mechanical work.

A key component of this work is accessibility. The building is not currently compliant with AODA standards. Any renovation requires that we bring the facility into compliance, and the only feasible location to incorporate accessibility features — such as an accessible entrance — is at the rear of the building. This approach allows us to meet modern standards while preserving the historic front façade, which is an important part of the building’s heritage character.

Estimates have also increased due to significant structural issues, particularly with the floor. The building is essentially sitting on dirt, which must be addressed to ensure safety, longevity, and proper preservation of the structure. These are costs that will only continue to grow if renovations are delayed. And I don’t believe anyone in our community wants to see this historic asset deteriorate further — or end up paying significantly more down the road for work we already know needs to be done.

It is also important to clarify that the original $500,000 approved by Council was a placeholder amount. Its purpose was to signal Council’s intent to move forward with the renovation and to provide staff with the initial funding needed to conduct a detailed analysis of the building, including a full assessment of the scope of work required. Through that thorough analysis, we now have a realistic estimate of $2,182,000 that reflects the true scope of renovations needed to properly restore, renovate and preserve Victoria Hall.

As part of our responsible, long-term fiscal management of Town assets, reserve funds have been built specifically to maintain and protect our infrastructure. This project is being funded from those reserves — exactly what they were created for — and therefore has no impact on the tax rate.

Moving forward with these renovations will transform Victoria Hall into a usable, safe, accessible, and compliant community asset — one that can generate revenue, support economic development in the downtown, and serve residents for generations to come. We will ensure that we look at every way possible to remain within the financial framework so that we are truly investing in an asset that will maintain and grow its value over time.

To reiterate, our goal is to work to ensure no Town-owned building sits empty and underutilized. Our responsibility is to ensure public assets are used to their fullest potential — creating economic benefits, generating revenue, and increasing the long-term value of the property through responsible investment. And one that will not impact the tax rate

Furthermore, the restoration work required at Victoria Hall is unrelated to any specific future tenant. Once the work is completed to bring the building up to today’s standards and Council ultimately approves a lease, the tenant would be responsible for any specialized equipment or renovations needed for their specific operation — not taxpayers.

I will continue to work to ensure that the best interests of our Town and residents remain at the forefront of every decision we make, and I believe it is essential that residents have accurate, factual information when it comes to understanding Council decisions about our community assets. #LeadershipThatGetsThingsDone