Thanks to a $100,000 grant, the Drayton Festival Theatre will soon be getting a much-needed facelift.
The capital improvement funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation was announced at the Wellington Street theatre on Nov. 21.
“We want to thank everyone who goes to the casino and loses,” joked Perth-Wellington MPP John Wilkinson, who made the announcement on behalf of Minister of Culture Aileen Carroll.
Trillium funding comes from a portion of the revenue from Ontario Lottery and Gaming, and Wilkinson explained there are three times more applications than there are actual grants awarded.
As such, he noted the Drayton Festival Theatre was successful because of the quality of the application.
“This building is the heart of Drayton Entertainment and it is here because people in this community believed in it,” Wilkinson said. “It is important for this historic building to be both accessible and restored.”
About half the grant will help address several accessibility deficiencies at the theatre, which were highlighted last year in an audit of township buildings.
Accessibility work at the theatre, which was built in 1902 and is currently owned by the township, will include:
– a re-designed entrance, including a wider, less steep exterior ramp and a larger turning radius just inside the front door;
– exterior lighting to assist those with physical and visual impairments;
– a new door and hardware, including a power door mechanism;
– a new custom-fitted handrail for the new wheelchair ramp; and
– a new canopy over the entrance used by those with disabilities.
Also included in the grant are funds for brick-repointing, which was previously identified by the township as a major concern.
“This is a great investment by Trillium that will pay dividends for many years to come,” said Alex Mustakas, artistic director of Drayton Entertainment. “It’s going to be money well spent.”
Mustakas said the grant work will be appreciated by the 50,000 to 60,000 patrons that visit the theatre every year, particularly the elderly and those with physical disabilities. He added he is grateful for the relationship Drayton Entertainment has with Mapleton Township.
“We’re very proud we’ve never been a burden to this community and the taxpayers,” Mustakas said. “This is where it all began – and this building is very dear to our hearts.”
Mayor John Green said the theatre is also very important to the township and its residents.
“I’m here to represent the thousands of losers that contributed to this funding,” Green said, to much laughter. He thanked Wilkinson for his encouragement and said any work that improves accessibility is invaluable.
“We’re very proud of the partnership we have with the theatre. It’s brought life back into this building,” Green said.
Trillium grant review team member Lucie Allard was also present for the announcement. She commended the township for the strong application and said the foundation, now in its 25th year, is happy to help with the improvements at the theatre.
