PETROLIA’S HISTORIC VICTORIA HALL TO SEE MAJOR RENOVATIONS, WILL WELCOME TWO NEW ELEVATORS AND SEVERAL WASHROOMS IN TWO PHASES

 For the past 27 years, Director of Marketing, Arts and Communications Laurissa Ellsworth has seen first-hand the challenges faced by arts patrons and other facility users. Selling balcony tickets, helping patrons reach the basement washrooms, and accommodating meetings, Council meetings and other events throughout the building have become increasingly challenging each year.

During the re-build, and early years of the Victoria Playhouse business plan (1991-1993), the goal was to attract 4,000 visitors a year to a two-show, 6-to-8-week season. By 2000, the theatre was ahead of that goal by hosting a season with four shows, and 16,000 visitors a year. By the end of 2025, the Victoria Playhouse saw more than 30,000 visitors in a 6-show season. Remarkably, these numbers do not include rentals, and other building uses that would see that number above 40,000 visitors for various purposes annually. The Victoria Playhouse Petrolia has grown to become the largest tourist attraction in Lambton County.

For the past fifteen years, the Victoria Playhouse has been able to accumulate an operating surplus each season that has been the start of the fundraising plan for this renovation project.

The Victoria Playhouse is proud to be self-supporting, and credits that to their “one patron at a time approach”.  Co-Artistic Director, David Hogan said it best recently, “…The Victoria Playhouse is on brand with our customer service – every person is welcomed, treated to a fantastic show and provided the very best customer care and attention while they are here, and walked to their car after the show. The only part that we cannot currently provide is the dignity for those that need an elevator to see the show from the balcony, or the ability to avoid a long line while waiting for the existing elevator, or the ability to use our washroom facilities without the challenge of travelling to the basement.” He added that, “We don’t see this is a vanity project. We see this as a growing need as we continue to monitor our patron’s comfort and ability to enjoy their stay in our beautiful town and this incredible historic building.”

The Council of the Town of Petrolia has been overwhelmingly supportive of this initiative since the preliminary planning discussions. As users of Victoria Hall, they experience the same accessibility challenges and identify the limited washroom facilities for this well-used facility.

Mayor R. Brad Loosley, an intrepid and long-standing supporter of all things Petrolia and especially Victoria Hall and Victoria Playhouse is “…Very pleased that this will be moving forward. This is much needed and will ensure that Victoria Hall continues to serve its purpose as the “beehive of activity” in the centre of Petrolia for many years to come.”

Approved by Council to proceed with the detailed design and project management, using money raised by the Victoria Playhouse, the renovation will include the following phases:

• Phase 1: A second personnel elevator will take people from the lobby/Council level of Victoria Hall to the Orchestra and Balcony levels of the auditorium.
• Phase 1: Nine new accessible and barrier-free washrooms will be spread around the new elevator with some on the lobby/Council level, some on the Orchestra level and some on the Balcony level.

• Phase 2: A freight/personnel elevator to load sets, props and costumes into the backstage area and to provide the opportunity for a physically disabled person to access the backstage and on-stage area to participate in future productions.

The location of these additions will be on the back side of Victoria Hall. The public elevator and washrooms on the Northwest corner (near the bandshell) and the freight/personnel elevator will be on the Southwest corner (near the rehearsal hall). One of the key components of this renovation and addition is that it will be both complimentary to the existing building and its heritage appearance and will be done without changing the front view of Victoria Hall.

Fundraising is over 50% complete ($2.5M) for this project and generous donations continue to come in from residents, visitors, and patrons.  Chief Administrative Officer/Treasurer, Rick Charlebois said, “I am very proud of the team at Victoria Playhouse for seeing a need and taking control of the fundraising. I am impressed with the work that D2 Entertainment brings to our stage – Broadway in Petrolia! I look forward to seeing this take shape for the good of the theatre, and the town and for the historic facility.”

The proposed and approximate timeline for the project is:

July 13, 2026 – Council approval of the Agreement with CIMA+ for the Engineering and Project Management

Summer – Early Fall 2026 – Data Collection, Design Development

Early Fall 2026 – Preparation for Phase One including the removal of dead-standing trees and ground preparation.

Fall 2026 – Early 2027 – Construction Documents

Early Winter 2027 – Permitting

Late Winter Spring 2027 – Bidding

Late Spring 2027 – Pre-Construction

Summer 2027 – Fall 2028 – Construction and Substantial Completion

(Subject to change.)

Visitors to Victoria Hall will start seeing signs of the coming changes as soon as this fall as drawings and plans will be displayed for all to see, and site preparation will begin.

Director of Marketing, Arts and Communications, Laurissa Ellsworth said, “I am so touched by the generosity of our patrons, visitors and residents. Having worked on the front lines at Victoria Playhouse earlier in my career, I noticed this need grow exponentially over the 20-year timeline as audiences grew and as our loyal patron base has begun to age. Keeping Victoria Hall accessible to all persons for all uses is very important to me, and I am proud to be a part of the team moving this historic renovation forward.”

Should you wish to support the renovation and help us “Reach New Heights” please visit www.thevpp.ca and learn more about how you can be part of a legacy that will ensure the viability of National Heritage Site and treasure, Victoria Hall.