Renovations planned to give Petrolia’s Victoria Hall a lift, or two

Petrolia officials are planning to raise money to add two more elevators and several more washrooms to historic Victoria Hall.

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The town hall and theater originally built in 1889 was rebuilt after being gutted by fire in 1989, but the only elevator doesn’t go up to the balcony level and washrooms used by theater patrons are all in the basement.

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Town council recently backed a plan for a $3.5-million renovation project to add both a second public elevator to serve the theater, including its balcony seating, as well as another to load in sets and equipment from the ground up to the stage.

The renovations will also add more washrooms spread across the building’s lobby, orchestra and balcony levels, plus storage space.

Laurissa Ellsworth, Petrolia’s director of marketing, arts and communication, said the town has $1 million in reserves set aside for the project. Fundraising and grants are expected to provide the rest.

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“It’s going to be a lot of fundraising, but we’re excited,” she said.

The plans were developed with the 50,000 annual visitors to the Victoria Playhouse Petrolia theater in mind, she said.

“A second elevator is clearly a need,” Ellsworth said.

Currently, stairs are the only way to reach balcony seating. That limits their attraction among bosses and having only one elevator to access washrooms in the basement is also an issue.

Ellsworth said theater staff have noticed patrons choosing not to use the washrooms at intermissions, and some even deciding not to return for the rest of the show after they’ve used the washrooms because of the wait for the elevator.

“Sometimes the lineup to the single elevator right now is across both lobbies and outside,” Ellsworth said.

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A report to council also noted the location of the existing elevator means patrons using it must enter the theater next to the stage so it can’t be used once a show has started without disturbing the performance. That means bosses who need the elevator and arrive a little late may not be let into the theater until intermission.

She said when theater officials talked with bosses about the renovation plan, “they’re delighted.”

Plans are to add several universal washrooms as well as additional designated women’s washroom capacity to bring the building up to current minimum building code requirements, Ellsworth said.

The current washrooms were built to meet minimum requirements at the time of the renovations following the 1989 fire, but those requirements have since changed, she said.

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The second of the proposed new elevators will replace an external “Skyjack” lift that is subject to the weather when it’s used to move sets and equipment between the ground and the stage level.

The additional elevator will also allow performers and others with mobility issues to reach the stage which only can be reached by stairs.

“That’s not OK,” Ellsworth said. “It’s never felt good.”

The renovations have been designed to “bring dignity” to performers and patrons using the theater, she said.

Ellsworth said she hopes the new renovation project can go ahead “sooner rather than later” and plans are to return to town council once the campaign is closed to or has reached its goal before moving ahead with construction.

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“That can be really soon if we get a cultural spaces grant,” Ellsworth said about a federal program that could provide 75 percent of project’s cost.

“They’ve been supportive to our organization in the past” when lighting and sound equipment was updated, she said.

Plans are to explore other grants also, Ellsworth said.

Victoria Hall is a national historic site and officials consulted with Heritage Canada during planning for the renovations.

Plans meet heritage requirements by locating the additions for the new elevators and washrooms at the back of the Queen Anne Revival style building, and design them so they don’t extend beyond the front face view of the original structure, Ellsworth said.

The additions also are expected to use similar bricks and window shapes to match the original building, she said.

“It’s going to be really nice for our bosses,” Ellsworth said. “It’s going to provide that customer service that we’ve been hoping to provide.”

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