Town hall may be handed over to Heritage group
By Scott Woodhouse Express Staff

Meaford town council endorsed the idea at a recent meeting by authorizing the mayor and clerk to sign a long term lease agreement with Heritage Meaford for the town hall.

"This sets in motion a process so we can take it to the Transition Board," said Meaford Mayor Doug Grant, who added council wants to see the opera house remain as a vital cultural centre in the town of Meaford.

In a report to council, Heritage Meaford outlined activities that have taken place recently regarding the town hall/opera house.

"Over the last several years concerned citizens have been working on a number of different fund raising initiatives with a common goal of eventually restoring the Meaford Town Hall as a monument to Meaford's history and as a continuing active entity of this community's life," said Heritage Meaford chair Janis Marchand.

The initiatives included two fish fries, a Christmas children's show, and a Victorian Tea, which together raised over $6,000.

In February 2000, a formal steering committee was formed to set up a non-profit organization that would work toward the preservation and restoration of the town hall for future community cultural, social, and tourism related activities.

In 1991, the town hall was designated as a heritage building under the Ontario Heritage Act by the town council's Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee (LACAC).

Over the next year, the board of directors of Heritage Meaford will be undertaking extensive planning that includes re-enactment of the LACAC with the new municipal government, a feasibility study and investigating fund raising opportunities and government grants, said Marchand.

"We have received much encouragement and support from the community during the initial stages of planning for this exciting project and the board of Heritage Meaford is looking forward toward the revitalization of the town hall," said Marchand.