Reimagining the Old Town Hall Theatre

The purpose of this update is to share updates with interested stakeholders regarding activities at the Old Town Hall. While this message is not a comprehensive list of all activities, it is intended to share an overview of ongoing projects.

Old Town Hall Advisory Committee Activities

The Old Town Hall Advisory Committee met three times in 2024 and three times in 2025. The Committee meets roughly every six weeks.

The Chief Administrative Officer for the Town of Aylmer investigated insurance concerns of user groups and pursued the option of creating inclusive coverage in rentals. There is a plan to implement insurance coverage through the Town for renters later this year (Summer/Fall 2025).

Following a delegation to the Old Town Hall Committee, Town staff researched options for film presentations at Old Town Hall that included using the current setup with the addition of a projector, adding a fixed projector unit, renting a pop-up screen and projector, and transforming the space into a first-run theatre with a high quality screen and projection system. The Committee received a report regarding these options and also met with an audio/video/lighting provider on site at Old Town Hall to consider the options. Staff will be undertaking community and stakeholder consultations in the next few months to see if there is interest in the project.

Town staff compiled a list of key renter focused upgrades that are currently being undertaken: upgrading kitchen facilities, upgrading HVAC system with duct damper installation, improving rental information, developing wedding rental information packages, hosting an open house for vendors, and reviewing availability of maintenance support staff for special events. Aside from these updates, Town staff are also working to enhance the booking process with new software. These projects are ongoing.

The Committee has also recommended the expanded use of the theatre facilities by the Elgin County Library, and that consideration be given to differentiated rental rates for non-profit groups. The former is set for consideration at the next meeting of Council, the latter will be considered with a discussion of user fees with the Committee.

The next meeting of the Old Town Hall Advisory Committee is May 13^th, 2025. We thank the Committee members – Chair Mike Serada, Angela Fehr, Colleen Sawyer, Cynthia Grant, Councillor William Barber, and Councillor Jamie Chapman – for their time in advising on improvements to the facilities, services, and the utilization of the Old Town Hall.

Maintenance

The Town is committed to the ongoing care and maintenance of all its buildings. Routine maintenance continues under the supervision of our Director of Infrastructure and our Chief Building Official. Please find below a summary of some of the recent maintenance activities at the Old Town Hall:

• 2025: Replacement of Damaged Soffits, Sealant on Gutters, HVAC Dampers, Masonry Repair
• 2024: Interior Painting, Lighting Upgrades, Preventative Maintenance – HVAC
• 2023: Elevator Maintenance, Toilet Replacement, Door Repair, Interior Painting, Audio Rack
• 2022: Fire and Security Upgrades, Preventative Maintenance – Elevator, Column Restoration Work, Interior Painting, Lighting Console

Aylmer Library Relocation Consultation

Aylmer Council and Elgin County have been engaging on the issue of the Aylmer Library and the County’s rental of the Old Town Hall since September of 2024. Aylmer Council has made multiple recommendations to Elgin County Council including, but not limited to, establishing a committee to facilitate library expansion and giving full consideration to all possible locations for the library.

On January 28, 2025, Elgin County Council endorsed, in principle, the relocation of the Aylmer Library to the East Elgin Community Complex (EECC).

On February 5, 2025, Aylmer Council endorsed a resolution for Elgin County Council to consider all viable locations for the Aylmer Library with consideration for public engagement and input on options brought before the Town of Aylmer, the Township of Malahide, and Elgin County.

On March 11, 2025, the motion to ask for consultation regarding the future accommodation of the Aylmer Library branch in a downtown location was defeated at Elgin County Council. Elgin County Council directed County staff to proceed with a consultation process which will include a public survey via the County’s engagement website, Engage Elgin, for the future accommodation of the Aylmer branch at the East Elgin Community Complex. Additionally, a public meeting on the matter will be held at the EECC in late April or early May, and a suggestion box will be available at various public locations for three weeks to gather public feedback. The results, intended to guide the next steps, will be shared with County Council, Aylmer Council, and Malahide Council and the public by May 2025.

Town staff will share these consultation opportunities once they become available on the County’s website.

You may also be aware; the Aylmer Express is hosting an Open House on the topic of the Library and Old Town Hall on April 7, 2025, at 7:00pm in the Old Town Hall Theatre. While this is not an official Elgin County event, this is a great opportunity for interested residents to engage with each other and elected officials on the topic. We look forward to the outcomes of both the Aylmer Express and Elgin County’s engagement with our community on these topics.