CONNOR LUCZKA, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Stratford city council will soon have to make a decision on the former Normal School and there is at least one buyer interested.
At a special public meeting on Jan. 16, Stratford city council heard from members of the public on the possibility of selling the Discovery Centre – formerly known as the Stratford Normal School – which has a storied past in the Festival City.
First among the public to speak was Antoni Cimolino, artistic director of the Stratford Festival.
“Should this building be declared surplus to the city's needs, it is vitally important that it go to a good citizen – one that will ensure the building is well cared for and used. And used responsibly within the neighborhood and the parkland parameters,” Cimolino said. “The festival has proven to be a good citizen with a track record of keeping our facilities in good order and a commitment to enriching our community, but it's also a precious citizen, one that has been a driver of the local economy for three quarters of a century.
“I’ll be frank, our budgets are very tight these days. We will be announcing a considerable deficit for the 2024 season. … We hope that if the city decides to sell the Normal School, you will see the benefits of selling it to the festival for $1. This move would be an important show of support for the festival at a very difficult time and would also acknowledge the major financial contributions we've already made to the Normal School, as well as the considerable sum that would go into maintaining this historical building going forward.”
Cimolino further stated the festival receives no local funding from the city and, citing an economic impact study the festival commissioned last year, it generates $277 million in economic activity each year.
Post-pandemic, it has struggled financially year after year.
The building in question is located at 270 Water St. It was constructed in 1907 by the province to train new teachers before moving teacher education to newer facilities in the 1990s. The City of Stratford purchased it in 2001 and just recently indicated it could be declared surplus.
The festival has been leasing the property since 2009, using the basement as a gift shop opposite the festival stage since that time, among other theatre uses. In that time, the festival has paid nearly a $1 million to the city for the lease and has averaged $42,000 in repairs and maintenance year over year.
While some expressed support for the purchase that evening, other residents disagreed.
Jason Davis, a self-described affordable-housing advocate, said the building should be kept by the city, refurbished and made into a city-owned child-care facility, something lacking in Stratford.
Jane Marie Mitchell said the building should be kept and used by the community as a public building, perhaps as space for city staff.
Loreena McKennitt said the festival would be a reasonable buyer for the building, but wanted the city to stipulate that should their efforts to maintain the building fail, the festival would have to sell the building back to the city.
No decision was made at the meeting to give time for the public to express their thoughts. A decision on the property – and whether or not to sell – will be before council at a later date.
Before the public meeting began, Coun. Cody Sebben objected to the process. During budget deliberations, the presiding committee had earlier struck the line item for maintenance of the building, which struck him as indicative of a decision already made.
Regardless of what decision is made, the last resident to speak at the meeting offered a singular warning.
“This past season, I have been a member of the festival,” said Morag Currie, “and have had a great opportunity in interacting with many of our guests who come to visit. One of the biggest major landmarks that they comment on is the Normal School building. They are fascinated by what it is, what is its history, how beautiful it is.
“If we lose this, we lose much more than just a building.”
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