North Huron Council Has Approved A Motion To Turn The Operation Of The Wingham Townhall Theatre Over To A Third Party

by Bob Montgomery

North Huron Council approved a motion this week that will see the operation of the Wingham Townhall Theatre turned over to a third party.

At council's regular meeting on June 3rd staff was asked by council to prepare a report regarding the potential contracting out of Wingham Town Hall Theatre operations to a third party. Staff prepared and released a Request for Expressions of Interest with a closing date of Tuesday, October 8, 2024. Only one submission was received. That Expression of Interest was from a private production company. The company has expressed interest in operating the theatre, which includes but is not limited to operations during every booking scheduled in the facility, working with local service clubs, as well as private production companies.

That submission was supported by the Wingham BIA who stated that the private company already does a significant amount of work in the area and the BIA has worked with them in the past. Staff will now complete a Memorandum of Understanding for the town and the theatre company to approve. The theatre had been operated by staff but Reeve Paul Heffer says he believes that someone who is in that business is likely to do a better job and bring more events to the theatre, and more people into town.