Press Release - Ontario Trillium Grant Awarded to Theatre Orangeville

Theatre Orangeville receives a Capital Grant to support upgrading Accessibility and Health & Safety Infrastructure

Orangeville, ON - On Friday March 3rd, 2023, Theatre Orangeville hosted an Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) Recognition event. Sylvia Jones, MPP for Dufferin-Caledon congratulated Theatre Orangeville on being awarded a $40,900 grant, over 12 months, to support the upgrading of Accessibility infrastructure in the Opera House theatre.

"The new accessibility equipment at Theatre Orangeville will ensure that individuals have the opportunity to enjoy local entertainment and supporting our community partners" said Sylvia Jones, MPP for Dufferin-Caledon.

While the pandemic pushed Theatre Orangeville to develop protocols to keep artists, staff and members safe, the pandemic also hampered the ability to modernize the Theatre's accessibility capabilities and improve the safety standards of the on-stage environment. This Capital grant will enable the Theatre to address this community need by purchasing a portable accessibility lift and new assistive listening devices to improve accessibility, new drapery and resurfacing stage floors to ensure a safe stage environment.

Theatre Orangeville is committed to creating a welcoming environment and producing inclusive programming for patrons with mobility or hearing challenges, as well as patrons from the neuro-diverse community who use mobility equipment. The Theatre is also committed to ensuring the safety of their staff and artists, who spend countless hours on-stage and deserve to be safeguarded from undue risk. These improvements will be made possible by this contribution from the OTF.

Upgrading the accessibility infrastructure and stage environment will enable the Theatre to better serve the needs of patrons, artists and skilled trades people who may require accessibility support, and ensure it remains fully compliant with current health and safety standards. It will make our programming more accessible to wider audiences and provide a safer working environment for all. This will create a memorable visitor experience that will inspire more patrons to visit Theatre Orangeville, and help generate spending at local restaurants and businesses and create significant spin off in job creation and spending across the Country.

Theatre Orangeville is a non-profit professional theatre company whose artistic vision guides every aspect of what we do. To enrich the community with a high quality, professional theatre experience, that showcases the development of new Canadian works; to provide youth with unique opportunities to transform their lives through the performing arts; to provide vibrant, engaging and creative opportunities that grows the cultural experience through community partnerships; and celebrate all abilities.

The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF), an agency of the Government of Ontario, and one of Canada's leading granting foundations celebrates 40 years of grantmaking in Ontario and making a lasting impact in communities. Last year, OTF invested nearly $209M into 2,42 community projects and partnerships, which included funding for the Government of Ontario's Community Building Fund. Visit otf.ca to learn more.

Please contact Amanda Doerrie (Marketing & Public Relations) at Theatre Orangeville for more information.

Media Inquiries

Amanda Doerrie

Marketing Strategist / Content Creator

adoerrie@theatreorangeville.ca

519-942-3423 x 2804

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