KAWARTHA LAKES-The Flato Academy Theatre celebrating the opening of a new, accessible ramp today with community volunteers, board members and MPP Laurie Scott on hand.
The ramp was made possible with the help of a $150,000 Capital grant from the provincial government’s Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF). The grant, awarded in 2024, was used to replace and install the theatre’s Kent Street ramp. The project which also included adding handrails and lighting has improved the theatre’s accessibility as well as addressed safety and repair concerns which will contribute to extending the life of the theatre.
“The $150,000 Capital grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation is making a meaningful impact by ensuring safe and inclusive access to one of our community’s most valued cultural spaces,” said Laurie Scott, MPP for Haliburton–Kawartha Lakes–Brock. “This investment enabled the Flato Academy Theatre for Performing Arts to rebuild its entrance ramp, enhancing accessibility for all patrons and supporting the theatre’s vital role in nurturing local talent and enriching our creative economy.”
Construction at the theatre involved removing the existing concrete block, retaining walls, steps and pavers providing access to the theatre via the ramp as an accessible entrance/exit as well as an emergency exit. The old ramp was replaced with new poured concrete foundation walls, steps, and concrete walkways, providing new metal handrails/guards as well as lighting.
“The funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation Capital grant has been instrumental in helping the theatre to solve significant issues pertaining to accessibility,” noted Jim Lalor, Vice Chair of Academy Theatre’s Board of Directors. “The building was built without the convenience of a loading dock. Incoming bands are required to push their equipment up a fire exit ramp to access the backstage area. The previous ramp was failing structurally creating safety concerns. With a deteriorating surface of broken interlock pavers, the ramp was becoming a tripping hazard and often snapped wheels off of production equipment being wheeled into the theatre.”
“We can now confidently assure our renters that their equipment will remain undamaged as they load in for their shows,” added Lalor. “We are deeply grateful to the Ontario Government for this investment in one of the province’s cultural gems. Without this program we would not have been able to financially address this need.”
The Flato Academy Theatre was built in 1892 and is billed as the most technically perfect theatre in Canada and includes a recently installed best-in-class sound system. The stage has boasted the talents of legends such as Marie Dressler, Sammy Davis Jr., the Marx Brothers and Tommy Hunter. The theatre is a creative hub for the community, both for local amateur artists and a host for professional acts around the country. Canadian legends Tom Cochrane and Jann Arden will be gracing the stage in June and December, respectively, as well as the heartwarming musical A Christmas Story.
The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is an agency of the Ontario government and has invested nearly $105M into 732 community projects and multi-sector partnerships.
