The Victoria Playhouse Petrolia [VPP] capital campaign has officially kicked off after it recently received a $25,000 donation from the Margaret Stokes IODE.
Plans to launch the campaign were announced late last year.
The goal is to raise $3.5 million to improve accessibility at the historic building. Planned additions include an elevator to go from the lobby to the balcony, and about 10 washrooms (with a few on each floor).
Past and current Margaret Stokes IODE Presidents Wendy Loosley and Dawn McNally presented a cheque to members of the VPP and the Town of Petrolia on March 22.
VPP Co-Artistic Director David Hogan said he was thrilled to receive the donation.
"It's pretty incredible! It's a great way to start this new campaign," Hogan said. "IODE's, they're a small organization and they pooled all of their money, five years it took them to raise that money, and they wanted it to go to the Victoria hall."
Hogan said plans for the capital campaign will extend far beyond the theatre and will benefit Victoria hall as a whole, which is home to community programs, events, and weddings.
The Town of Petrolia's Director of Marketing, Arts, and Communication Laurissa Ellsworth said it has been over 25 years since the building reopened and accessibility "shouldn't be an afterthought".
"Overall, it'll just makes the facility far more youthful and far more available to people of all abilities," Ellsworth said.
It's hoped the capital campaign project will begin in 2025. Until then, fundraisers will be held.
"We look to kick off a campaign in May, which coincides with the beginning of our theatre season," said Ellsworth. "We have a few other donations such as this one (from the IODE) that have come in from private residents to help get us started."
IODE Canada is a national women's charitable organization dedicated to supporting education, community service, and citizenship programs. The local chapter in Petrolia received its charter in March 1949.
Meanwhile, VPP's 2024 season will begin on May 7 and will run through October 27 with six productions scheduled to hit the stage.