This atrium and multi-use space has been built by and for a community who believes in the power of creativity, connection, and belonging.
What We Did
In October 2024, we broke ground and began our construction of a 3,500-square-foot addition to our existing building that features:
⭐ A multi-use space for community gatherings, performances, exhibitions and other events
⭐ Fully accessible spaces, including universal washrooms
⭐ A new servery-style kitchen and other hospitality infrastructure
Why We Did It
As a not-for-profit charitable organization, our mission is to ignite creativity, foster connection and build community through the arts. We want everyone to feel welcome here. To continue fulfilling this mission, we addressed some of the physical constraints of our space:
⭐ While our building — an 1856 heritage schoolhouse — has always been beautiful and part of the community’s rich history, it couldn’t accommodate large gatherings or people with mobility constraints, and lacked clear wayfinding for visitors.
⭐ Demand for our programs and events far exceeded what our previous space could offer. We found we had to turn away more than half of the requests we received to use our space because our building wasn’t accessible or because we were already fully booked.
⭐ Our community is growing, and we need to grow with it! As an arts and culture hub for Wellington County, the Arts Centre serves more than 50,000 people every year, offering exhibitions, performances, community events, summer camps, office and studio space for local artists and arts groups, and a range of programs and services for all ages. We simply needed more space to meet the demands of our growing community.
How It Benefits Our Community
This expansion:
- Contributes to the vibrancy and health of our region, strengthening Centre Wellington as a key arts and tourism community
- Breaks down barriers to participation in the arts by giving even more people the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of activities at the Arts Centre
- Ensures the Arts Centre is accessible for everyone in the community and is a space where everyone feels like they belong
- Provides a much-needed gathering space for community members and groups in the area
- Allows us to introduce new programs for seniors and accommodate people with mobility constraints
- Helps us become more financially sustainable in the long term
- Directly impacts the lives of people in our community, helping them build skills like creative thinking and resiliency
- Continues the legacy of an Arts Centre by and for the community for generations to come
With gratitude…
Thanks to the generosity of so many in this community – including the individuals, businesses, organizations, foundations and government bodies listed below – we reached our fundraising goal and our bold vision for the new expansion is now a reality.
This fully accessible addition transforms our historic schoolhouse into an inclusive hub where creativity, connection and community can thrive. What was once a limitation is now an invitation: a space where people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities can gather, create and belong.
We are deeply grateful to every supporter who made this possible. Thank you for leaving your mark on the future of the arts in Centre Wellington and beyond – and for helping to strengthen and uplift our community for generations to come.
Visionary Gifts ($200,000 and Above)
- Government of Canada
- MacDonald Trust Fund (through the Township of Centre Wellington)
- The Dalglish Family Foundation
- Ontario Trillium Foundation
- Bob & Lynn Cameron & Family
Leadership Gifts ($100,000 to $199,999)
- RBC Foundation
- SRM Architects & Urban Designers
- The Altman Family
Major Gifts ($25,000 to $99,999)
- Alpha Marketing International
- Dakon Construction
- David & Nancy Hurlburt
- Elora Mill
- George & Jennifer Mochrie
- Nexans
- printFactor Media
- The Ashdown Family
- Wellington Advertiser
- Xanadu Homes
Supporting Gifts ($10,000 to $24,999)
- Anonymous
- Centre Wellington Community Foundation – Jack R. MacDonald Fund
- Dalton Associates
- Don Vallery
- FCC
- Grand River Agricultural Society
- J.P. Bickell Foundation
- Joe & Debbie Somfay
- Kathryn Giffen
- Lorraine & Simon Greaves
- Peter & Susan McPhedran
- Susan & David James
- Tacoma Engineers
- The Bonnell Family
- The Koop Family
- W.C. Wood Foundation
- Wallenstein Feed Charitable Foundation
Engage Gifts ($1,000 to $9,999)
- Adarsh Nanda
- Alex Goytisolo
- Allegra Cairns
- Annerose & Jonathan Schmidt
- Annie Tobias
- Anonymous
- Aypa Power Canada
- B.E.N. Stoneworks Ltd.
- Bandroai Inc.
- Barb Minett
- Barbara & Donald Kidd
- Barbara Peloso
- Barry McCarthy & Gail Brown
- Bigelow Flooring
- Brent Garbett
- Brian & Diane Gray
- Bronwynne Wilton & Pierre Chauvin
- Cambia Development Foundation
- Carl Dalton
- Carolyn & Tom Skimson
- Cecil & Ruth Anne Bauman
- Cheryl Ruddock
- Clarissa & Andrew Burke
- Cora Cluett
- Dakota Rogers & Alex Watts
- David Brown
- Deb & Shawn Watters
- Deb Stark & Howard Dobson
- Dietrich Kurtz McKay Wealth Management Group
- Doug & Donna Jackson
- Doug Kirton
- Dr. Kate Anderson and Edward Thomas
- Ecclestone Financial Group
- Eileen MacArthur
- Elora Home Hardware
- Eric Oakley & Susan Thorning
- Gail Richardson & Berry Smith
- Graeme Cairns
- Greg Boland & Shannon Shan
- Jackie & Jim Ranahan
- James Lahey
- Jan Beveridge
- anette Hayhoe
- Janice Foot
- JCT Metals
- Jean Innes & Miguel Jardim
- Jennifer & Patrick Otto
- Jessica Mouret
- JoAnn Martin
- Jo-Anne Harder
- John & Clova Anderson
- John & Eleanor Morris
- John Kissick
- Jon Warland & Shirley Al
- Kirk & Julie McElwain
- Kittel Mechanical
- Kris & Caileigh Butler
- Laura Greenway
- Laurie Skantzos
- Lawrence Kraemer
- Linda Mather
- Linda O’Neill
- Lisa Roszel
- Liz MacLennan
- Lyn May
- Lynda & Bob Grant
- Mapleton Mechanical
- Margot Mouret
- Marion & Stu Oxley
- Mark Anderson & Marty Van Vliet
- Martin Pearce
- Martin Simmons Sweers Architects
- McLean Smits Foundation
- Melissa Doherty
- Melissa Seagrove & Terry Godreau
- Melissa Watkins & Chris Jess
- Menai Wardle
- Michael Allgoewer
- Michael Madden and Ralph Bertram
- Michael Von Massow & Dr. Sheryl Howe
- Mike & Fran Lee
- Molly Kleiker & Stuart Reed
- Murray Laufer & Marie Day
- MV Real Estate Brokerage
- Nadine Arsenault
- Pete & Mary-Kay Goindi
- Pete Smith
- Pollock Family Foundation
- Resa Lent
- Riel Cairns & Allegra Cairns
- Riverfest Elora
- Robbie Keith
- Ron Eady
- Ron Shuebrook
- RTO4
- Ryan Price
- Sabine Maarse
- Sallie Smyth
- Schoolhouse Arts Collective
- Scott Everingham
- Scott Gilmore
- SETH
- Shannon Kornelsen
- Sharon Carr
- Shelley B. Sheridan
- Sheri Cockerill
- Shirley & Deryk Smith
- Stefan Berg
- Stirling Marathon
- Stonex Stonex
- Susan Brown
- Ted McMurrich
- The Anderson Cannon family
- The Fischer/Peppler Family
- The Frasson Family
- The Korol Rooney Family
- The Musagetes Fund, held at WRCF
- The Pillars Elora
- Thos & Dee Ryans
- Tim & Teri Hranka
- Tivoli Films Inc.
- Todd Neath
- Vicki & Seth Wyga
- Vincea McLelland
- Wrighthaven Homes
- Wyonna Peppler
- Zak, Lola, Wolfe Baird & Kate Guy
Community Gifts (Up to $999)
- Alex Frasson
- Amanda Phillips
- Amanda Smith
- Andrew & Bronwyn Tolmie
- Andy McNeill
- Anne Hobbs
- Anne Simpson
- Anonymous
- Aria Boutique
- Art & Karen Kollee
- B. Warland & H. Gibson
- Barb & Greg Smith-Young
- Barb Gooch
- Barb Lee
- Barb Palk & Jon Warwick
- Barbara Bartle
- Barbara Watts
- Bernadette Peets
- Beth Nesbitt
- Beverly-Ann Woods
- Bonnie Lesky
- Bonnie McEachern
- Brenda LaRose
- Brenda Murphy
- Brian & Barb Schuett
- Brian Rice
- Bryan Hayter
- Burna Wilton
- Byron Burley
- Caitlin Williams
- Carol Hughes
- Caroline Gray
- Carolyn Miller
- Carrie & Ed Huth
- Cate Welsh
- Catherine Lockhart
- Catherine MacMaster
- Celestine Maclachlan
- Charlotte Rosewarne
- Chris Ahlers
- Cindy & Jim Lindsay
- Cindy Bush
- Cindy Younan
- Claudia Lambert
- Colin Carney
- Colin Richardson
- Curt Hammond
- Daina Hunter
- Dave MacArthur
- David Bell
- David Worts
- Dean & Roberta Scarrow
- Deanna & Brian Nevett
- Debra Kurt
- Denise Moore
- Dennis Zinger
- Diane Lyons
- Dianna Douglas
- Dianne Snyder
- Don & Barb Evoy
- Don Eaton
- Donna McCaw
- Dorothy Hemingway
- Dr. David Knight
- Eliza Crosland
- Elizabeth Edwards
- Ellen Helps
- Elysia DeLaurentis
- Emilie Embrey
- Emily Auger
- Eric Oh
- Erica & Rob Voisin
- Erinn Steringa & James Burt
- Eva Lane & Chris Laser
- Evelyn Lee
- Evergreen Flooring
- Flavio & Nikki Gomes
- Fred Brydges
- Gary & Nancy White
- Gary Bryant
- Gerald & Sue Benham
- Gillian Shoemaker
- Gina Holstead
- Ginette Duhamel
- Gisela Ruehe
- Glen & Donna Kelley
- Glenna Munro
- Gord Harris
- Grace Rasmussen
- Graeme Stewart
- Graham Angus
- Grayce Perry
- Grazyna Adamska
- Gwen Swick
- Handsome Devil Bistro
- Heather Boswell
- Heather Craig
- Heather Degen
- Heather Giffen
- Heather Kersell
- Heidi May
- Heritage River
- Ian MacRae
- Jackie & Mike Long
- James Embrey
- James Scott
- Jan Durban
- Jan Feduck
- Janet Anderson
- Janet Noeker
- Janice Thomson
- Janine Smith
- Jean Prichard
- Jeff & Debbie Ostic
- Jeff Lehmann
- Jeff Negrave
- Jenn Locke
- Jennifer Adams
- Jennifer Harvard
- Jennifer Kennedy
- Jennifer Matz
- Jennifer Perry
- Jenny Baldwin
- Jenny Fleming
- Jenny Ritter
- Jenny Schukow
- Jessica Ing
- Jim & Jane Wilson
- Joan Chamberlain
- Jo-Ann Valeriote
- Joanne Andrews
- Jody Mount
- Joel Masewich
- Joel Wilson
- John & Sara Brotman
- Jon Gatten
- Joy Durley
- Joyce Buck
- Joyce Roth
- Judith & Sidney Feldman
- Judith Gunter
- Judith Hardy
- Judy French
- Julia Ferguson
- Julia Hanigsberg
- Julia McNeely
- Julie Denneny
- Julie Wheeler Bryant
- K. Stanley & R. Dufau
- Karen & Al McMillan
- Karen Bell
- Karen Hoover
- Karen Huband
- Karen Lombard
- Karen Silverstone
- Karla Janutka – De Borger
- Kate Ann Vandermeer
- Kate Wright
- Katelynn Allen
- Katherine Gammie
- Katherine Wainman
- Kathleen Simpson
- Kathy Mayo
- Katy & Nick Groves
- Kevin Robson
- Kevin Warren
- Kimberley Silva
- Kori Baldwin
- Larry & Shirley Scott
- Laura & Ted Alexander
- Laura Feil
- Leah Ferguson
- Lena Nudds
- Liisa Kukk
- Linda Lane
- Linda Rankine
- Linda Vines
- Lindsay Laporte
- Lionel Gould
- Lorenzo & Tracy Ruffini
- Lori Caron
- Lori Hintermeister
- Lorraine Tierney
- Louise Beney
- Louise Cako
- Louise Rothenburg
- Lucille Pacey
- Lui Daniel
- Lyn Westfall
- Maria Giffen
- Maria Pezzano
- Maria Spinato
- Mark Hemingway & Clare Burns
- Mark Lai
- Mary Karavos
- Mary Manning
- Maryam Ebrahimi
- MaryAnne Alexander
- Matt McQuade
- Megan Clark
- Michael & Nancy Goldberg
- Michael Meades
- Nadine McEwen
- Nancy Ariss
- Nancy Baker
- Nancy Olson-Van Veen
- Nicholas Kosonic
- Olga & Rich Mondoux
- P. McLaughlin & S. Haigh
- Pandora’s Box Contracting
- Pat Hornsby
- Patricia MacDougald
- Paul & Holly Whitaker
- Paul Smith
- Pauline Grove
- Pearl VanGeest
- Peter Fisher
- Phil Irish
- Rachel Harder
- Renate Karger
- Richard Hill
- R. Gorrie & W. Agnew
- Rob Hammond
- Robert Norrie
- Robin Gow
- Roque Roofing
- Ryan Morreau
- Samuel Hayes
- Sandra & Paul Valeriote
- Sandra Edwards
- Sandy Bassie
- Sarah Gardiner
- Sarah Sheppard
- Sean & Jennine Paul
- Sean Price
- Sensational Elora
- Shannon Muegge
- Shari Roberts
- Sharon Betton
- Sheena Gruber
- Sheila Corrigan
- Shelley Adams
- Shelley Carter
- Sheryl Teasell
- Shurli Chohan
- Sophie Hogan
- Staci Barron
- Stef Clark
- Stephanie Cairns
- Stephanie Mae Toohill
- Steve & Corynn Billing
- Stewart Family
- Supria Karmakar
- Susan Blair
- Susan Chamberlain Taylor
- Susan Worts
- Tammy Ratcliff
- Tara Schuett
- Ted & Michelle Lyons
- Terrilynn Dennis-Hobson
- The Wild Tart
- Tim Salter
- Tina Barlow
- Tina Buckton
- Tina Meissner
- Tom Woods
- Tracy & Jeff Brubacher
- Trailside Eye Care
- Uta Parks
- Valerie & Bill Tibbles
- Vera Kisseleva
- Verne Harrison
- Victoria Randles
- Wendy Armstrong
- Will Teron
- Willow Hobson
- WSMP Wealth Management
- Wynn & Frank Schmidt