Council has approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to transfer ownership of the Wellington Town Hall to the Wellington Town Hall Foundation. 

The MOU is valid for a maximum of one year, from February 1st, 2026 to January 31st, 2027. During this time, the WTH Foundation is required to become a legal non-profit, establish a board, and create long-term financial planning.

The year offers time to engage local residents in the planning to transform the Town Hall into a centre for community programming. If conditions are met, a sale at a nominal price will be finalized 60 days after the MOU expires.

The County will continue to maintain the building and retain staff members as points of contact. It will also use the building for the 2026 municipal election.

The project is led by Sarah Bobas and Christina Zeidler, who boast combined experience in community infrastructure development, arts programming, and business. 

“It’s been a real pleasure to work with them in the development of the MOU,” said Lisa Lindsay, Director of Recreation and Community Facilities. 

“They are extremely motivated and are ready to hit the ground running and have also been extremely flexible with working around the election location.”

The Backstory

The County established a Wellington Town Hall Expression of Interest Working Group in 2023 after declaring the municipal building surplus to its needs. 

The WTH Foundation was the only organization to submit an expression of interest; the proposal was initially denied at a Committee of the Whole Meeting. Some Councillors favoured listing the building on the open market. 

Subsequently, Ms. Zeidler and Ms. Bobas made a deputation to Council advocating for the social and financial benefit of their proposal, and noted that getting the building off the County’s books would immediately save them money. A motion to approve the proposal and enter into an MOU carried at Council in December. 

While there was little discussion on the terms, Councillor Hirsch wanted to confirm that approval of the sale would happen after the WTH Foundation submitted development plans and future use.

“There was speculation in the media about somebody operating a strip club in the building which is not something we would likely approve,” he noted.

Detailed plans, Ms. Lindsey confirmed, could “certainly can be moved up to be ahead of Council approval.”