March 5, 2025

“Our goal is to return Cartwright Old Town Hall to a vibrant hub for the community,” Ms. Nicholson stated. “We see this as more than just a venue for our productions. It’s an opportunity to create a gathering space which serves the broader public while fostering arts and culture in Scugog.”

We’re putting down roots in Blackstock…

Since November 2023, through a facility agreement with the Township of Scugog, we have stored our extensive costume, properties and set piece collections at Cartwright Town Hall in Blackstock and also provided storage space to the Lake Scugog Historical Society.

In the past eighteen months we’ve heard wonderful stories from the community about the hall’s heritage, the roles it has played over the decades, the fond place it holds in the community’s heart and we have come to love this space ourselves. We believe that the hall is a gem in need of polishing and that there is a lot of life left in this beautiful old building that has been a part of Blackstock for over 150 years.

To that end we have approached Scugog Township for a 10 year lease as the first step in restoring the hall. Council has approved our request and we are now in negotiations for that lease.

https://www.thestandardnewspaper.ca/post/theatre-on-the-ridge-eyes-long-term-lease-for-cartwright-old-town-hall 

Our next task is already underway – to secure the necessary funding to begin bringing the hall back to life by restoring essential services to the building for public occupancy.

This project is ongoing and the space here at the hall has been essential and inspiring!