READ
THE
PLANS.
Three things in one place: what is being dug up on your street, where the big projects actually stand, and a search of the Town’s own planning papers. Every fact here links back to the page it came from, in the Town’s words, so you can check it yourself.
The arts centre
A theatre and arts building. The Town's first master plan asked for better arts buildings in 1983, and a Town plan in 2008 said that need still had not been met. Three rounds of study since — and still no site and no approved money to build it.
Point at a dot to see what happened that day. On a phone, use the buttons.
Where it stands today
Still choosing a location. The last recorded council decision was 30 March 2026, which told staff to keep studying sites and promised a final report in the spring. The Town's own arts centre page shows nothing after that date. Money actually committed over six years: about $60,000 in consulting work. Nothing is approved to build.
- 1983A study landed
The Town's very first master plan said Collingwood needed better places for arts and culture. A Town plan written twenty-five years later said that need still had not been met.
Show me where it says that
“The 1983 Master Plan identified an expressed need for improved cultural facilities, which has still not been realized.”
Leisure Services Master Plan, Town of Collingwood (in the Judicial Inquiry's public archive)
- January 2008A study landed
A Town plan said arts and culture had been a sore point in town for years, and told the Town to write a policy about it.
Show me where it says that
“Arts and cultural programs and facilities, which have been an issue in the community for many years, are also needed”
Leisure Services Master Plan, Town of Collingwood (in the Judicial Inquiry's public archive)
- 2015Council decided
The Town's community plan told the Town to study an arts centre. It was still saying so when the plan was updated in 2020.
Show me where it says that
“Carry out a feasibility study for an arts centre and/or other recommended supports.”
Community Based Strategic Plan 2020-2023, Town of Collingwood
- December 2019Money approved
Council put money in the next year's budget to pay for a study into whether Collingwood could have an arts centre.
amount not published
Show me where it says that
“December 2019, Council Approves CACF Funding in 2020 Budget”
Collingwood Arts Centre Feasibility Study, Town of Collingwood
- 18 October 2021A study landed
The first study said yes, enough people want an arts centre — and gave the first price ranges.
400 seats: $16.4M to $25.2M · 800 seats: $32.0M to $49.1M
Show me where it says that
“The results of the Phase 1 study suggest that there is indeed demand for an arts and culture centre in Collingwood”
Collingwood Arts Centre Feasibility Study, Town of Collingwood
- 3 April 2023A study landed
The second study cut six possible locations down to two: a downtown parking lot on Ste. Marie Street, or inside the grain terminals redevelopment.
Show me where it says that
“48 Ste. Marie St – a new 45,000 sq.ft. arts centre constructed on 35,000 sq.ft of parking lot in Downtown Collingwood.”
Collingwood Arts Centre Feasibility Study, Town of Collingwood
- 17 April 2023Council decided
Staff asked to study both locations. Council said no and chose to look only at the Ste. Marie Street parking lot.
Show me where it says that
“This recommendation was defeated in favour of focusing solely on the 48 Ste. Marie Street site”
Collingwood Arts Centre Feasibility Study, Town of Collingwood
- 22 July 2024Money approved
Council paid the consultants more to shrink the plan after a much bigger one was shown to them.
$40,000
Show me where it says that
“THAT Council approves an expenditure of $40,000 from the Arts and Culture Legacy Fund”
Collingwood Arts Centre Feasibility Study, Town of Collingwood
- 6 January 2025Council decided
Council set a ceiling on what the Town itself would pay: no more than a 1% tax increase, paid off over 30 years.
capped at a 1% tax increase
Show me where it says that
“based on a 30 year amortization for the Arts Centre Feasibility Study”
Collingwood Arts Centre Feasibility Study, Town of Collingwood
- 31 March 2025A study landed
Staff told council the designs on the table cost far too much, and brought smaller numbers.
earlier options $90.7M and $107.7M were called unaffordable · new target: $16.58M from the Town
Show me where it says that
“Initial options at $90.7M and $107.7M, including $18.8M for parking, were deemed unviable due to funding shortfalls.”
Collingwood Arts Centre Feasibility Study, Town of Collingwood
- June 2025A study landed
The final study came back with a much smaller building — a quarter of the floor space — still with 600 seats, back on Ste. Marie Street.
estimated $67.4M, with the Town paying 31% to 39% of running costs
Sources disagree. The Town's own page carries three different totals from 2025 — $16.58M, $50.25M and $67.4M — and does not explain how they relate. None of them is an approved budget.
Show me where it says that
“gross floor area reduction from 192,000 square feet to 48,300 square feet.”
Collingwood Arts Centre Feasibility Study, Town of Collingwood
- June and July 2025Council decided
Staff asked council to commit up to $5 million to the next stage. Council debated it twice and could not agree, so nothing was decided. The one thing it did approve was a downtown parking study.
the $5.0M was suggested, not approved
Show me where it says that
“A satisfactory course of action was not determined at that time.”
Collingwood Arts Centre Feasibility Study, Town of Collingwood
- 15 September 2025Council decided
Council told staff to look at up to three pieces of land for the arts centre and report back in December.
up to $20,000 for advice
Show me where it says that
“AND THAT Council authorize the spending of up to $20,000 from the Arts Centre Reserve”
Collingwood Arts Centre Feasibility Study, Town of Collingwood
- 8 December 2025Council decided
Staff reported on possible sites behind closed doors, and council asked for more work. Which sites they are has not been made public.
Show me where it says that
“Council provided direction to staff on further investigation into site options for the Arts Centre.”
Collingwood Arts Centre Feasibility Study, Town of Collingwood
- 30 March 2026Council decided
Council told staff to keep studying locations and let the volunteer arts committee see the shortlist in confidence. Staff said a final report would come in the spring.
Show me where it says that
“Staff anticipate returning to Council in Q2 with a final report and recommended next steps.”
Collingwood Arts Centre Feasibility Study, Town of Collingwood
What nobody has published yet
- Whether the final report promised for spring 2026 ever reached council. The Town's arts centre page has nothing after 30 March 2026.
- Which sites are on the shortlist. Discussed behind closed doors and not published.
- How the three 2025 cost figures relate to each other — $16.58M, $50.25M and $67.4M. The Town's own page does not say.
- What the first study cost. The 2020 budget amount was never published on the page that records the decision.
Researched from the Town’s own pages and council material on 18 October 2026. Every quote is copied word for word and links to where it is written. This is my campaign’s page, not a Town of Collingwood product, and the record is still moving — check the links before relying on anything here. If I have something wrong, tell me and I will fix it and say that I did.