Paisley Town Hall

The Village of Paisley has been in the forefront of architectural inventory and conservancy in the province. In a catalogue of its significant buildings, the main entry is that of the Paisley Town Hall, now listed for both architectural and historical reasons with the Canadian Inventory of Historic Buildings. A restoration was undertaken as a tribute to the building when it had served as chief civic symbol of the Corporation for a hundred years, and that restoration became one of the late architect Napier Simpson's last works.

The first mandate of any Town Hall is that of a Hall of Assembly during times of civic strife or celebration. During its first century the Paisley Town Hall also served as Public Library, School, Fire Hall, Archives, Council Chambers, Polling Station, Newspaper Office, and Office of the Clerk.

But perhaps chief among its functions is that of a centre for the arts in the life of the Village and surrounding area. It has been concert hall, dance hall, exhibition hall, movie theatre, and stage for countless live theatre productions. Among its distinguished visitors and performers can be listed Sir Wilfred Laurier, the country's first great Liberal Prime Minister; Indian princess and poet E. Pauline Johnson; Pauline McGibbon, Lieutenant-Govemor of Ontario; William Hutt, the country's foremost classical actor and Companion of the Order of Canada; Andr6 Gagnon, French-Canadian composer and pianist and a great admirer of the hall; Robert Stanfield, manufacturer and Tory Prime Minister; and the famed Canadian contralto Maureen Forrester. Within easy memory the theatre has provided performance space with unrivalled acoustics for Ted Johns's School Show, Eric Donkin's Sarah Binks; and Rod Beattie's Wingfield Farm shows, currently being screened on CBC TV. Even Santa Claus makes the Hall a favourite annual Port of Call.

As is fitting for a building of this stature and distinguished record, the Paisley Town Hall has also provided first offices for the incipient political entity known now as Arran-Elderslie.