Construction of the Elgin County Courthouse is complete, improving justice services for local residents.
Attorney General John Gerretsen was joined by David Marr, Warden of Elgin County, Heather Jackson, Mayor of St. Thomas, and other local dignitaries at a ribbon cutting ceremony today to mark the completion of the project.
The courthouse - known as the St. Thomas Consolidated Courthouse during the construction phase - is located on Wellington Street on the site of the historic Elgin County Courthouse. The new courthouse consolidates the Superior Court of Justice and Ontario Court of Justice, which previously operated in separate locations. The three-storey building has eight courtrooms and three conference/settlement rooms.
Many of the heritage features of the courthouse, including its east, north and west elevations, dome and copper roof, and masonry and sculptural detailing, were conserved and restored. A new, modern addition connects the restored heritage courthouse with the former Land Registry Office creating a modern courthouse complex with state-of-the-art technology, security, energy efficiency and barrier-free accessibility.
Construction of the new courthouse began in June 2011. At the peak of construction, there were more than 250 construction workers on site daily.
Over the coming weeks, staff and stakeholders will move into the new courthouse, which is expected to be fully operational on March 24, 2014.
The renewal of the Elgin County Courthouse exemplifies the Province of Ontario's commitment to preserving heritage buildings through adaptive reuse, restoration and expansion, and embodies a modern judicial system rooted in tradition.
Infrastructure investments like the Elgin County Courthouse are part of the government's economic plan that is creating jobs for today and tomorrow.
Infrastructure Ontario is a Crown agency of the Province of Ontario that delivers large, complex infrastructure renewal projects on time and on budget. Over the last six years, the province has applied Infrastructure Ontario's Alternative Financing and Procurement model to 83 major projects valued at approximately $38 billion, saving taxpayers an estimated $3 billion. Infrastructure Ontario also manages one of the largest real estate portfolios in Canada, provides municipalities and eligible public sector clients with financing to renew public infrastructure, and leverages its private-sector expertise to manage major commercial transactions on behalf of the province.
Visit www.infrastructureontario.ca for more information.
Quotes:
Hon. John Gerretsen, Attorney General
“For over a century and a half, the Elgin County Courthouse has stood as a St. Thomas landmark. Its restoration and renovation as part of the new consolidated courthouse will preserve its stature in the community for many years to come.”
Contacts:
Tom Boreskie
Infrastructure Ontario
416-212-6447
Brendan Crawley
Ministry of the Attorney General
Communications Branch
416-326-2210
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