Georgina
November 12, 2008 06:54 PM
The Civic Centre was originally built in 1958 by the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer.
The building was constructed for and operated as a novitiate from this date until the early 1970s.
It was a completely self-sufficient community located on 587 acres of land, which provided not only the facilities to accommodate the Novices, but from the land they produced the requirements for their daily subsistence.
The building originally housed the Novice Priests of the Order and it was later occupied by the Novice Sisters, who as we have been advised, crafted wedding dresses for such stores as Eaton’s and Simpson’s during their time at the novitiate.
In 1973, the Township of Georgina approached the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, who indicated that they were considering selling the property and abandoning the Order in Georgina, as they were receiving fewer applicants into the order and the cost of the facility was becoming too expensive.
Georgina agreed to buy the property, together with 155 acres of land on the east side of the Fifth Concession (Civic Centre Road), at the cost of $437,500. The original cost of the building, driveways and landscaping was $589,000. Another interested party viewed the Civic Centre when listed for sale in consideration of a home for the aged, however it was felt the rooms were too small to accommodate residents.
After the purchase, several modifications were necessary to convert the building from a Novitiate to an administrative centre. The most interesting of which was the de-consecration of the chapel, which is now the town council chambers. The transition also entailed the removal of the confessional booth, the fully equipped kitchen and dining hall, which is now the home of the tax department offices, and the conversion of the single rooms into the offices we now occupy.
One item that remains untouched is the meditation walk located at the north east corner of the Civic Centre where the Priests could spend many hours in solitary thought.
In 1975, the first historical building was moved to the site of the Georgina Village Museum located on the Civic Centre property. Development of the village has continued since its establishment.
A 10-acre parcel of the property was sold to the York Regional Police in the late 1970’s for $2 to enable them to construct the police headquarters. The headquarters have since been reacquired by the town to house staff.
In 1988, in an effort to accommodate the growing space requirements of the town administration, authorization was given to construct five modest additions to the Civic Centre in conjunction with much needed roof design and updating of windows. Fortunately, the unique architectural look of the Civic Centre was preserved on completion of the construction.
In 1990, on the northwest corner of the property the town also authorized construction of the new canine control facility and the parks works yard.
In 1997, parking at the rear of the Civic Centre was expanded to double the original size.
-- Town of Georgina historical archives