The historic town hall in Golden Lake stands at the crossroads of Pikwàkanagàn First Nation and North Algona Wilberforce Township. Situated in the remote Ontario Highlands, the township consists of several small and isolated communities. For over a century, the town hall has served as an important gathering place.

“It's the only publicly available community space in the whole region,” says Cameron Montgomery, Special Projects Coordinator for North Algona Wilberforce Township.

Originally a schoolhouse in the 1920s, the hall is the only space available for booking seniors groups, family gatherings, holiday celebrations, first aid and fire training courses, the local Girl Guides and other events.

Despite the building’s importance and historical significance, Montgomery says it was “falling into the ground.” The mortar and masonry were crumbling from water damage, and the stairs were falling apart. The building was also in need of a makeover; the original red brick had been repainted many times over the years, and layers of mismatched colours were peeling away. The metal railings were rusted, and the cracked plastic awnings were an eyesore.

In 2022, The North Algona Wilberforce Township received $54,700 from the Government of Canada’s $23.25-million investment in My Main Street through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario). The North Algona Wilberforce Township received this funding as part of the My Main Street Community Activator program, administered by the Canadian Urban Institute (CUI), to support projects that revitalize community spaces.

With My Main Street funding, the Crossroads Transformation Project was born. By revitalizing the town hall and associated spaces, the township hopes to bring the community together and facilitate social cohesion. Plus, organizers hope to promote tourism by making the area more attractive for people driving through.

The project involved both structural renovations and beautification. The stairs were repaired, the broken railings were replaced by timber frame posts and the awnings were covered in cedar shakes made by local Mennonite artisans.

“It totally changed the look of the building,” says Montgomery.

Before the repairs were even complete, someone from the community came and planted a garden beside the parking lot.

“It's just like the broken window effect,” says Montgomery, “Once you start to take care of things.”

In addition to supporting the repairs, My Main Street funding allowed project organizers to design a new mural on the exterior walls of the local fire hall. Throughout the summer of 2022, Montgomery and her summer assistant sought feedback from the community on the content of the murals. They put survey boxes throughout the township and held town halls. Many residents also called in and shared stories about growing up in the community.

Artist Sylvia Tennisco and Aimee Bailey, Indigenous historian, were hired to design the murals. They incorporated the stories and feedback from the community into the artwork, including symbols and local landmarks. They also held community sessions where locals could come and contribute to some smaller murals.

On August 20, 2022, the township held a community picnic to celebrate the completion of the repairs and the unveiling of the mural. More than 100 people attended—an impressive number for a remote community where people live so far apart. The event included local food, including a crumble made with locally harvested berries and rhubarb.

The picnic was followed by entertainment, storytelling and a Pow Wow. Many residents spontaneously got up and shared stories about growing up in the village. The township plans to renovate the inside of the hall and re-establish a little library, where they will gather these stories and make them available to everyone.

Photo Credit: North Algona Wilberforce Township

Photo Caption: Fifty or so people are in the shot, pictured eating and drinking at tables and chairs outside of the Community Hall