County approves partnership to renovate Bawcutt Centre

A conceptual rendering shows the proposed future look of The Bawcutt Centre at 13 Burwell St. in Paris, formerly the Paris Old Town Hall, following planned renovations.

Paris Independent Staff

County of Brant council has approved a plan to move ahead with renovations at The Bawcutt Centre, setting a new direction for the long-awaited restoration of the former Paris Old Town Hall.

Council approved the plan at its June 23 meeting, endorsing a partnership with Wingbury Properties to oversee renovations at the County-owned heritage building at 13 Burwell St. The company will also seek commercial tenants for the space, while areas of the building will be identified for County programming.

“I am very pleased to have a plan in place for the future of The Bawcutt Centre,” said County of Brant Mayor David Bailey. “This has been a long time coming, and I appreciate the dedication of staff and community partners who have worked to help preserve this important cultural landmark. The Bawcutt Centre has a rich history in our community, and I am excited to see it continue to serve residents for generations to come.”

The decision follows years of discussion over the future of the building, which was acquired by the County in late 2015 with support from a $1-million donation by Skystone Media.

The County said three separate renovation plans have been considered over the past decade but did not move forward because of challenges including a lack of private capital and rising construction costs following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Most recently, the building had been considered as part of a combined project with a new central branch of the County of Brant Public Library. That proposal was not approved in January 2025, because of a lack of parking, leaving the future of The Bawcutt Centre uncertain.

Over the past 18 months, County staff and council reviewed market options and the viability of renovating the building. In 2025, the County launched an expression of interest process seeking a public-private partnership that would use private capital funding. Only one bid was received, and it would have required a significant public contribution from the County.

Staff ultimately identified a partnership with Wingbury Properties as the most viable option. Wingbury Properties Inc. is a private, family-owned property-management and development company and includes brothers Arie and Walter Koppelaar of Walters Group.

Wingbury Properties has experience renovating and operating historic buildings, purchasing the Wincey Mills building in 2014 as a heritage-revitalization project.

“We look forward to contributing to the revitalization of The Bawcutt Centre,” said Walter Koppelaar, President of Wingbury Properties. “This building is an important part of the community and a defining feature of the Paris landscape. We will take great care in working with the County to help restore this landmark to its full potential while balancing heritage preservation, community benefit and financial responsibility.”

Council considered several options in recent months, including completing the renovation independently at an estimated cost of $14.2 million, partnering with Wingbury Properties at an estimated cost of $9.5 million, or selling the building.

In a press release issued by the county, it was determined that the partnership would offer the best balance between preserving the heritage building and fiscal responsibility. The decision also separates the funding for The Bawcutt Centre from the planned central library branch, allowing both projects to proceed independently.

“Following considerable analysis and evaluation, consultation with The Bawcutt Centre Advisory Committee, and a cross-departmental approach to evaluate the future of The Bawcutt Centre, the plan to partner with Wingbury Properties provides the right outcome to renovate and finally secure a future for the building,” said Adam Crozier, General Manager of Strategic Initiatives. “Wingbury Properties has demonstrated its approach to sympathetic renovation of historic buildings in the County and has the private sector expertise to bring the building back to life with a mix of commercial and community use.”

Originally constructed in 1854 as the town hall for the newly incorporated Town of Paris, The Bawcutt Centre is a provincially designated heritage building and National Historic Site. The County describes it as the oldest civic building in Canada and a rare example of Neo-Gothic civic architecture.

Over its 172-year history, the building has served as a town hall, market and jail, with its original jail cells still located in the basement. 

It later housed Wheeler Needle Works, produced ammunition shells during the First World War, served as the headquarters of Mary Maxim and was most recently home to Old Town Hall Auctions.

The building was renamed The Bawcutt Centre after the County received a $1-million donation in 2015 from Paris native Linda Schuyler to assist with its purchase and renovation. 

The name honours her parents, Jack Bawcutt, a former and final mayor of the Town of Paris, and Joyce Bawcutt.

The County purchased the building for $1.1 million, with $750,000 from the donation committed to the purchase and $250,000 reserved for future renovations. The County contributed an additional $350,000 toward the purchase and later acquired the commercial property fronting Dumfries Street for $400,000 in 2017.

The Bawcutt Centre will mark its 175th anniversary in 2029. 

County staff said more information about the renovation project will be shared in the coming months.