4 WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2024 righ Crown drops charges against former Foundation for Education executive director Here for Now founder and artistic director Fiona Mongillo (from left) was joined by Stratford Mayor Martin Ritsma, BILL ATWOOD All charges against the former ex- dropped recently at the request of the Crown. Laura Pethick, a Stratford resi- dent, had been charged with one count of fraud with avalue of more than $5,000, one count of forged document use and one count of mischief to data. Pethick, who was hired by the charityin July 2021, was dismissed without cause in March, but chair Colleen Schenk said “irregularities were later discovered leading to an investigation and the subsequent charges.” Pethick was alleged to have de- frauded the foundation of more than $5,000. This was alleged to have occurred some time between Nov. 1, 2022, and March 27, 2024. According to the charges, Pethick also “knowingly used forged docu- ment” —a Caring Fund Application form — “as if it was genuine” some by d Ms. Pethick is proud of her work on behalf of the Foundation, despite the ill-informed al- legations by her former employer In a statement provided by her lawyer, Pethick stated she is “is grateful that all charges against her have been withdrawn and this proceeding has come to an end.” “The allegations by the Founda- tion’s Board representatives were horribly mistaken; the damage caused to Ms. Pethick’s reputa- tion (was) both unwarranted and irreparable. tim: “Ms. Pethick rk Police alleged that Pethick had purchased more than $11,000 worth of gift cards through the use of fraudulent cheques. Pethick was also accused of reformatting and changing the account password of a laptop be- longing to the foundation some time between March 7 and May 1 of this year. Pethick d brief wol on behalf of the Foundation, de- spite the ill-informed allegations by her former employer.She looks forward to finding new and mean- gful opportunities to work for the benefit of the Stratford/Huron community,” the statement said. While Schenk confirmed in an earlier email that restitution will e coming to the foundation, she declined BILL ATWOOD A small Stratford theatre com- pany moved one step closer to a permanent home Sept. 17 with a ceremonial wall-breaking at the former land registry office and is the exact same size as the tent Here for Nowhad previously used to preform, she noted. The building, built in 1919, has been vacant since 2014, Although it will go through extensive reno- vations during its transformation Perth County i i P The Here for Now Theatre com- pany is in the midst of taking over the historic building at 24 St. An- drew St., Stratford nearly three years after it was originally slated for demolition. Artistic director Fiona Mongil- lo, who founded the company in | 2012, first stepped foot into the building about a year and a half ago and “knew that it was meant tobea theatre,” she tolda crowd of Perth County Warden Rhonda Ehgoetz and Perth-Wellington MPP Matthew Rae for the ceremonial wall-breaking that marked the beginning of renovations at Perth County's former land registry office. The historic building — once slated for demolition — will soon be the new home and performance space for the theatre company. BILL ATWOOD Theatre gets closer to permanent home in former county building lied behind us with this project, not only those who have pledged funds or donated, but also those who buy season passes every year and tell their friends about us,” Mongillo said. “Without the incredible word inganeffort i its hi This includes, for: example, colour matching the roofto the other his- torical buildings in the vicinity, Mongillo added. “Having this building will mean that we can workshop and develop forlonger periods. We cancommis- of mouth and the core supporters Sf laa d peopl show, we would notbe here today.” Stratford Mayor Martin Ritsma ighli the importance ofyear- round theatre in the Festival City. “It’s amazing for a number of people. It’s amazing, certainly, for our residents. It’s amazing for our tourists, but for the men and wom- t sion more plays, we can pay artists more and i i Pp with running shows in the off-season, with the goal being to become a Saacaad Aaa Fe to mark the occasion. “The building was constructed | with thick stone and brick walls so that it would be as fireproof as Possible to protect the important | land registry papers it housed. And luckily for us, it offers fantastic dj said. appearance in Stratford court on Sept. 9, where her lawyer, Andrew Porter, ‘corifirmed she had made a “voluntary without prejudice) payment,” owing'to the'financial burden of defending the matter ment from Pethick’s lawyer, Founded in 1989, the Sea- | forth-based Foundation for Edu: atio Huron states that it ‘offers edu cation in excess of the ae ig,” she The basement layout is ideal for several key aspects of a theatre, providing ample space for dress- ing rooms, a green room, storage and a rehearsal Space, Mongillo levels prescribed by the Ministry | explained. The black box where ation.” of Educ; the productions will be staged ye: ” she said. Mongillo said Here for Now has. now raised nearly $1 million for the project. This includes a pivot- al $100,000 investment from Fed- Dev Ontario, the federal ministry responsible for economic devel- ent i h Ontario. ° is] enthat worki tors, the people that do sound and light ~ that’s also amazing,” he said. Renovations are officially set to begin this week and are expected tobe completed in May 2025. While the company will not change the nature of its productions, with the space offering seating for 60 audi- ence members, Here for Now will While the theatre company still needs to raise about $300,000, it has received support from resi- dents who have purchased “found: ing starts” or naming rights to spaces inside the buildi “I cannot tell-you how moved I am by how quickly folks have ral- be adding: winter sh year and will then evaluate where thingsare after that, Mongillosaid. “We're going to make the adjust- ments slowly because we don't want to just completely shift our model, and we know that we can sell plays in the in the summer. So that’s the angle we’re taking.”