Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre Centre presents a fresh face for TIFF

TORONTO, Sept. 3 /CNW/ - The Ontario Heritage Trust is pleased to reveal the newly restored façade of the Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre Centre in time for this year's 35^th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). The theatre centre will host 51 films as part of the 2010 festival, welcoming thousands of guests to this National Historic Site on Yonge Street in downtown Toronto.

The Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre Centre is the last operating double-decker theatre in the world. Built in 1913, the complex was the Canadian flagship of Marcus Loew's legendary theatre chain. After the decline of vaudeville, the Winter Garden closed in 1928 and remained so for over half a century. Over the years, the Elgin continued as a movie house, but gradually slipped into disrepair. In 1981, the complex was acquired by the Ontario Heritage Trust, and in 1987 the Trust began the largest restoration project of its kind in Canada. In 1989, the faithfully restored theatre reopened. It is now a vital part of Toronto's performing arts scene and popular venue for TIFF.

Last year, Parks Canada announced $425,000 in funding through the National Historic Sites Cost-Sharing Program to support restoration work at the Elgin and Winter Garden. The project included work to clean, repair, replace and conserve the terra cotta on the Yonge Street façade of the centre. The majority of the work is complete, and will be on show for visitors at this year's TIFF. Finishing touches will be completed following the festival.

The Ontario Heritage Trust is an agency of the Government of Ontario dedicated to identifying, preserving, protecting and promoting Ontario's heritage. For more information, visit www.heritagetrust.on.ca.

Learn more:

• For information on films showing at the Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre Centre at this year's Toronto International Film Festival, visit www.tiff.net.

Photos available on request.

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For further information:

Arnie Lappin
Marketing and Communications Manager, Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre Centre
Ontario Heritage Trust
Telephone: [phone]
Email: [email protected]