Jon Taylor never quite figured out how to retire.

After helping build Govan Brown into one of Canada’s top construction management firms, the Niagara-on-the-Lake resident stepped back — only to stay on as co-chair and dive headfirst into local causes, charities and now, one of the town’s most high-profile redevelopment projects.

Taylor is helping lead the charge on the Royal George Theatre rebuild, a project that brings national experience to a hyperlocal challenge. His company, Govan Brown, has been awarded the construction management mandate for the three-year project, working alongside the Shaw Festival and Unity Architects.

For Taylor, it’s personal — he lives just down the street.

“I would call it an increased interest in making sure that this thing goes well, not just from the Shaw’s perspective, but from the community’s perspective,” he said in an interview.

Taylor has called NOTL home for years and has sunk his roots deep into the community.

In addition to his ongoing board role at Govan Brown, he serves on the boards of Red Roof Retreat and Let Pets Live, organizes multiple local fundraisers, volunteers with a group aiming to repurpose the old hospital on Wellington Street into a community hub, and holds a small stake in The Lake Report.

Now, his sights are set on transforming the aging Royal George Theatre into an accessible, modern space for performers and audiences alike.

Govan Brown was awarded the job through a competitive bidding process and is currently in the pre-construction planning and budgeting phase. The first visible signs of work are expected in October, when homes on Victoria Street are demolished to make way for a construction access route.

Taylor emphasized that access and vehicle staging will be kept off Queen Street to avoid disruption in the heart of Old Town.

“The construction will not materially impact Queen Street,” he said.

“We’ll have hoarding on Queen Street. It’ll be nicely decorated and nicely maintained, but all the construction, all the vehicles, the access to the site will all be off Victoria.”

Beyond the logistics, accessibility is one of the major driving forces behind the rebuild.

Taylor said the current Royal George is no longer functional — not just for audiences, but for staff, performers, technicians and backstage crew.

“If you’ve been in the theatre now, it’s pretty limited in terms of those who have mobility issues. It’s very difficult to get around.”

The new building will be designed to meet Rick Hansen Foundation accessibility standards — some of the highest in the industry.

“It’s really the cream of the crop,” said Taylor. “Not just for the patrons, but for all the staff that work there — not just the actors, but all the technicians and lighting and stage personnel as well.”

Govan Brown is also partnering with U.S.-based Global Infrastructure Solutions, which brings extensive experience with theatre builds, Taylor said.

As construction manager, Govan Brown will co-ordinate trades, contractors and consultants. Taylor said they plan to go to tender on major portions of the project and are encouraging local companies to get involved.

“Our preference will be to use local trades where possible,” he said. “We want to make sure that there’s economic benefit to Niagara-on-the-Lake and the Niagara region as a whole.”

Taylor said many capable local trades were already involved in the Artist’s Village project, currently under construction on the former Upper Canada Lodge site. That project is about halfway finished and running more or less on schedule.

“I think it goes without saying, if the Shaw wasn’t pleased, they sure as hell wouldn’t have awarded us a more complex project in the theatre.”

He said one of the most important goals now is to ensure transparency and minimize disruption — something that begins with detailed planning and meaningful community outreach.

Govan Brown has hired a traffic consultant to help design a route and construction access plan based on seasonal traffic, road capacity and safety.

“All of that’s being studied right now,” Taylor said. “We’ll come up with a plan and we’ll communicate that via the Shaw.”

He said a community liaison will be hired to help handle questions and feedback from residents and nearby businesses, while company staff will remain on site throughout the full three-year construction period.

“We have to make sure that we do things safely, we do them with the least amount of impact to the community, and that we do so in a highly communicative manner,” Taylor said.

“What I’ve been telling our team is we need as much community engagement as we possibly can — independent of what the Shaw is doing, which I’m highly supportive of.”

He added that residents are often more understanding when they’re informed in advance.

“People will be understanding if you tell them in advance and tell them what the impact is going to be. They’ll be right pissed off if they’re surprised by things.”

Some residents have raised concerns about the scale or aesthetics of the new building. Taylor said many of those concerns stem from a lack of accurate information, something the Shaw and Unity Architects are actively working to address.

Updated design renderings — showing the full building from multiple angles — are in development and will be released publicly.

“And you know what, at the (open house), I didn’t find people to be unreasonable in any sense. I think they had legitimate concerns, and some of it was through misinformation or lack of information.”

“There will always be detractors no matter what you do, but if you listen to the vocal minority, nothing would ever get done.”

Taylor rejected the suggestion that the project benefits only tourists.

“I live here. And yes, Queen Street is probably very touristy, but my life doesn’t revolve around Queen Street any more than yours does.”

“I believe that when you move into a town like this, where so many people come from somewhere else, that it’s so important to earn the right to be here and be a resident.”

“And I think that my wife and I have — probably more than most — really tried to get involved and make a difference here. And I sure as hell am not going to let the construction of the Royal George destroy all the goodwill that we’ve tried to build in this town.”

He said the rebuild isn’t just about bricks and mortar — it’s about legacy, long-term impact and doing right by both the town and the theatre.

“It’s not just about building a theatre — which will be fantastic — but it’s about doing it with the least amount of disruption, to the town, to the businesses, to the tours, and to the residents.”

“I’m really excited about the whole thing. I think it’s going to be an amazing project.”

Editor’s note: In the interests of full transparency, we must acknowledge that Jon Taylor is a part-owner in The Lake Report newspaper, as noted in the story. He owns a small stake and does not have any input over the paper’s content, editorial direction or political views.