The Town of Fort Frances will look into funding to renovate the museum after council approved a recommendation from the museum advisory committee Monday night.
Before the motion was voted on, Coun. Struchan Gilson stressed to council the importance of getting repairs done at the museum—and restoring the Scott Street structure to become an attractive tourist stop as soon as possible.
“The situation is really desperate for them. The exhibits they have in the basement are unbelievable,” Coun. Gilson remarked. “We have to find some way to store those exhibits or we’re not going to have them any more.
“If we don’t do anything at this time, we won’t have a museum because the exhibits will be shot,” he added. “And you can’t just move them to any old building. You need a specialized environment to preserve them.”
The recommendation from the museum advisory committee approved by council Monday night directed Community Services manager George Bell to investigate funding opportunities for the museum, pursuant to the development to a downtown revitalization plan.
This direction also was an integral part of the heritage tourism study that was presented to council this past summer, which stated the museum should be an integral part of any future makeover of the downtown area.
“I think we should proceed with this, renovate the museum, and make it the centerpiece of the downtown core,” said Coun. Gilson.
“It’s not an isolated thing. It’s connected to the whole thing,” he stressed. “We, as a town council, have to start looking at that. I think it’s a good recommendation.”
Coun. Neil Kabel noted he’s been assured the foundation of the museum is still solid and so the building site is worth keeping and renovating.
“We have put it off long enough,” said Coun. Gilson. “If we don’t do something, we’re just not going to have a museum. Some people might say, ‘So what?’ I think it’s very important we support the museum.
“It’s part of our cultural heritage,” he argued. “If we don’t support that—I can hardly put it into words—it’s wrong.”
“The museum renovation plan has been tabled for a number of years due to priorities on other subjects,” noted a report from curator Pam Hawley.
“Studies have identified the urgency of this project. At this point, all documents are prepared for this project to proceed,” she added.
There’s currently $356,000 in the museum reserves to help fund any such renovations.
Bell, who noted museum renovations also are being considered in the town’s 2005 budget process, said he will present council with his findings on possible funding sources at a future meeting.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
