The Fort Frances Museum fundraising committee has achieved one-third of its campaign goal, Coun. Struchan Gilson reported to council during its regular meeting last night.
“They have already collected $25,000 in donations,” he remarked, adding a significant portion of that total has come from Abitibi-Consolidated.
“It’s encouraging the town is starting to get behind the museum renovations,” said Coun. Gilson. “They only need to raise $75,000.”
As reported several times in the past month, the committee is raising money to renovate the Fort Frances Museum.
The work, which ideally will start this fall and be completed by next summer, will include an entrance to the south of the building, as well as a small addition there to alleviate receiving, crating, and shipping problems.
There also will be changes to the existing building to alleviate circulation and exhibition space problems.
New heating, ventilation, air conditioning, safety, security, and electrical systems will be installed, as well.
The total cost of renovating the museum is expected to be around $900,000. Its current fundraising goal is set at $75,000 from the local community and $55,000 from other partners (such as the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce and BIA).
The town has a dedicated reserve of $420,000 towards the project.
Other levels of government funding are being sought to complete the scenario while applications have been made for grants from FedNor, the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund, and Cultural Spaces Canada (the Department of Canadian Heritage).
The museum renovations are part of a larger heritage tourism plan devised by Hilderman, Thomas, Frank and Cram—a $2,725,974 project that has designated the museum as the centrepiece of tourism strategy meant to draw visitors to the downtown area and riverfront.
Also at last night’s meeting, which was delayed one night due to the Victoria Day holiday, council:
•passed a bylaw to authorize an agreement with the Kiwanis Club of Fort Frances Inc. for the purposes of building the skate park;
•passed a bylaw to approve a license agreement with Municipal Property Assessment Corp. (MPAC) with respect to the use of voter information;
•passed a bylaw to authorize the entering into of an agreement with SwiftCash Corp. with respect to the location and operation of an ATM at the Memorial Sports Centre;
•passed a bylaw to de-register Lots 12 and 13, Plan 48M-339 (302 and 304 Kirsti Place);
•passed a bylaw to amend Zoning Bylaw #8/98 (507 Armit Ave.);
•passed a bylaw to authorize the levying and collection of a special charge of taxes upon the local Business Improvement Association;
•referred a request from J.W. Walker School for consideration regarding school traffic safety issues to the Operations and Facilities executive committee for a recommendation, with input from the Planning and Development executive committee and Traffic Safety Committee;
•referred a request from the “Fun in the Sun” committee regarding insurance coverage for “Fun in the Sun” activities to the Administration and Finance executive committee for a recommendation; and
•referred a request from the Khartum Shriners regarding purchasing advertising in the Khartum Khronicle special centennial edition to the Administration and Finance executive committee for a recommendation.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
