Staff
The town has received $77,000 through the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s Ontario 150 Community Capital Program to make much-needed repairs to the local museum.
The funds will be used to replace the museum’s roof, install a ramp, and make accessibility upgrades to the washrooms.
Museum curator Sherry George said the funding is welcome news.
“We have had some issues with our roof,” she noted.
“It’s reaching the end of its life and we knew it was going to have to be replaced soon.”
A ramp also is needed at the front entrance to the museum.
There are eight steps patrons must climb to get in the front door. And while there is an elevator in the rear of the museum, “most people still come off the street,” noted George.
“Many of our visitors are seniors–it just doesn’t work,” she added. “They come in breathless or they don’t come in at all.
“We had to do something about that,” stressed George, saying a ramp definitely will help solve that issue.
There also will be accessibility upgrades to the washrooms.
“We have two very small washrooms in the foyer and they would not be classified as accessible,” said George.
“So we’re going to combine them into a larger washroom that will be accessible to everyone.”
George noted accessibility standards are becoming more strict and the museum has to meet those standards.
But just as important, these improvements will make it easier for more patrons to access the museum.
The work will be done later this year.
The town also has applied to federal Canada 150 funding to help cover the rest of the cost of the renovations.
The province is investing a total of $25 million in the Ontario 150 Community Capital Program to support 203 capital projects.
“The Ontario 150 Community Capital Program will positively impact people right across the province by improving public spaces like parks and youth centres,” Tourism, Culture and Sport minister Eleanor McMahon said Tuesday.
“Our investments in these important projects will build a strong social, cultural, and economic legacy for our communities for years to come,” she added.
