Several North Bay City Councillors have expressed reservations with funding the Dionne Quints Home Museum beyond the first year of operations at its new location.
Councillor Daryl Vaillancourt was among the most vocal around the table in expressing dismay at the Dionne Quints Heritage Board asking for $35,000 to run the much-debated museum.
Chair of the Dionne board, Ed Valenti, made the ask in a presentation at Tuesday’s meeting of the whole. Valenti says that the supporters that worked to keep the home in North Bay have been tied up with the move and other Dionne Home-related affairs. He says that once an operating agreement is reached with the City, the board can look into federal and provincial grants and other fundraising opportunities.
The estimated operating cost is expected to be $60,000, of which the board would raise $25,000. Many councillors responded to the request for funding with lukewarm responses.
Councillor Mark King asked how many grants the group had secured so far, to which Valenti responded “none.”
Councillor Tanya Vrebosch suggested a partnership with the Discovery Museum and Councillor Mike Anthony broached the idea of reaching out to the thousands of Dionne supporters from across the country for a fundraising initiative.
Councillor George Maroosis took issue with the expense of a curator in the board’s proposal. “I wasn’t envisioning a year-round curator,” when we approved this, he said. Valenti assured him that the curator would work on a contract basis, but there do seem to be many details to work out.
Vaillancourt, while voicing his support for the venture, asked Valenti, “Can you guarantee you won’t come back to ask for funding?”
Valenti responded by saying that it was the board’s goal to be self-sustaining as soon as possible.
