807-274-7891
PRESS RELEASE February 19, 2008
Family Day, kicked off Heritage week for the first time this year. Heritage Day was established in 1973 by the Heritage Canada Foundation, and is celebrated the 3rd Monday of February to encourage the preservation and promotion of Canada's nationally significant historic, architectural, natural and scenic heritage. For 2008, the Foundation is promoting Work that Endures: Careers in Built Heritage.
The past year has seen vast change at our main Heritage institution- the Fort Frances Museum. This time last year staff moved around a maze of boxes, a flurry of contractors and began to arrange the “new” museum. Doors reopened on June 14th, a massive undertaking, with artefacts still to be unpacked and many things yet to be found.
Behind the scenes many things happen to promote and preserve our community heritage. The museum works under standards established by the Ministry of Culture. These include Governance, Finance, Collections, Exhibition, Interpretation and Education, Research, Conservation, Physical Plant, Community and Human Resources.
Governed by the Town of Fort Frances, a Museum Advisory Committee composed of Janet Egan-Plumridge, Sandra Tibbs, Al Tibbetts, Bruce Caldwell and Owen Johnston provides input. Financed by the Town of Fort Frances, the museum also receives an operating grant from the province and a number of student grants as well as occasional special project funds. Fundraising and Museum Memberships are an important part of the community’s commitment to the museum.
The Collections are received through donations to represent the heritage of the community. Managed through a data program collection records include historic and donor information. The Exhibitions reflect how the forest and water have created the Town of Fort Frances and the Rainy River District. Traveling and temporary exhibitions relate to heritage and art themes.
The Millie Eide-Gladu retrospective will close on March 1st and Threadworks “Passions” will be installed in the gallery. The 2008 schedule includes “Explorations- David Thompson”; Residential Schools; Comic Books and Horror Flicks; and an art exhibition by Connie Cuthbertson.
The Interpretive and Education program features hands-on learning for the public, youth groups and schools. Curriculum related programming includes pioneer activities, First Nations and fur trade as popular activities. The girl guides participate in earning badges, Li’l Eagles drop in for activities and visits to Rainy Crest bring seniors to the museum. In 2008 the Museum will undertake an evaluation and development of interpretive programs to link to new exhibits and ensure active participation by the community. The CAHEP, arts and heritage initiative is being facilitated by the museum to bring resources to the community.
The Research facilities at the museum a valuable resource for the community. Genealogists in search of family information, historians compiling photographs and documents and museum staff develop exhibits and programs using the collection of reference materials.
Conservation of the museum’s collection requires care in storage and exhibition to meet strict environmental standards. The Physical Plant is key to providing the proper controls- now realized in the “new” museum facility.
Community partnerships and activities are important in developing the museum’s activities. Participation in festivals and events, and programming allows the community to connect with heritage. In 2008, the Canadian Heritage River and David Thompson brigade are key events and initiatives being facilitated by the museum that involve the region.
Human Resources are a vital part of any service. The Town of Fort Frances has made a commitment to a dynamic and sustainable Museum by providing adequate staffing- a curator and museum assistant who ensure that the Museum Standards are met. The 2008 Heritage theme- Work that Endures: Careers in Built Heritage recognizes the importance of staff. Pam Hawley will mark 24 years with the Museum this spring, bringing a Bachelor of Fine Arts and years of training through certificate programs and workshops offered by Heritage Organizations. Katie Urban joined the museum staff in December bringing her knowledge obtained through completing a Masters in Museum studies from the University of Leicester in the UK.
The museum invites you to participate in our heritage. The Millie Eide-Gladu exhibit will close on March 1st. Come in for refreshments. The exhibit features the sale of original art work generously donated by the family to support arts & heritage programming.
On Tuesday February 26th from 1-4, adults can sign up to learn more about Millie’s art and make their own art. Pre-register by calling the museum at 274-7891.
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Heritage and Community
Heritage and Community- Celebrating the Past to Ensure the Future.
Heritage is viewed as playing an important role in the sustainability of our communities. Heritage Tourism has been identified as an opportunity to celebrate and benefit from local heritage while sharing it with others. Whether participation in a cultural activity, enjoying the natural environment or viewing our material culture we seek to provide an experience of the places and activities that authentically represent the stories of our community.
The Fort Frances Museum has strived to meet this mandate as a vibrant part of the community for over 25 years. Located in the heart of down town, the museum building itself reflects the built heritage of the community of Fort Frances.
Heritage & Community
The Fort
Take a Heritage Tour
100 Years, 100 Stories
Museum Centre Piece in Heritage Tourism Plan:
The Fort Frances Museum currently completed a Heritage Tourism Plan for the Town of Fort Frances with the firm of Hilderman, Thomas, Frank and Cram.
Focusing on the positive developments of the LaVerendrye Parkway, the plan identifies ways to expand this initiative. The Museum and downtown will provide a gateway to the parkway and the development of more interpretive panels will continue to outline our heritage. The plan provides a framework to link our natural heritage- the Rainy River and LaVerendrye Parkway, with our built heritage- downtown and the Gateway. The redevelopment of the Fort Frances Museum is a priority in this plan.
The museum is generally well suited to long term investment and development. It can work in conjunction with area businesses to increase and diversify tourist traffic and enrich the experience of visiting Fort Frances. The relative proximity to the “gateway” area is also advantageous, as the museum can serve as a draw, especially if a historic interpretive connection was made with new infrastructure in the gateway area.
Located in the heart of downtown, the museum benefits from tourism foot traffic shopping in the downtown area and it is very visible.
A courtyard in front of the area provides seating for tourists and may help attract notice to the museum. Most importantly, the museum is located in a heritage building, which provides depth and interest to its display content.
Concept Plan
The preservation and presentation of Fort Frances’ Heritage has importance to the Town of Fort Frances beyond being of interest to some community members and visitors or tourists. The safeguarding of the Fort Frances history and legacy is important tot the identity of the community. It indicates respect that should be maintained for the people that founded the community and invested their lives toward the establishment of Fort Frances. It means individual families and the community as a whole; it means safeguarding the treasures and stories and pride of Fort Frances for future citizens.
The strategy looks takes into consideration the limitation of funds and looks at practical doable solutions for maintaining the legacy and presenting it in a manner that will help to bolster the economy of the community from a heritage tourism perspective.
1. Focus on the museum as the centerpiece of the Fort Frances Heritage Tourism Strategy:
- Museum renovation is essential to this strategy.
Fort Frances Museum Renovation
Focusing on the museum as the centerpiece for the heritage tourism strategy presents the opportunity to consolidate the area’s heritage amenities and prepare a plan that is achievable given the resources, both human and financial at this time.
The museum is a very valuable asset for Fort Frances. Its value as a heritage building cannot be underrated and its location in the heart of down town is also very important to attracting visitors.
Strengths
- Housed in a heritage building
- Museum is located downtown, in the heart of the community
- Has an active Community Program
- Attracts day visitors from across the border.
Opportunities
- Can take advantage of location to attract visitors by enhancement of streetscaping around museum building
- Has a comprehensive study for expansion and reorganization of physical space in place, that is relevant and could be implemented.
- Economic advantages of cultural, heritage tourism to the community.
Weaknesses
- Heritage building is too small for the collection, all the activities that take place in the museum, and the proper display of exhibits.
- Exhibit displays and cases are old and outdated
- Environmental problems with museum building and display cases- health and safety issues.
- Building has accessibility problems
Town of Fort Frances Heritage Tourism Plan
Hilderman Thomas Frank and Cram, 2004
No clear route to downtown and the museum for customs/border crossing
The Museum building has been examined
- structural analysis
- operational analysis
- mechanical analysis
- building and municipal code analysis
- energy audit
Tossell and Caughill, Architect & Consulting Engineer, 1992
Recommendation have been made for the enhancement of the existing building:
The Museum Renovation Project is:
- Modest Addition to south to alleviate receiving, crating and shipping problems.
- Changes to the existing building to alleviate circulation and exhibition space problems; New heating, ventilation and airconditioning, safety, security and electrical systems
- New vapour barriets and retrofitting and insulating the building exterior to match the original 1898 appearance
- New interior finishes, floors, walls and ceilings.
Capital Campaign
-Museum Reserves are in place to fund this project
-A Community Fundraising goal is to be set
-Government Grants are to be accessed