LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
Following a productive summer, the Fort Simpson Historical Society is already making plans for the next building season.

A temporary covering is currently protecting the new concrete floor for the basement that was poured for the Hertiage Centre this summer. The Fort Simpson Historical Society hopes to have the exterior of the building completed in summer of 2014. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

During the summer, the society was able to complete a number of steps necessary to reach its final goal of constructing the Heritage Centre. New lines for water and sewer were laid at the site on the village's main street before a new concrete basement floor was poured.

A covering, which looks like a temporary roof, was built over the basement to protect the structure throughout the winter. The work has moved the project forward, said Martina Norwegian, the society's president.

"It's one of those jobs that has always needed to be done," said Norwegian.

Although residents don't see the building going up yet, there is a lot of work being done behind the scenes, she said.

On Nov. 28, members of the board met to finalize the plan for next summer. The society will have a list compiled of all of the building materials that have to be purchased to construct the building. The society will then be looking for funding to buy the materials and hire a project manager, said Alison de Pelham, the society's executive director.

If everything goes to plan, the exterior of the centre will be completed during the summer of 2014, and the interior the following year. The society needs approximately $400,000 for next year's planned work.

Government funding programs, as well as corporate sponsors from Fort Simpson and the Deh Cho are potential sources for that funding, de Pelham said.

Once complete, the Heritage Centre will look almost identical to the former Sacred Heart Rectory. The rectory, built in 1911, was the village's oldest surviving building, until it was demolished in 2010 after the society determined it wasn't suitable for restoration.

The centre will have a gallery on the first floor that will host exhibits related to the Deh Cho's heritage. The second floor will have workshop and gallery space for artists, and the basement will hold a meeting space.

The society is also finalizing the strategic plan that was started this March and originally created for the Heritage Centre Society. That society will be closed in March 2014, and reabsorbed into the historical society. The plan should be finished before the society's annual general meeting in February, said de Pelham.

While planning for the centre continues, the society is also developing a display of the historical photos it has collected.

Community members will be able to view the photos and hopefully help identify the people in them, she said.

The society is looking for more support from the community for all of its projects, particularly the Heritage Centre.

There has been some additional interest and the board currently has five members and two affiliates, de Pelham said.

"They feel they are really moving forward," she said.

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