Hay River (June 09/03) - The Hay River Museum Society is facing a crucial moment in its history.

If it doesn't receive more government funding and public support, it may be forced to curtail activities at the Hay River Heritage Centre or even shut it down.

Hay River Museum Society co-chair's Vicky Latour and Peter Osted flip through historic photos on display at the heritage centre on Vale Island. - Paul Bickford/NNSL photo

"We're very discouraged," said society co-chair Vicky Latour at a May 30 news conference.

Much of the society's disappointment is directed at Hay River town council.

Latour said the society originally asked the town for a tax break on the heritage centre and then for a $2,000 grant to help with operations and maintenance expenses. "It was just a straight no."

Society treasurer Marge Loupret added, "This town council doesn't seem to think heritage is important."

The society is puzzled by council's attitude, noting it encouraged the society to obtain $40,000 in millennium funding to open the heritage centre, located in the old Hudson Bay store.

"They were gung ho," said Latour.

The Hay River Heritage Centre is the only heritage centre/museum in the NWT that does not receive some form of annual operation and maintenance funding from public sources.

The museum society is suggesting the town consider no-strings funding of about $2,000, as part of $20,000 to be divided among 10 non-profit organizations.

Most of the government funding now available is for capital projects, not operation and management.

The heritage centre requires between $5,000 and $10,000 annually to remain open. That goes to various operational expenses and to hire a student for the summer.

This year, help will come in the form of $2,500 from Human Resource Development Canada to help pay the student's salary for 10 weeks. The society will match that contribution. "We're dipping into our reserve funds to do that," noted co-chair Peter Osted.

The museum society has also received a $4,000 donation from the Hay River Heritage Days Committee. However, that money is not slated for operation and maintenance. The society is also seeking more public involvement.

Latour says there are only a half dozen people involved in the organization. "So organizing stuff is a huge amount of effort."

Despite the problems, the centre still plans to be open from June 22 to Sept. 7, and a number of activities are planned.

The May 30 news conference was held in a chilly heritage centre, which Latour noted has a perfectly good furnace. "We can't afford to heat the building," she said.