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Work planned for Heritage Centre Society fundraising to complete the project
Roxanna Thompson
Northern News Services
Published Thursday, June 6, 2013
LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
An ongoing heritage project in Fort Simpson is about to make some headway.
The Fort Simpson Historical Society is moving ahead with plans to construct the Heritage Centre, a building that will look 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. - NNSL file photo
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The Fort Simpson Historical Society has secured the necessary funding to do some work on the Heritage Centre this summer. The society's ultimate goal is to construct a building that will look identical to the former Sacred Heart Rectory.
The rectory was built in 1911 and was the village's oldest surviving building until it was demolished in 2010 after the society determined the building wasn't suitable for restoration. The Heritage Centre, which will occupy the same location as the rectory did on the village's main street, will have a gallery on the first floor that will host exhibits related to the Deh Cho's heritage, said Alison de Pelham, the society's executive director.
The building's second floor will have workshop and gallery spaces for artists and the basement level will hold a meeting space. This summer, the society plans to have the water, sewer and electrical lines into the building redone. A new concrete floor will then be poured for the basement, de Pelham said.
Before next winter, the first floor foundation floor will be constructed and a temporary roof will be placed over it. A Sea-Can has also been purchased to house all of the lumber currently on the site. The society received an $18,750 grant from the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment's community tourism infrastructure program for the summer's work.
The society is also in the process of fundraising $150,000 that will be put toward building the rest of the structure. The goal for the summer of 2014 is to have the lumber, windows and doors purchased in advance and to erect the building, said de Pelham.
Work getting done
To raise the necessary funds, the society is applying to government sources, launching a campaign for corporate sponsors and private donations and also holding fundraising events in the community. The majority of the work is being done by the society's volunteer board members, she said.
"They've put in a lot of time to get this done," said de Pelham.
Residents who are interested in supporting the Heritage Centre or the society can get involved in a number of ways. In addition to financial support, people can volunteer their time to construction or engage with the programs that will be held in the building, said de Pelham. The society also has other projects and initiatives that it needs volunteers for including the maintenance of the heritage park around McPherson House.
The goal of the society through the Heritage Centre is to promote the heritage of the region as well as conserve and preserve aspects of it, she said. When the centre is built, the society plans to offer archival space for items families in the region want to have preserved.
The society also plans to interact with students at Thomas Simpson School and get them involved in the resources at the centre and interested in career possibilities related to heritage, said de Pelham.
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