May 11, 2004 Agenda
2004 - 9:00 A.M.
ORDERS OF THE DA Y
FOR TUESDA Y. MA Y 11
ORDER
Meeting Called to Order
Adoption of Minutes - meetings of April 27, 2004
Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and the General
Presenting Petitions, Presentations and Delegations
DELEGATIONS:
9:00 a.m Ms. Laura McLaughlin, and Mr. George Dawson, Elgin-
St. Thomas Health Unit, with update on the West Nile Virus
Program and notice of additional funding required for 2003
(see attached)
Nature Thereof
PAGE #
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
1-3
Mr. Borgal, Goldsmith, Borgal & Company and Mr. Breede,
Canadian Cultural Resource Consultants, with the Final Report
on the Future Location of the Elgin County Pioneer Museum
(see separate enclosure)
9:15 a.m
10:00 a.m. Ms. Georgina Rae, Melody Lane Productions, requesting
permission to film a video at Bobier Villa (see attached)
Motion to Move Into "Committee Of The Whole Counci
Reports of Council, Outside Boards and Staff
Council Correspondence see attached
5th
6th
7th
4-6
7-14
Items for Consideration
Items for Information (Consent
1)
2)
15-25
26-62
Agenda)
OTHER BUSINESS
Statements/Inquiries by Members
Notice of Motion
Matters of Urgency
Items
1)
2)
3)
8th
the Committee Of The Whole
n-Camera
Recess
Motion to Rise and Report
Motion to Adopt Recommendations from
Consideration of By-Laws
ADJOURNMENT
9th
10th
11th
12th
13th
14th
63-64
LUNCH WILL BE PROVIDED
Telephone: (519) 631-9900
Toll Free Telephone: 1-800-922-0096
Fax: (519) 633-0468
www.elginhealth.on.ca
99 Edward Street
St. Thomas, Ontario
N5P 1 Y8
elgin
St. thomas
health unit
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4
MAY
Monday, May 3. 2004
N5R 5V1
Mr. Mark McDonald
Chief Administrative Officer
County of Elgin
450 Sunset Drive
St. Thomas, ON
2004
Mark:
West Nile virus Budget
Dear
RE
am writing to advise you that the 2004 West Nile virus budget has recently been
approved by the Board of Health. As noted in our December 10, 2003 letter to
you, this budget was not included in the mandatory program budget for the 2004
year as the timing and funding is different than the mandatory budget. The
Ministry has now begun communicating its expectations of Health Units with
respect to the West Nile virus program for the coming season. As with last year,
the Elgin St. Thomas Health Unit will be engaged in West Nile virus activities that
will include public education, surveillance, and other prepâratory work. The cost
of this work is $74,885.00 not including adult mosquito surveillance dollars
($19,185. paid by the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care) and any
larviciding/adulticiding dollars as submitted by Municipalities.
At the April 2004 Board of Health meeting, the Board directed the Health Unit
staff to implement the approved 2004 activity plan. The breakdown of funding is
as follows:
$37,442.50
$15,351.42
$22,091.08
(50%)
Ministry of Health and Long Term Care
City of St. Thomas (41% of 50%)
County of Elgin (59% of 50%)
Nile virus season is as follows
$58,557.74
$12,004.33
$17,274.54
A breakdown of the surplus for the 2003 West
Total 2003 Surplus
City of St. Thomas (41 % of 50%)
County of Elgin (59% of 50%)
2
We will apply the 2003 surplus dollars to the amount owing for 2004, which
leaves a balance owing of $4,816.54. Please forward this amount at your
earliest convenience
Page 2
On another matter, the Elgin St. Thomas Health Unit has requested time on your
May 11, 2004 council agenda to update City Council as to the activities planned
for the 2004 West Nile virus season. After that meeting, we will continue to keep
you apprised of West Nile virus activities as we progress through the summer.
meat
please contact
nformation
the above
regarding
If you have any questions
519-631-9900, ext. 202.
Board of Health members, Elgin St. Thomas Health Unit
Mary Ens, Accounting Supervisor, Elgin St. Thomas Health Unit
c.
May 4, 2004
January 1 - December 31, 2004
$
Planning for Control Measures (includes
training) $7,000.00
Mapping $2,700.00
External WNv Contracts $1,000.00
Surveillance $0.00
Avian $0.00
Larval $4,060.00
Public Education (please specify) $8,000.00
Other Costs (list)
Administration $500.00
RRFSS $1,000.00
Staffing $25,750.00
Benefits $3,675.00
Mileage $500.00
Larvasonic Study $8,000.00
Equipment $10,700.00
Materials and Supplies $2,000.00
Total $74,885.00
January 1 - December 31, 2004
$
Salary Gob classifications):
Medical Officer of Health
Director/Manager
PHI/Student $9,650.00
Program Assistant $18,100.00
Communications Coordinator $0.00
Benefits $3,875.00
Other Costs (list)
Planning $2,000.00
Administration $500.00
RRFSS $1,000.00
Mileage $500.00
Mappinq $500.00
Report $1,000.00
Larval Surveillance $4,060.00
Bird Surveillance $0.00
Larviciding $0.00
Adulticiding $0.00
Larvasonic Study $8,000.00
Public Education $8,000.00
Equipment $10,700.00
Materials and Supplies $2,000.00
Training and Conferences $5,000.00
Total $74,885.00
COST BY ACTIVITY
COST BY CATEGORY
ELGIN-ST. THOMAS HEALTH UNIT WEST NILE VIRUS BUDGET - 2004
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REPORT
!"lay 2004
& Company Ltd.. Architects
Snite 500
Goldsmith Borgal
410 Adelaide St.
w.
Ontario, M5V IS8
Toronto,
and
Canadian Cnltnrat Resonrce Consnltants Inc.
LONDON, Ontario, N6A 6A3
#47 -10 Rossmore Ct.
2004
The Warden and Members of County Counci
Elgin County Administration Building
450 Sunset Drive, St. Thomas, ON N5R 5V1
30 Apri
Counci
Enclosed please find our Final Report for the Location Study for the Elgin County Pioneer
Museum. Results of the submissions arising from our Discussion Paper have been used to refine
this document with a view to ensuring that all opinions are incorporated.
The current document includes an Executive Summary for your convenience.
Elgin County on
residents of
the Museum Board and
It has been a pleasure working with Counci
this important project.
Yours sincereiy:
GO~~GÇ0(tl~ L
and
'-
Members of
Dear
2
Report
Museum
Elgin County Pioneer
TABLE OF CONTENTS
6
7
7
8
EXECUTIVE SUMMARy
DUNCOMBE HOUSE
CASORAlLWAVSTATlON
OTHER OPTIONS
1
1.1
1.2
1.3
9
9
10
11
12
12
12
13
BACKGROUND TO THE REPORT
GENERAL BACKGROUND
CHRONOWGV
THE CONSULTANTS
BACKGROUND TO THE REPORT
BUILDING PROGRAM
SITE EXAMINATION AND SELECTION ANALYSIS
MEETINGS
2.
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
2.4.1
2.4.2
2.4.3
14
14
14
34
35
35
35
35
36
38
39
40
40
TASKS
NEEDS ASSESSMENT
THE QUESTIONNAIRE
STAKEHOLDER INTERVIEWS
GROUP IN1ERVIEWS
PUBLIC MEETING
BUILDING PROGRAM
INTRODUCTION
RECOMMENDED SIZE
ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS
ACCESS TO THE SITE
CODES AND STANDARDS
ALARMS
3.
3.1
3.1.1
3.1.2
3.1.3
3.1.4
3.2
3.2.1
3.2.2
3.2.3
3.2.4
3.2.5
3.2.6
3
Report
Museum
Elgin County Pioneer
3.2.7 SCHEMATIC CONCEPT 41
3.3 CAPITAL COST PROJECTIONS 42
3.3.1 COST ASSUMING NEW CONSTRUCTION 43
3.3.2 COST ASSUMING INSTALLATION IN AN EXISTING BUILDING - FULL RENOVATION 43
3.3.3 COST ASSUMING INSTALLATION IN AN EXISTING BUILDING - BASE BUILDING BY
OTHERS 44
4. SITE INVESTIGATION 45
4.1 GENERAL COMMENT 45
4.1.1 DUNCOMBE HOUSE 45
4.1.2 THE TEMPORARY MUSEUM SHOPFRONT, 449 TALBOT STREET, ST. THOMAS 49
4.1.3 THE FORMER CASO RAILWAY STATION, ST. THOMAS 50
.
4.1.4 THE FORMER ALMA COLLEGE, ST. THOMAS 54
4.1.5 . THE ELGIN COUNTY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, ST. THOMAS 56
4.1.6 A SITE ADJACENT TO THE ELGIN COUNTY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, ST. THOMAS
58
4.1.7 AN ALTERNATE SITE ELSEWHERE IN ELGIN COUNTY 59
5. ANALYSIS OF WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS 60
5.1 GENERAL COMMENT 60
5.2 SUBMISSIONS 61
5.3 DETAILED RESPONSES TO SUBMISSIONS 61
5.3.1 FRANK AND NANCY PROTHERO, PORT STANLEY 61
5.3.2 BERTHA VICKERMAN - ON BEHALF OF IODE,ELGIN COUNTy/ST. THOMAS 65
5.3.3 BARB MCCALLUM - ALMA COLLEGE INTERNATIONAL ALUMNAE AsSOCIATION 68
5.3.4 MARION FACEY, ST. THOMAS 69
5.3.5 MARy Lou STANLEY, CENTRAL ELGIN 69
5.3.6 MARY OLDE, R.R. #2 ST. THoMAS 69
5.3.7 JOANNE ERICKSON - ON BEHALF OF Y ARMOUTII GLEN WOMEN'S INSTITIJIE. 72
5.3.8 F ARHI HOLDINGS CORPORATION, LoNDON 72
5.3.9 PERRY CLUTTERBUCK, SOUTIIWOLD 75
5.3.10 MARY CLUTTERBUCK - ON BEHALF OF ELGIN COUNTY PIONEER MUSEUM 76
-
Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report 4
6. RECOMMENDATIONS 78
6.1 DUNCOMBE HOUSE 78
6.2 CASO RAILWAY STATION 78
6.3 OTHER OPTIONS 79
7. CLOSURE 80
APPENDIX l-LISTOF THOSE INTERVIEWED A1-1
APPENDIX 2 - COPY OF OUESTIONNAIRE A2-1
APPENDIX 3 _ WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS A3-1
APPENDIX 4 - ARTICLE ON FQUR COMMUNITY MUSEUMS IN ONTARIO A4-!
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-
Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report 5
1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
-
A synopsis of the report is presented as follows:
Chapter 2 contains background to the present study including
· a chronology of events leading up to the need for the current study,
· a description of the site
· the Consultants,
· a description of a building program for the Museum
· an overview of the building program developed in this report
· and overview of the site examination and selection analysis
· a description of the meetings held to further the aims of the study
Chapter 3 describes in detail the tasks undertaken to reach the conclusions of the Report. These
include:
· a needs assessment for the site
· an analysis of the results of a questionnaire prepared for this site
· the outcome of stakeholder and group interviews and the public meeting. The
findings of these was one of divided opinion related to the disposition of the Museum
with a slight majority favouring the CASO station as a new site. The re-use of
Duncombe House as a heritage site is a common theme and the potential of a new
museum adjacent to the County Building on Sunset Drive is seen as an alternative to
the CASO site.
. A building program is developed for the museum and recommends the various
functions required of a County museum. A recommended size of 15,000 square feet
is proposed with various options for construction budgeted in the $4,000,000 range.
Chapter 4 represents the results of investigations of several sites for a relocated Museum. These
sites included Duncombe house as weli as the CASO station, Alma Coliege, and a vacant lot
beside the County Building.
Chapter 6 is an analysis of written responses to the original Discussion Document. Of interest is
that the range of responses echoes the results of the interview process.
Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report 6
Chapter 7 provides recommendations which are as follows:
1.1 Duncombe House
It is recommended that the County consider relocation of the Elgin County Pioneer
Museum to a new site and that Duncombe House not continue in use as the County
Museum. However, it is also recommended that the current Duncombe house be taken
over by a separate board with a view that it be restored and operated as an historic
house museum. Such a museum could be considered a branch or associated museum
of the County Museum.
Given the time frame required for negotiation of a new site for the Museum, and the risks
of leaving Duncombe House empty, it is recommended that a master plan be developed
for Duncombe House and that steps to reconfigure its operation commence immediately.
1.2 CASO Railway Station
The opportunities and benefits intrinsic to the development of the CASO station and the
possibility of the Museum's location there are so profound and of such potential for the
County and St. Thomas that this site is recommended as the option which should be
pursued for relocations of the Museum in the first instance. Properly developed and
promoted, an attraction of the potential offered by this site should see annual visitation in
the 100,000 range. This could be a true economic stimulus for the County and the City
and put Elgin County on the map in terms of tourism from larger and more distant
centres. Negotiations between all of the parties related to this potential site should begin
as soon as may be practical. As identified in the report, several issue must be overcome
to make this proposal workable, notably ownership, re-development of the park between
the Station and Talbot Street, commitment to provision of appropriate amounts of space
for the Museum, and provision for future expansion.
Because of its regional and national stature, this development may be capable of
attracting more partners including Federal and Provincial funding as well as the City of St.
Thomas. This may reduce the portion of costs which would otherwise be borne by the
County for development of the Museum.
Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report 7
Key to the successful development of this site would be the political will and co-operation
of the County and the City and with those currently involved with the development of the
site. Without such co-operation, this option would fail.
1.3 Other Options
Only one other options presents itself based on the current study. This is a new museum
located adjacent to the Elgin County Administrative Building. There are some advantages
to this option over the CASO option and these include the issue of site ownership. It
must be noted, however, that such a museum would have local and County appeal but
would offer less of an opportunity as aregional attraction. Typical attendance levels of
properly programmed county museums is in the 20,000 to 30,000 range per year. While
this is certainly a large increase over current attendance levels, it would not match the
potential of the CASO site. In addition, there would be less likelihood of shared support
from the City or other agencies such as the Federal Govemment with the result that
development costs would be significantly higher for the County.
Therefore, the higher costs and the lower "return on investment" suggest that the CASO
option may be financially superior.
-
Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report 8
2. BACKGROUND TO THE REPORT
-
2.1 General Background
The County of Elgin operates both the Elgin County Pioneer Museum and Elgin County
Archives.
. The museum was established in 1957, operating in an historic home built in 1848
known as the "Duncombe residence" (the Elgin County Military Museum also
operates from the same site but is a separate entity and has no formal affiliation with
the County).
. The Archives was opened in November 2002 and is located within the Elgin County
Administration Building as a separate unit of the Elgin County Library.
As evidenced by the chronology of events below, recent years have been volatile
regarding the Museum operation. Eigin County Council consequently determined to
examine the feasibility of an alternative site for the Museum. Simultaneously, Council
desires to look at its long-term needs with regards to the archives. The current facility,
while new, will require additional space to meet future requirements.
Elgin County Council has therefore turned to the community through a comprehensive
consultation process to determine if the pubiic is supportive of new accommodation for
the museum as well as an expansion for the archives under the umbrella of a larger
"cultural centre". Council wishes also to determine if there are other financial partners for
such a project. Potential options were initially determined to include property located
adjacent to the Elgin County Administration Building. It was felt that, if a new building
were developed, a tourism component could be integrated as well as other needs as
determined by the public and Council.
Council is also of the understanding that there is no assumption that the end-result will be
a new building arising from the process of this consultation. Anyone of several options
may the result, including a re-endorsing of the status quo (i.e. a move back into the
- -
Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report 9
Duncombe residence with renovations). Alternatives may also include other heritage
buildings in Elgin County, including SI. Thomas, that could be renovated for the purposes
of a museum.
The involvement of the County Archives in this process is based on the potentiai for new
capital construction adjacent to the Elgin County Administration Building in order to take
advantage of synergies with its existing facility. Should it be determined that the museum
is best left in its existing facility, or in another building in SI. Thomas or Elgin County, the
archives would likely not be an immediate part of this initiative and may be left to craft its
own growth strategy for the future.
2.2 Chronology
A chronology of events leading up to the need for this present Report is as follows (a brief
history of the site leading up to Spring 2001 is presented later in the report):
· Spring 2001 - Major fire damages Duncombe residence, partially damaging the
collection. The museum is temporarily moved to a vacant store near downtown SI.
Thomas where salvage of the collection takes place.
· Fall 2001 - Museum moves back to its original location after repairs from the
insurance claim are made. During this time, the County submits an application to the
"SuperBuild" fund to drastically improve environmental conditions at the museum and
increase storage capacity.
· January 2002 - The County receives word that the "SuperBuild" application has been
approved in the amount of $450,000, with the county, provincial and federal
governments each responsible for one-third of this amounl.
· Spring 2002 - The Museum is moved to a temporary location in downtown SI.
Thomas to permit renovations to take place.
· Summer 2002 - Further architectural analysis of the Duncombe residence takes
place as part of the design process for the approved renovations. This additional
study reveals that even further renovations are required (beyond those in the
application) in light of disability access requirements and further structural concerns.
It was determined that over $800,000 was now required to properly renovate the
building.
- -
Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report 10
· Fall 2002 - County Council decides not to proceed with the renovations in light of
these increased costs but to study the issue further before investing in the Duncombe
residence. Council requests that the Museum Board bring forward other options for
the future of the museum.
· Winter 2002-2003 - The Elgin County Pioneer Museum Board brings forward several
options, including modified renovations to the Duncombe residence, new capital
construction or renovations to an existing building, particularly the vacant Canada
Southern Raiiway Station in downtown SI. Thomas. Council defers a decision on the
matter.
· Spring 2003 - Council approves a recommendation for an architectural firm with
expertise in heritage planning to lead a public consultation process and develop a
conceptual drawing for potential new construction while assessing other options.
· June 2003 - The firm of Goldsmith, Borgal & Company (in collaboration with
Canadian Cultural Resource Consultants Inc.) is selected to lead this process.
2.3 The Consultants
The team involved in the preparation of this report consists of specialists with a wide
variety of related background experience in both museums and historic structures. The
team included:
. Christopher Borgal, B. Arch., OAA, MRAIC, CAPHC: Is a partner in the firm of
Goldsmith Borgal & Company Architects of Toronto and has had direct experience in
the planning and redevelopment of over 45 museum sites, plus the conservation of
several hundred historic structures in Ontario over the past 30 years.
· Claus Breede, BA, MPA: Is a museum specialist with experience at many sites
throughout Ontario. Mr. Breede has personally managed the development of two
major county museums in Ontario and has overseen their development of both
facilities and audiences. He is currently the Director of the Royal Canadian
Regiment Museum in London, Ontario.
- -
Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report 11
Mr. Borgal and Mr. Breede have collaborated for over 20 years on the planning and
development of museums throughout Ontario. Their advice is noted for its fairness, cost
effectiveness and common sense.
2.4 Background to the Report
It should be the purpose of a Museum to present the story of Elgin County, past, present
and future through exciting interactive exhibits and programs which involve visitors, both
residents and tourists, in discovering the story of the County. The Museum should act as
a gateway to the County and be capable of supporting the activities of other museum
sites throughout the County. As a gateway and as an attraction, the County would thus
be able to showcase itself to visitors and travelers over a broad geographic area. This
philosophy is at the background of the various investigations made by the consulting
team to determine the future direction of this site. Within these over-riding goals, a series
of tasks were set which, at the outset, were intended to define the needs of the County
and, once determined, were used to analyze the various directions in which the Museum
might develop. These tasks are presented in Sections 3 and 4 of the report.
2.4.1 Building Program
Based on comparable museums in other counties in the region, the scope of potential
collections, marketing and needs, we developed a building program that describes space
and facilities required to meet the described goals. The Building Program conforms to
the Ministry of Culture guidelines for community museums and was used as a tool to
assess the existing site and potential sites. Over the years, the Consultants have worked
with the space distribution guidelines published by the ministry and have found them to
be realistic and highly suitable for community museums.
2.4.2 Site examination and selection analysis
An analysis of several site and building options was conducted as a key component of
the study. A final recommendation is made resulting from this analysis.
-
Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report 12
2.4.3 Meetings
During the course of the work, the Consultant team held a series of informal meetings
with staff members (and other authorities such as government and granting agency
representatives) to fully appraise themselves of and understand the factors affecting this
site. In addition, several meetings were held between the Consultants and community
stakeholders.
Meetings included:
· a start-up meeting with the County Archivist to obtain a general sense of the
requirements for the study and to obtain orientation to the community.
· A brief presentation to County Council to inform council of the nature and intent of the
study
· a public meeting to receive input
· a series of interviews with community stakeholders
· a tour of the community and possible sites for relocation as well as two visits to the
existing (empty) museum
· site visits to alternative sites for the museum
Meetings on completion of this Discussion Paper and leading up to the submission of a final
report will include:
· a presentation to County Council of the Discussion Paper to discuss omissions or
changes which might be desirable
· a presentation to County Council at submission of this Final Report to discuss "where
do you go from here"
-
Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report 13
3. TASKS
-
3.1 Needs Assessment
A Needs Assessment was developed using data from several sources including a formal
questionnaire, interviews with identified stakeholders and a number of group meetings.
In addition to this, the Consultants conducted one public meeting.
3.1.1 The Questionnaire
A questionnaire was developed by the Consultants with extensive input from Elgin
County staff. Several drafts were developed to finally obtain a result everyone felt would
serve the needs of the Museum.
Advertising in the local media made the public aware of the questionnaire and persons
interested in being heard through this instrument were encouraged to come to the
Museum to obtain a copy. The distribution of this opinion seeking document was not
"scientific" in the way of a mass mailing, or random sampling technique nor was the
questionnaire pre-tested prior to general release. The process is, however, consistent
with similar opinion searches developed in the process of determining the feasibility of
and public desires for cultural sites.
In total well over eighty-five questionnaires were completed. Tabulation and analysis of
the results was completed for this report by the Consulting team. In only one instance,
the questionnaire was used by a special interest group of 18 persons who filed nominally
individual but actually identical responses. This set is treated as a single response.
While some respondents felt the questionnaire was intimidating and potentially biased, at
no time did the Consultants or the staff of the County attempt to direct the respondents in
any particular direction. Indeed, in several places the questionnaire included comments
such as -
- -
Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report 14
"If you prefer not to tell us, that is O.K. too.
"If you are not sure, take a guess"
"If you do not feel you can react to some of these statements, please indicate 'I
don't know' or 'I have never experienced this' by placing a '0' in the box."
Finally, the respondents were given an opportunity to comment using the space provided
or, if that was not enough, encouraged to use the back of the form or a separate sheet of
paper. More than half of our respondents took the time to do just that and in several
cases sent formal letters back to the Museum as part of their submission.
A copy of the questionnaire will is supplied with the final report. A detailed synopsis of the
questions and the results is presented on the following pages.
-
Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report 15
PART A
This portion of the Questionnaire was designed to gain some small insight into where the
individual respondent came from and what sort of activities they generally took part in.
From a future marketing strategy, such information may be of benefit to the County in
targeting information packages on events and activities of the Museum.
Question 1
What is your Name?
This question was not tabulated and it was indicated that we did not require an answer if
a person chose not to give il. Where respondents chose not to be identified, their
responses were still fully included in the tabulations.
Question 2
What are the first three characters of your postal code?
This was requested in order to determine the geographic distribution of the responses.
NOL 15%
N5H 07%
N5P 34%
N5R 34%
N6K 03%
No response 07%
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Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report 16
Question 3
What is your connection with the Elgin County Pioneer Museum?
Some respondents felt that this question was intimidating and felt that if they indicated
that they did not have any connection or affiliation, their response might be seen of less
value than if they did. However, this question was not designed to weight the responses
with a formula but simply to determine if the general public responded to the advertising
placed in the local media by the Museum.
78% indicated that they had no affiliation with the Museum.
Question 4
If an association with the Museum existed, what was the length of such association?
We did not tabuiate this response save to note that it reflects a degree of community
interest in the museum as well as the general number of newer volunteers. In many
cultural organizations, the lack of volunteers and interested persons has caused
significant problems in the past two decades as older enthusiasts withdraw their
assistance due to age and the lack of younger persons to voiunteer.
Question 5
Number of visits made to the Museum over the last number of months or years.
The number of visits ranged from never, to weekly (Volunteers). The average of al
respondents who had visited the museum was an
Average 2 times per year
-
Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report 17
Question 6
Are you a Museum member?
As with Question 3, there was no aim or intent to assess a weighted response to this
question. The response to this question was
Yes 23%
No 78%
The "No" percentage is interesting in that it conveys the information that the survey was
completed by many outside of the Museum's community with an interest in the future of
the establishmenl.
Question 7
What other cultural organizations do you belong to?
As part of a marketing tool, it was useful to determine the other types of organizations of
interest to the respondents who were interested enough in the Museum to respond to this
survey. It might also be helpful in determining where to distribute the Museum's
information on upcoming events and programs.
Yes 42 % (many indicated multiple memberships)
No 68%
Question 8
How often do you go to the Theater or Concerts in an average year?
We asked this question to see if there was a direct relationship in the support of the
Museum with that of other cultural venues. The average number of Theater and/or
concerts attended was surprisingly high.
3.6 times per year
-
Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report 18
PART B
In an effort to determine where the Museum may have to invest some time and effort in
terms of public education, we asked questions in this section to see what the knowledge
base of some fairly specific areas within the operation of the Museum were. In some
cases, the response to these questions were met with a variety of emotions spanning
from out-right hostility to "I really don't have a clue". One person felt that there was an
attempt to embarrass the respondent by asking such detailed questions and that the
accuracy of the response would somehow "grade" the value of the response to other
questions.
As with other questions in this survey, there was no attempt to use a weighted response
formula for any of these questions nor was there the implication that such a system would
be implemented. The purpose of the question was to determine what level of public
awareness existed in the complex areas of the management of a small community
museum. It is also the feeling both of the Museum staff and the Consultants that the
information gathered in this area will prove useful for future program development at the
Museum.
Question 9
Who owns the Museum?
The overall response to this question was very encouraging in that the vast majority of
respondents identified the owner of the museum correctly. It is the experience of the
consulting team, that where this question is asked, less than half of the respondents are
aware of who actually owners the facility.
The City of SI. Thomas 4%
The County of Elgin 79%
Province of Ontario 2%
No Answer 15%
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Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report 19
Question 10
How many visitors do you think the Museum attracts annually?
This question provided a vide range of responses. By not giving a range of numbers, we
received everything from a low of 150 visitors per year to 70,000 visitors per year. Most
county museums in South Western Ontario average annual visitation in the range of
between 25,000 to 30,000 visitors in all categories. By contrast, the Elgin County
Pioneer Museum visitor count for the past six years has ranged from as low as just over
2,000 to just over 5,000. These unusually low numbers are the result of the unsettled
conditions the Museum has operated under over the past few years and are also related
to the location of the Museum and its facilties.
The response to this question was grouped and the following results generated
Visitors Annually
Less than 1,000 17%
1,001 to 2,000 11%
2,001 to 3,000 11%
3,001 to 5,000 11%
5,001 to 10,000 9%
10,001 to 15,000 7%
15,001 and over 2%
No Answer 33%
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Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report 20
Question 11
What do you think the Museum spends annually?
If you don't know, what do you think it is?
Many visitors to community museums in Ontario do not give much thought to what i
actually costs to operate a site. This question served two functions. First, to simply
remind the respondent that museums cost money to operate and, secondly, to promote
some interest in determining exactly what it might cost to operate. We were not asking if
the visitor actually knew the cost, we were asking the respondent to take a guess.
The response varied. A full third choose not to answer the question. It is interesting to
note, that this third is almost exactly the same third of respondents choosing not to
respond to question 10 above, relating to annual visitation.
The amount ranged from a low figure of$10,000 to a high of$1,100,000 per year.
Range of annual costs
0 to $10,000 4%
$10.001 to $20,000 0%
$20,001 to $50,000 6%
$50,001 to $75.000 14%
$75,001 to $100,000 14%
$100,001 to $200,000 20%
$200,001 to $500,000 7%
$500,001 and over 2%
No Answer 33%
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Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report 21
Question 12
Where do you think the annual operating budget comes from and how much?
If you are not sure, take a guess and a % figure is fine.
It costs money to run even a small museum. This question was asked to determine
whether there is a general awareness as to how much money it costs to operate the
Museum and where the funds go. This question was phrased in a non-threatening
manner and encouraged the respondent to guess if they were not sure. Also, to take
some of the hard edge off numbers, percentages were asked for, if that was preferable.
Response of individuals who chose not to answer the questions ranged from "YOU HAVE
GOT TO BE KIDDING!!" to "Don't know - won't guess".
The number of respondents that answered the question 62%
No answer 38%
Of the 62% who responded, the guesses varied but average response was as follows:
Sources of Revenue
Self-generated
Most respondents felt that the Museum generated between 5 and 15% of its own
revenue. No one held to the notion that all of the needed revenue was self-generated.
From the Province of Ontario
Generally respondents thought that the Provencal government has a much larger role in
the financial health of the Museum than it does. Responses to this question varied from
15% to 50% with most thinking it was around 20%. In fact, the Province of Ontario,
through the Community Museum Operating Grant, contributes approximately 8%
annually.
From the Government of Canada
More than half of the respondents thought the Federal Government contributed to the
operating budget of the Museum. In fact, the Federal Government does not give grants
for operating community museums. Some limited project specific funding is availab!e but
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Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report 22
none for operating. Severa! respondents thought that the Federal government contributed
as much as 50% per year.
From the County of Elgin
All respondents assumed that the County of Elgin gave some funds to the Museum. The
range was from a few thousand per year to over $200,000. In fact the County of Elgin, as
the owner of the facility, contributes between 70 and 80%.
From the City of Sf. Thomas
Over half of the respondents identified the City of SI. Thomas as a contributor to the
museum. It tended to be in the range of 5 to 25% with one person thinking it might be as
high as 50%. However, the City of SI. Thomas does not contribute regularly to the
operation of the Museum. From time to time the City has, however, made grants to the
Museum.
From foundations and industry
The museum averages in the range of 5% of its operating requirements from this source.
Generally the respondents assumed that this was the level of supporl.
Question 13
Do you see the Elgin County Pioneer Museum as a major cultural player in the region?
Three persons chose not to answer the question. Of the remainder, 2/3 felt that the
museum was a major cultural player and 1/3 did nol. Of those who answered no to this
question, some indicated that the potential was there, but it was not realized.
Question 14
As it is presently performing, do you see the Museum as a major economic player?
The response to this question was that a full 2/3 felt that the Museum was an important
element of the economic life of the community.
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Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report 23
Question 15
How many paid, full time staff do you thing work at the Museum?
39% of the respondents thought that there was only one full time staff member at the
Museum and the largest group, 44% thought that there were two. The remainder
guessed anywhere from 3 to six full time, paid staff.
Question 16
How many paid, part time staff do you thing work at the Museum?
The largest single group, 38% thought that the museum employed 2 part time staff
members while 15% thought that it was only one. A full 25% thought it was three and the
rest of the sample assuming it was more than three but less than ten.
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Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report 24
GRADED RESPONSE UESTIONS
In the next twelve questions the respondent was asked to react to a statement on a scale
from 1 (Disagree, Awful or Never) to 5 (Agree fully, Always or Fantastic). The number
(from 1-5) was then put opposite the statement. A response index was developed that
gives an overall rating, or average response. This Response Index is calculated by
giving a numeric value equal to the rating received for the question by each· respondent,
then totaling these values and comparing it with the possible highest score (if everyone
responding gave a score of 5). The number was then divided by the total number of
respondents (those who answered '0' or left the box blank were not included) and from
that number a total percentage was calculated giving the Response Index.
Question 17
The Museum is a major player on the regional cultural scene.
Question 13 asks much the same - -
question (straight yes or no) but here we A Major Cultural Player
are asking how major a player is the 30 - - -
Museum. Over 64% of the respondents 25
m
felt that it was medium (3) to not at all (1) w
~ 20
"-
with a full 20% thinking it was a very w
~ 15
important element (5) on the cultural -
c
m
~
scene of Elgin County and St. Thomas. m
...
Response Index 61%
2 3 4 5
-
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Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report 25
Question 18
The Museum is a major tourist attraction for our County.
Major Tourist Attration
Over 80% ofthe respondents felt that the
Museum .performed.a valuable service in 35
promoting tourism in the· County (3 or :::30
above) with only 8% holding the view that ~25
..
it was not an important element. :20
:;15
c
Response Index 68% :;10
:;; 5
a..
0
1 2 3 4 5
-
Question 19
The Museum is easy to find (in its present location)
- -
Find Museum on main street
Over75% ofthe respondents felt that the
(temporary) Museum was. relatively easy :40
- - - - -
to find on the main street (3 to 5) with the c
remainder having some difficulties and 5% ~30 - I ~
~
thinking it was very difficult to find (1). ';20 I
-
Response Index 72% :;10 I
..
:;;0 r
...
2 3 4 5
- -
- -
Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report 26
Question 20
The heritage building that was the Museum's former location, was easy to find.
Fonner location
5
4
3
2
:::30
'"
<>
~20
~
'"
-:;;10
~
u
:;0
a.
comparison
in tenns of
Most
both
this
a
we were looking for
Here
two locations,
easy they are to get to.
respondents were familiar With
locations. Only 6% did· not answer
question, the' same 6% who did not
answer question 19. Just over 40% rated
to find (1
the
between
how
or
2) with the remainder having no significant
problems.'ln::comparison,<·u-~~ ....:"'nn.......'" .......
difficulty in finding the loca I
street was 27% (1 and 2)
question
the Heritage building as hard
LIh:. ,""......."'.......... LV
Response Index 62%
Question 21
Thefacilitiesin the original museum building were adequate.
This question generated the
Response Index for the entire
......J:I""-A.~...n a high I of
Ie of short con . of the original
building. I 85% the
nts rated
th almost
(1)
-.Heritage building a a Museum
lowest
survey
general
:::50
'"
<>40
<>
::;30
:20
:10
~
:;;0
...
of
at 3 or
at totally
level
the building
45% .rating
.....II'I;;VU.,;::r
5
4
3
2
unsatisfactory
Response Index 40%
27
Report
Museum
Elgin County Pioneer
Question 22
Without the heritage building the Museum will not prosper.
In this question we were trying to
determine if the Museum needs to be
associated with the existing heritage Heritage bldglMuseum surv.
building and if Museum development and
45
growth was "driven" by the need to be in 40
the Heritage building. Although this :: 35
:;30
question had a Response Index slightly ~25
..
higherthanthe'previous one, it is ~ 20
interesting to note that there is an :¡¡15
u
j¡¡ 10
overwhelming response indicating thatthe "- 5
building and· the· Museums well-being is ·0
1 2 3 4 5
not linked. Almost 70% responded in the
negative (1. and 2).
Response Index 43%
Question 23
The Museum.offersgreatprograms forchildren.
-
Children's Programming
Generally speaking there is a high degree 50 - - -
of satisfaction with the Children's 45 - -
40 -
programming at the Museum. 70% ofthe ~ 35 -
respondents indicated that they were very 8.30 -
0
& 25 -
satisfied 1: 20 -
~ 15 I
Response Index 76% ~ 10 I
5
0
2 3 4 5
-
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Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report 28
Question 24
The main street location of the Museum is a benefit to the community.
The advantage of the Museum being on
the main street was assessed with this Main Street Location
question. The location, in this case,
provides ,Museum visitors with easy ::80
access to' other downtown amenities such c
as restaurants and shopping. The :;60
""
negative is parking, although this did not ':40
-
seem to bean issue for,the respondents ~20
co
'Response Index 76% :;; 0
a.
1 2 3 4 5
-
Question 25
We need a new purpose built museum.
Just over 15%of'the:respondents did not - -
answer. this question. Of those who did, New Museum Building
the response was very strongly in favor of
a purpose built structure for a new county :50 - - - -
c
museum with 52% answering in the 040
Q
positive (4 and 5) and an additional 30% :;:30 I
in the neutral category (3). Only 19% fe~ ~20
that it was not necessary to build a new ;10 I I
..
building (1" and 2). :;; 0
a..
Response Index 74 2 3 4 5
- -
Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report 29
Question 26
If a new Museum is built, it should be located next to the
Elgin County Administrative Building.
This statement was generally rejected and
the. response index was very low (49%)
with 45% strongly opposed to the County
Administration BUilding location and an
additional 13% ,mildly opposed for a total
of 58% feeling that it would
inappropriate for a building
located there.
New Bldg. next to County Bldg.
:::50
:;40
cr.
"'30
...
ac:20
-
:;;10
<>
:;0
"'-
be
be
to
new
5
4
3
2
Response Index 49%
Question 27
Elgin County Council isveryconcemed about the preservation of our local heritage.
County concern for heritage
:::30
c
o
:;-20
..
lit:
-;;; 10
..
<>
~
.. 0
D..
The County· of Elgin seen by
majority of the respondents as having a
significant concern for the . preservation of
community history with 54% answering
from mild tovery:highlevel of concem(4
and 5). Only 5 % felt that the County had
no concem at al
the
is
5
4
3
2
Response Index 69%
30
Report
Museum
Elgin County Pioneer
Question 28
It is important to me that our local history is preseNed.
Concemof Heritage
:100
c
c: 80
c
:; 60
Q: 40
-
c
CI: 20
c..:
~ 0
...
This was the highest scoring answer of all
·thepositive responses . with almost
everyone, 90% giving this response the
full 5 or very important. An additional 7%
rated it as important.
However, is noted that this is not a
scientific sample base. Individuals
choosing to respond to this survey would,
by the mere fact that they have taken the
time to respond, be interested in heritage
preservation and conservation
it
5
31
4
3
2
Report
Response Index 97%
Museum
Elgin County Pioneer
PART C
Severa! options were identified prior to the commencement of the study and this section
was designed to gain input from the respondents on what mayor may not be, in their
view, an appropriate response to the issues. There was no "hidden agenda" in this
section, nor was there a predetermined course planned throughout the questionnaire in
order to solicit a specific response. Regardless, on several occasions the Consultants
were approached by members of the public with such concerns.
The preamble to this question was included in order to give the respondent a brief
overview of some of the issues that have come to light over the past two years.
Question 29
Should the County of Elgin spend upwards to $800,000 to restore the original museum
site keeping in mind that such an expenditure would provide the museum with the same
level of facilities/service that existed prior to the move?
In this question, the fact that the original site of the Museum has limitations and cannot
be significantly expanded was noted. Should a return to the Heritage building be the final
choice, there would be little opportunity for significant expansion to meet long-term needs
of the County Museum. Such constraints to growth may be viewed as a desirable option
by some.
An overwhelming response to this question was received.
88% NO.
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Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report 32
Question 30
Is there an operational advantage for the Museum to be in its original location?
Some of the issues surrounding this question include the close proximity to several other
heritageltourist attractions such as the Elgin Military Museum and the statue of Jumbo
the Elephanl.
A relatively strong response to this question was received.
71% NO.
Question 31
If the Museum was to re-Iocate, should it be to a downtown (St. Thomas) location?
This question is somewhat similar to question 24 where we asked for a graded response
to the desirability of a downtown location. In that question we received a high Response
Index of 76% with 70% indicating that it was mildly to very desirable to located in a
downtown setting in SI. Thomas. In this question we wished to confirm that response
with a straightforward yes or no and almost 70% responded that the down town location
was preferable.
69% YES.
Question 32
If the Museum was to re-Iocate, should it be located in a new building constructed next to
the County Administration Building on property owned by the County?
This question is similar to the one asked in Question 26 where we asked for a graded
response, here we are asking a straight yes or no. In Question 25 there was little support
for the County Administration building as a location with only 18% strongly in favor of that
location mildly in favor. To confirm this important issue we asked for a straight yes or no
in this question. Over 2/3 felt that this would not be a good place for a new museum.
69% NO
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Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report 33
Question 33
The Elgin County archives will also require additional storage space in the near future.
Would you support housing both the museum and the archives in one new facility as part
of a "cultural center" in a building beside the County administration Building?
Although there is little support for the building site adjacent to the County Administration
Building (see questions 30-31), the notion of combining the Archives with the Pioneer
Museum is strong. There is also a strong level of support for the concept of a "cultural
center" which came out clearly in the interviews conducted with stakeholders.
78% YES
3.1.2 Stakeholder Interviews
Numerous stakeholder interviews were conducted over a four month period. Individuals
were selected by the Museum staff and interview times were arranged through the
Museum's offices. The Consultants, where requested to do so, traveled to the location
most convenient for the person being interviewed. However, most of the interviews were
conducted at the Museum offices.
A full list of individuals interviewed will appear in the attachment to the final report.
Generally, the results of the stakeholder interviews conformed with the results of the
questionnaire with the following comments:
. The development of a Museum which would meet the needs of the community must
be supported politically. Should the Museum be located in SI. Thomas, for example,
a solid working relationship must be established between the City of SI. Thomas and
County Council. Without political collaboration and support at these two levels, any
plan which might provide sizeable benefits to both would not succeed.
. There exists at least three groups in the community who would either support or
oppose the proposed developmenl. In some ways, their views cannot be reconciled.
In the recommendations we have not been bound by desires of specific groups. but
have attempted to provide a recommendations in the interest of the County.
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Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report 34
3.1.3 Group Interviews
The Consultants met with the full Board of Directors of the Elgin Military Museum, and
individuals representing the Women's Institute, the lODE, The Business Improvement
Association and the Archives Association. Results of these meetings will be discussed
with Council in conjunction with this current paper.
3.1.4 Public Meeting
A public meeting was conducted at the Elgin County Building on the evening of 11
December 2003 with over 75 persons in attendance. Responses from the meeting were
used as departure points for interviews with stakeholders and to expand the properties to
be examined as a part of the investigations of the report.
3.2 Building Program
3.2.1 Introduction
The development of an appropriate building program for the Elgin County Pioneer
Museum is difficult due to the progressive development of the current Museum without a
definition related to the needs of the County. Unlike other sites with large reserve
collections and with a history of operations focused on a larger community, should the
Elgin County Pioneer Museum relocate and start with a new facility, it will be starting with
a relatively limited amount of existing resources. However, the potentiai for acquisition is
high (based on the interviews), with many in the County willing to make their collections
available.
However, the notion of a building program for a new site, if such an option is selected,
must be considered conjectural and based on what would be deemed to be a reasonable
facility for a community of the size of Elgin County.
Factors, which may have an impact on this scope, include the wide range of potential
interpretive themes; the potential for major corporate support and individual support in the
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Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report 35
form of both financial and material donations; and the potential for support from the City
of SI. Thomas (if the Museum remains in the City).
Space and facilities required to store and preserve a collection, provide public activities
and house all museum functions including visitor services are based on the findings of
the other portions of this report. By contrasting the facilities requirements projected in the
Program Plan with the available or potential facilities, we have generated a Facilities
Program. The facilities program outlines acceptable standards and special requirements
for each function.
The program as presented below should be considered the basis for schematic designs
for a new facility. Given the variety of options available for sites, we have not provided a
graphical representation of each potentiallayoul. It is our opinion that all options
recommended can meet the criteria presented below.
3.2.2 Recommended Size
For a museum of average size for a county of the size of Eigin County, we recommend
that a minimum floor area of approximately 1,500 to 2,000 sq. meters (15,000 to 20,000
sq. feet) is reasonable based on other comparable county museums, the potential
availability of collections, and the population and history of Elgin County. This is smaller
than several other county museums. As an example, Huron County Museum is 43,000
square feet and the renovated Bruce County Museum is slightly smaller.
The suggested size pre-supposes the future development of additional satellite museums
in the County. Of these, the first would be Duncombe House. This model is similar to the
Huron County Museum which operates several satellite sites and Lambton County
Museum (which includes the main museum in Grand Bend and the Oil Museum of
Canada in Oil Springs). As well, the recommended area does not include an archives. In
the questionnaire responses, it was found that the consensus was for having the
Museum and Archives function co-located. This would only be the case if the Museum
were to be iocated in or adjacent to the existing Administrative Building or if the areas
renovated in the Administrative Building were abandoned in favour of an alternative site.
Deliberations on this issue must be made prior to finalizing the full program for a
relocated Museum. It is noted that County Archives forms a portion of the Huron County
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Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report 36
and Bruce County Museums and the Archives building is adjacent to the main building at
the Simcoe County Museum.
The existing Museum facility, Duncombe House, of approximately 6500 sq. ft., cannot be
expanded to the recommended size given the constraints of its site and buildings.
The floor area related to the proposed size can be broken down into a series of uses, the
size of which are based on a percentage of the overall floor area. These are discussed
as follows:
Exhibits
The size and type of exhibit space is normally determined from the range of artifacts in
the collection and how the museum is operated. For instance, if the artifacts are of small
scale and can be displayed in cases, the scale of a gallery may be markedly different
than a site dedicated to the display of agricultural or transportation equipmenl. Beyond
the permanent display of artifacts held in the collection is the issue of the promotion of
temporary exhibitions and the receipt of travelling exhibits from other sites. Of the total
area of the building, exhibits will require approximately 35% or 5000 sq. ft. If temporary
or travelling exhibits are deemed to be essential to the success of the site, this total area
must include a percentage for such a use. For the Elgin County Pioneer Museum,
because of low numbers of artifacts held in the reserve collection, it can be assumed that
at the outset the emphasis will be on travelling rather than temporary exhibits. Of the
35% we assume that 20% would be permanent exhibits and the remaining area devoted
to space for travelling or temporary exhibits.
Storage
Currently, our work in the community indicates that the quantity and size of potential
scope of collections available for this site is high. The standards which apply to
museums in Ontario require a 30% portion of any new museum development to be set
aside for the storage of a reserve collection. Given our limited review of potential
collections, it appears that at the outset this space would be largely unused but would
rapidly be occupied with donations.
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Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report 37
Theatre
In most museum and interpretive sites, it is desirable to have a space which can be used
as a theatre for film or lecture presentations and which can double as classroom space.
The size of such a space will vary according to the type and size of audiences expected.
As the actual mixture of future programming initiatives can be considered to be open-
ended, we have taken the position that initially such a space should hold approximately
the equivalent of two classrooms (60 persons). This is slightly more than a school bus
load and represents an area of approximately 3,000 sq. ft.
Curatorial Spaces
Curatorial spaces include offices for staff; clean workrooms for curation of artifacts; dirty
workrooms for receiving and cleaning objects (to avoid contamination of the main
collections) and a carpentry shop (for exhibit preparation). In small community museums,
the size of these functions may not be large in relation to their importance for the
operation of the site. An assumption can be made that these will require approximately
20% of the total ftoor area.
Other spaces
These include janitorial rooms and mechanicallelectrical spaces. In general, such
spaces usually require approximately 5% of the total floor area of a given site assuming
that the key mechanical equipment is roof-top mounted. The required area may increase
if all such functions are contained within the bulk of the main building. An alternative is to
have sufficient space on site to accommodate a service compound.
3.2.3 Environmental Requirements
Many classes of sensitive artifacts, such as veneered wood furniture, native artifacts,
collections of inlay and bone and others respond rapidly to changes of temperature and,
especially, humidity. Rapid humidity changes, in particular, cause deterioration of
important collections and it is generally the policy of museums to ensure that
environmental controls are put in place to avoid such damage.
The conversion of historic buildings to museum use has prompted considerable debate
over the past two decades due to the dangers of installation of high humidity levels in
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Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report 38
historic buildings in northern climates. High humidity can cause damaging condensation
in historic buildings posing a conflict between the needs of collections and artifacts and
the buildings housing them. An appropriate site should be able to maintain a daily
average of 50% relative humidity in summer and no less than 35% humidity in winter
(plus or minus 2% in a 24 hour period). Likewise, temperature should be maintained with
a 1 degree plus or minus !evel within a 24 hour period and is generally considered
acceptable at approximately 20 degrees F.
Any existing buiiding selected for the purpose of the Museum should be capable of
modifications to suit these needs or the artifacts should be placed into appropriate cases
to protect them from environmental changes.
From this standpoint, the existing Museum is not capable of meeting full museum
standards and retrofitting would be both extremely disruptive to the heritage fabric of the
building and, due to the small spaces, uneconomical. However, strategies for the
operation of historic buildings as museum have been adopted at many other sites and _
for the preservation and display of the main collection - strategies could be adopted to
mitigate damage caused by poor internal climate regardless of whether the museum
returned to its original location or moved to an alternative heritage buiiding. Development
of a purpose-built museum would, of course, remove these concerns but renovations to
suit requirements are more easily accommodated in large historic public buildings with
easy access to floor and wall systems.
3.2.4 Access to the Site
The site should be on or near major traffic routes or an artery to ensure ease of access to
tourists unless it is of distinct architectural or historic character thus generating its own
!evel of attraction. However, to act as an appropriate attraction, the building must present
an image to the street immediately visible to passers-by. It is noted that the original
museum is in an "out of the way" location with little reference to major population centre
or travel routes.
The building must meet accessibility requirements for the physically challenged in order
to be in accordance with prevailing buiiding codes. Receipt of grants in support of a new
-
Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report 39
project will be contingent on these requirements being mel. Costs to renovate Duncombe
House would be high and there would remain, even after installation of accessibility
equipment, portions of the house that would be inaccessible. As well, the installation of
accessibility equipment could seriously compromise the heritage fabric of the building.
3.2.5 Codes and Standards
As an assembly occupancy, the site will have to be capable of meeting legislated
requirements regarding health and safety issues. These include fire exits (including
width, number and access); flame spread (rate of flame propagation) of finishes; number
of washrooms; exit lighting; floor loading requirements; and a panoply of other
requirements. Assembly occupancies require among the highest standards for these
systems and these standards increase with the numbers using the building based on its
size.
The existing museum meets the intent of these codes with some minor infractions. Some
upgrading would be required such as improvement to fire separations at the ceiling of the
basemenl.
3.2.6 Alarms
Alarm systems include issues of both fire and security systems installation. While
relatively easy and inexpensive to install, security systems are rendered more effective
when installed in buildings which have natural supervisory capability. Thus buildings with
many windows in isolated areas may be more prone to security breaches than those in
urban sites with occupied buildings nearby.
Response to alarms is also an issue. Rural areas require a longer travel distance for fire
and police than urban areas. These issues may have an impact on the capability of the
site to attract major events in the form of travelling shows from major museums. Location
of the Museum in a rural area away from fire and police services may reduce the
desirability in terms of willingness of other sites to loan collections for exhibitions.
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Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report 40
Overall costs of alarm systems are not large in relation to the capital and maintenance
costs of museum sites.
Schematic Concept
3.2.7
A Schematic architectural plan is entirely contingent on the final site to be selected by
the results of negotiations with owners of existing properties as to
the County and
the disposition of such space. A general schematic of space
locations is presented below:
available space and
OBJECTS
IN
TEMPORARY
EXHffiITION
~"""" GALLERY
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~ ~~;~: GALLERIES
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~ LOBBY
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~""""'''''''''''''''''''~ GIFT
§ cnop <¡\¡~~,¡¡lli~~[~¡¡m~
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MECH. ~ ADMIN.' ,.,
EQ. ~
,
,
,
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§ VISITOR
... § ENTERANCE
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Function Diagram
The relationship between functional spaces in an ideal community museum environment.
These relationships, with some modifications dictated by lot characteristics and in the
adoption of an existing structure. should be maintained.
CURATORIAL
SUPPORT
SPACE
COLLECTIONS
STORAGE
&
RESEARCH
AREAS
41
CCRCInc
KEY
,
VISITOR FLOW
.. SECURITY BOUNDARY
~'"''''''''''''''
- FUNCTION BOUNDARY
- BUILDING ENV ALOPE
Report
Y
Museum
Elgin County Pioneer
3.3 Capital Cost Projections
We have analyzed and provided a preliminary projection of capital costs for a 15,000
square foot facility including the following:
· Site Development
· Building Construction
· Fumishing and Equipment
· Exhibition Preparation and Display
· Professional Fees
· Contingencies
The .costs presented should be considered a Class "E"- accuracy of +1- 30% due to the
conjectural nature of some of the decisions at this stage.
Costs are based on current market conditions based on three current museum projects
under way by the consulting team (plus extrapolations from costs at several other sites)
and are subject to arbitrary changes in scope of work or quality of execution. They are
presented solely as a starting point for more detailed investigations of cost as the full
scope of the work becomes known.
Costs for three options are presented on the following· page and include a new purpose-
built museum, the renovation of an existinghistolÌc building to incorporate a museum
and the. installation of a museum into a base building which is to beleased to the County.
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Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report 42
Cost Assuming New Construction
3.3.1
Item
Budaet Total
100,000
$
Estimated Unit Cost
Estimate
Site Development including paving improvements and
changes associated with development of a building
addition
3,000,000
100,000
500,000
$3,700,000
Approx $200/sq.ft.
Estimate
$1001 sg. ft.
(approximately 15,000 sq. ft.)
- - -- -
New Construction
Fumishing and equilJment
Exhibit preparation and display (5,000 sg. ft.)
Subtotal
400,000
400,000
Professional fees
Contingencies
$ 4,500,000
Total Prolect
Cost Assuming Installation in an Existing Building
3.3.2
Renovation
Full
Item
100,000
Total
$
Estimated Cost
Estimate
Site Development including paving improvements and
changes associated with development of a building
addition
2,625,000
100,000
500,000
$3,325,000
Approx $175/sq.ft.
Estimate
$1001
ft.
sq.
Renovations (approximately
Fumishing and equipment
Exhibit pre Jaration and dis JIav {5,000 sq. ft.)
Subtotal
5,000 sg. ft.)
1
350,000
350,000
fees
Professional
ContinQencies
Total Prolect
$ 4,025,000
that the above does not include purchase price of the property.
Note
43
Report
Elgin County Pioneer Museum
Base Building by
Cost Assuming Installation in an Existing Building
Others
3.3.3
Item Estimated Cost Total
Site Development including paving improvements and Estimate $ 100,000
changes· associated with development of a building
addition
Renovations (approximatelv 15,000 sa. It.) Approx $ 100/sq.ft. 1,500,000
Furnishing and equipment Estimate 100,000
Exhibit preparation and disDlay (5,000 sq. ft.) $1001 sq. m. 500,000
Subtotal $2,200,000
Professional fees 250,000
Continaencies 250,000
Total Project $ 3,700,000
Based on the cost breakdown, a low capital cost solution may be to locate a site fDr which
the base building is provided by others. The base building would have to meet the criteria
needed to suit museum use. A long tenm lease may be negotiated with building owners
with the lease allowing the property owners the ability to use the Museum as an "anchor
tenant" and to finance the renovations and on-going maintenance. Complementary uses,
such as a restaurant or shops or cultural offices in the building may take advantage of the
stimulus offered by the Museum and vice versa.
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Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report 44
4. SITE INVESTIGATION
-
4.1 General Comment
The primary mandate of the current Report is to evaluate the suitability of the existing
Duncombe House as a county museum vs. a change to a new site. An examination of the
existing site was therefore conducted together with the examination of alternative
potential sites. The examination was conducted using the criteria developed in the
previous chapters as a guide. The primary goal of the investigation was to 'ensure that the
Museum is operating in the interests of Elgin County and that the County's investment in
the Museum meets the goals of the corporation.
For the examination, County and Museum representatives suggested altemative sites.
Some sites were also suggested at the public meeting. The inspections and relative
merits of each site or location are developed in this Section together with a
recommendation.
Examinations of those sites which are buildings were on a visual basis combined with
interviews with the site operators, where possible, and a review of previous reports
prepared for each site, where available. The nature of this inspection must be
considered of a preliminary nature and was intended to detenmine the general suitability
of each building or site as a County-supported museum. While issues related to code
and safety are noted in the inspection, we are unable to guarantee or warrant any issues
related to each site based on the inspections. Hidden defects or problems may exist
which were not immediately apparent during the inspection period.
4.1.1 Duncombe. House
Location
The existing museum is located at 32 Talbot Street on "The Hill" (Talbot Hill) on
Registered Lot #2 at the south-west comer of Old Talbot Street and Pleasant Street. Old
Talbot Street was originally the continuation of the main street of St. Thomas which was
bypassed by a new extension completed in the latter quarter of the 20th Century. Old
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Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report 45
Talbot street drops down a hill to the west to meet Fingal Road but originally continued as
Talbot Road to the west. Sunset Drive, which intersects with Fingal, connects with
Wellington Street to the north which extends north into 'downtown London
Site
The museum shares a common parking lot with the Elgin Military Museum. The Military
Museum sits on a separate lot but is connected to Duncombe house by a common
vestibule.
The Site is separated from the alignment of the former Canada Southern Railway line by
one residential lot located to the south of the parking lot.
To the front (north) of the house, the road cut which allows Old Talbot Street to descend
the hill towards Fingal results in a steep hill requiring stairs for access to the original front
door. The front of the house is thus essentially inaccessible to visnors and does not
present an easily discerned entrance to the museum site. Access to the parking lot
requires a turn off Old Talbot Street onto which, because of the hill and the sightlines of
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Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report 46
the corner, could pose safety concerns in winter months and during periods of inclement
weather.
General Descriotion
The house was constructed c. 1848, and, subsumed under later additions, includes
visible heritage components, particularly at the interior where window surrounds, a stair
banister, front door and trim and wood floors are all clearly visible. The exterior retains its
original profile, but the original clapboard has been concealed by the application, in 1957,
of artificial stone which conceals much of its original character. Exterior windows do not
present the original appearanceofthe house and the stone finish was applied at the time
the house was converted into a museum by members ofthe Women's Institute.
Restoration to the original appearance is possible based on the evidence:available and
would be recommended should the site continue its existence as a heritage house
museum (in a manner similar to Eldon House Museum in London).
In 1970,an addition was added to the south of the original house to house a larger main
floor gallery and provide a basement storage room with adjacent service areas.
In 1972, a second building was erected on the property to house an agricultural
collection.
In 1991, the Museum survived the fire noted at the introduction of this report.
Condition
Duncombe house was inspected on'two occasions by'otherconsultants.
. A Preliminary Building Condition Assessment was conducted by Alan Avis Architect
on ,8 January 2001. The Avis reported thatthe east wall of the house was .out-of-
plumb by approximately 1 inch in a height of 4 feeLlt also indicated that renovations
to meet building code and accessibility codes may amount to as much as $300,000. A
subsequent examination suggested that costs may escalate to over $800,00Oasa
result of requirements for accessibility improvements.
. A report was prepared by VanBoxmeer & Stranges Ltd., Structural Engineers, on 31
July 2002. This report investigated the east wall and adjacent floor framing of the
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Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report 47
building to determine the cause of the out-of-plumb condition mentioned in the Avis
report. While it was determined that the area examined was not of significant concern,
further investigation was recommended.
Renovation of the building to museum use would require that it meet the Ontario Building
Codes assembly Class A-20ccupancy. Buildings in this category may be 2 storeys of
combustible andofa maximum ,10,000 square feet unsprinklered with access from at
least two streets. The building, at just over 5,000 square feet,meets these criteria.
Suitability for Museum Use
Use of any building for a museum is possible depending on its ability to m.eet the criteria
demanded asa result of that use. A part of the criteria for this site includes the economic
advantages to the County in using the site for promotion of the County to a large number
ofvisitors.,Thisincludes the opportunity to showcase both large and small collections of
all sizes which pertain to the growth and history of the County. On these counts alone,
Duncombe house is not a suitable site for County purposes.
Because of the extensive amount of wood and plaster walls in the building, Duncombe
House ,provides a good buffer for swings in temperature and humidity. However, the
natureofthe exterior wall construction precludes its being humidified to museum quality
standards. This would tend to restrict its use for the collection and curation of artifacts of
an environmentally sensitive nature and would prevent its use as a major exhibition
centre. Upgrading the house'to'suitsuch an ,enhanced use would cause significant
damage to original historic finishes which should be restored rather than buried under
layers of new work. In addition, The small rooms and: access to the rooms combined with
the limited floor loading permissible due to the construction of the building mitigate its
potential for collection and curation of artifacts which might relate to the industrial
.development of Elgin County and surroundings. While a partial solution to this was an
addition to the rear of the house, the addition is too small to undertake programming of a
scale consistent with a County museum operation.
Duncombe House does have excellent potential as a restored heritage house museum
and as such could showcase the family life and society of early 19th Century St. Thomas
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Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report 48
Duncombe House is an acceptable location for an interpretive house museum for a small
municipality or as a specialty historic site. Full restoration of the front portion of the
building is possible and the site could become a showcase for period habitation.
However, its size, siting and potential for upgrading are not consistent with a site suitable
for a county museum and costs associated with upgrading would not improve its ability to
showcase larger artifacts and attract new collections.
4.1.2 The Temporary Museum Shopfront, 449 Talbot Street, St. Thomas
Location
One of the sites investigated was the current location at 449 Talbot Street: Comments
made by the owner of this property are responded to ·in Chapter 5-Analysis of Written
Submissions
Site
The site forms a part of the commercial core of St. Thomas. We are informed that
arrangements for some parking can be made in a lot to the rear of the building, although
access to the lot would create some problems for visitors unfamiliar with the site and the
community.
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Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report 49
General Descriution
The space is a commercial space originally used as a retail outlet. It is clear span and
just over 8,000 square feet at the main level. Additional space could be made available in
the basement according to the Owner, but the ceiling heights available and the general
renovations required for museum purposes would make this:optionless than desirable for
museum purposes refer to Chapter 5).
Suitabilitvfor museum use
Of in teres tis that the relocation has Iesultedin an increase in the Museum's profile in the
community which has translated into an increase in ·attendance. Thisfact.points .to the
issueofanimproved·locationwhich may provide better profile to the Museum.
The strength ofthefloorwouldpermitdisplayoflargerartifacts aRhoughtheprovision of
suitable loading and curatorial facilities would be problematic given the layout of the
building. The site is further limited in that it cannot be expanded economically to allow it
to meet full museum standards (see Chapter 5).
Development ofthissite is therefore notconsidered to be a viable option. However,
.development ot.a'suitable building in the same area should.be,considered in light of the
attendance figures.
4.1.3 The former CASORailway Station, St. Thomas
Location
This building is setback from Talbot street in the heart ofthe. st. Thomas Commercial
district. ItisadjacenUhecmajorrail yards which serviced the main Tail line which
conveyed.trains,as·a short cut/between New York and Chicago and which developed
the economic impetus for the expansion of SI. Thomas. The forecourt between the
building and Talbot Street was originally a public park, which was subsequently sold off
for a commercial site.
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Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report 50
General Description
The CASO station was constructed between 1871 and 1873 and is, in the Canadian
railway context, of unusual Italian ate style. Although lacking its perimeter canopies and
having had minimum maintenance since closure of the CASO line, it is in good condition
and remarkably complete in tenms of its heritage components. The station is one of six
original stations designated under the Fede~al Heritage Railway Stations Protection Act
and is thus of national (indeed international) significance and regularlyattractsbusloads
of American tourists despite its present condition. Reasons for its designation included:
· the history anddevelopmenlofthe railroad in South-Western Ontario
· the development of the town
· as a work of architecture
· its role in relation to Talbot Street (downtown SI. Thomas)
· its importance which lead to a complex of associated machine shops and
railway yards.
Currently, the station is in a neglected state but for more than half a century it was the
center of the town's activities and directly contributed to the prosperity of the community
and the surrounding area. OnTrack, a not-for-profitorganization dedicated to the
preservation of this landmark, has undertaken a plan to restore it with the hope that the
implementation of this plan will attract tourists, support economic development and
provide a facility that would meet the needs of the community.
OnTrack commissioned a study, completed by Commonwealth HistoricResource
Management Limited, which documented the station and made several recommendations
as to its potential use. An Urban Design Study, completed by ENVision el. al. In
October of2003, concurred that the visibility of the station should be enhanced and that
the recommendations ofthe;earlier.report be considered for.implementation. Due to the
proximity ofthe site to other attractions, both in place and proposed, it is deemed by both
studies to be a significant opportunity for the community to attract significant attention to
the tourist trade, reinvigorate the core of 51. Thomas, and act as a major regional tourist
attraction in conjunction with other attractions such as the Railway Museum, Trans
Canada Trail, Port Stanley tour train, and other proposed recreational attractions being
considered in its vicinity. Since it is a unique part of the local urban fabric, as well as
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Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report 51
being dacumented as 'One 'Of the most unique railway buildings in Canada, finding a
significant tenant and use far the space is favaured in both previous studies.
Condition
The building is in gaad canditian despite its age and neglect. Upgrading to museum use,
atleastin part, will require extensive renavations which can be done in conjunction with
restoration 'Of the' building itself. The costs of such renavatians would be similar to that 'Of
new constructian. However, the association 'Of the building with heritage events are
additional benefits which· cannat be acquired with new construction.
Suitabilitv for Museum Use
Thepositive'attributes 'Of this site far museum use include:
· The size and distributian 'Of internalspaceswouldpermit display of a range of
. . artifacts.· Over 18;000 square could . be available which is in excess of
Museum needs. It wauld beapprapriate ta house the callectian in a heritage
structure which was influential ta the development of the region
· locatian is in good proximity to the downtown core taking advantage of local
services
.:' links 'Of this site to adjacent andco-Iacated operatiansincluding the rail
museum and the Part Stanley train wauld enhance the attractiveness 'Of the
:siteand ensure mare attendance at the Museum
· location in the care area would ensure that mare visitors stay longer in the
community due to the services suchas.restaurants:and shops which are
already· there and which wDuldbeenhanced withthe:new econDmy
. generated by the attraction
RedevelopmentofthefDrmer park between the statianand Talbot Street, including
removal ofthe cammercial buildings located there, are an essential requirement to
ensure success of the site. A part 'Of the develapment of the park ShDUld .include the
relocation 'Of the Jumbo memDrial tD this site.
CDnstraints
Issues which must be addressed in 'Order tD make a museum at this IDcatiDn a reality
would include the fallowing:
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Elgin CDunty Pioneer Museum Report 52
· The project would require an agreement or partnership between and among the City
of 5t. Thomas, the County of Elgin, OnTrack and the commitment of others currently
involved with the development of the site.
· The County of Elgin would not own the property outright. Control or input over
construction activities or changes to the building would have to include the County as
a partner in any agreements reached.
· Long term expansion plans should be considered at the site to ensure that the
County could acquire additional property to enlarge the facility in future. If the
museum increases in size at this site beyond the capacity of the existing building, an
annex might be considered. However, the recommendations of the current report
suggest that annexes or satellite museums be located at various communities in the
County.
· Negotiations between parties may take some time to completion. An option during
this period is the restoration of Duncombe house as a first stage of the development
of the County Museum system.
· Financial support from other parties would be a benefit and a requirement for the
County's participation at this site. The importance of the building should, however,
allow it to attract any available funding from the Provincial and Federal governments.
I
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Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report 53
4.1.4 The Former Alma College, St. Thomas
Location
Located at 96 Moore Street, at the corner of Moore and Mcintyre Streets in St. Thomas,
Ontario is the old Alma College for Ladies.
Site
The grounds featured a main building,a chapel, a hall, and a unique outdoor
amphitheatre. The Victorian Gothic exterior of the fronUacadeand the two flanking side
facades make this structure unique in the City of St. Thomas and perhaps in Ontario as a
whole:Today,the;onlyremaininggrounds that remain are part of the main building itself,
.thechapel and the ruins of the amphitheatre. Adjacent the site runs the London - Port
Stanleyrail line on which a fonmer station could be sited to bring visitors to the site from
the train.
General Description
On October 11, 1876, it was proposed by Bishop Canman that a ladies college be
established in SI. Thomas. In .1877, the planners called the new school, "St. Thomas
Ladies College" until it was fonmally.named"AlmaCollege" by Sheriff Colin Munroe who
wanted to name it to honour the passing of his"latewife. Architect, James Balfour from
Hamiltonwon the design competition over 20. other submissions. The college officially
opened in 1881. The land and buildings were purchased by "Alma Heritage Estates"
which is a private corporation led by Brian Squires of Lon done His plans were to create a
retirement village. at Alma as replacementJor theValleyviewHome for the Aged but those
plans fell through. In October 29th, 1976,;AlmaCollege was proclaimed a provincial
historic site.
Thesitetherefore;has strong historical associations and more than sufficient size to
accommodate the proposed needed size for the Museum.
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Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report 54
Condition
The develaper has gutted the interiar finishes of the main building down ta the waod
studs and back face of the exterior brick bearing walls. Vandals have broken many .of the
windaws and rot is visible in many aUhe omatecomices.Hawever, the current candition
would lend itselUo the extensive upgrading required for museum use.
Any arrangement for inclusion .of the Museum in this site would require that the base
building is braught up to appropriate standards by the Owner.
Suitability for museum use
The develaper proposes that the upperflaar .of the building be used for a seniors
complex. Use of part aUhe main flaar as a museum isaninterestingp.ossibility, however
it introduces the problem .of fire separation requirements between residential .occupancies
.of the upper flaars vs the assembly .occupancy prop.osed far the lower floor. As the main
fl.oor is higher than grade, accessibility issues wauld have ta be addressed. While the
proximity of the rail line could be considered an asset, the lacatian of the site is removed
fram the main commercial care .of St. Thomas and would therefare reduce the ability .of
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Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report 55
tourists to find the site. Parking could be accommodate in the area in front of the main
building atthough full development of the site and large programmed events could create
conflicts with neighbours due to parking overflow into the adjacent residential streets.
This is, however, an interesting option, and could become a significant attraction if the
site were dedicated to one use.
4.1.5 The Elgin County Administration Building, St. Thomas
Location
The County Administration Building is located at 450 Sunset Drive to the south and west
of SI. Thomas proper.
Site
The site is a part of a zone of buildings which fonm an institutional "campus". The
environs include the local Childrens' Aid Society building, located to the north of the site,
and the 51. Thomas Psychiatric Hospital across the road to the east.
The London - Port Stanley rail line is located to the west of the property and could be
accessible as a stop-off location for the tour train. As well, there is considerable tourist
traffic passing this site on the way from London to Port Stanley.
General Descriotion
The building isafour storey structure in late art decostyle erected in the early-twentieth
century as a nurses residence. It was subsequently renovated to accommodate the
administration offices for the County. Recent renovations have seen the introduction of
the County Archives at the lower floor of the west end of the building. The top floor of the
building is empty and could be renovated for museum purposes.
Condition
The building is in excellent condition and is well maintained.
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Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report 56
Suitabili for museum use
While there is merit in the installation of the museum into this building due to the
presence of the archives, several issues mitigate against a successful outcome.
· Floor loading for the fourth floor will not meet the requirements for museum use and
. upgrading for this requirement alone will be so disruptive to the building that it may
preclude the building for consideration
· The size of the floor plates between bearing walls and height of ceilings at the fourth
floor are not conducive to the planning .of galleriesJormuseum purposes.
· Introduction of high humidity levels:at the upper floor for museum purposes would
present problems for: other areas ·of the building. and . require massive upgrading of
the entire building envelope to preclude problems with condensation in winter.
· Organization of the: internal spaces do not .Iendthemselves for movement of large
numbers of visitors around the building.
· The site is not an attractive one in terms of motivating visitors due to its institutional
appearance.
For these and other reasons, the installation of a museum in this building is not
recommended.
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Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report 57
4.1.6 A Site Adjacent to the Elgin County Administration Building, St. Thomas
It is interesting to note the responses in the surveys to the question of location of a
potential museum in or adjacent to the current Administration Building. Several
responses appeared .to endorse the location, but analysis of the results reveals that the
endorsements are forco'location of the County Archives with the Museum.
Location of a new purpose built museum next to the Administration Building is therefore a
reasonablepossibilitybulwill require a substantial investment ina building which is
removed from the potential tourism benefits available with the CASO station in St.
Thomas. By co-locating the museum within a major tourism attraction (the CASO station
. and associated attractions), the County would reach a much larger target audience and
its investment will have a much more profound impact on the success of the Museum and
showcasing of the County.
However, attention could be drawn to the County with a building designed by
architectural competition which could produce a building which would be, for a time, an
attraction in its own right. However, the potential of the CASO option is so profound that
we cannot recommend a new museum building at this time.
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Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report 58
4.1.7 An alternate site elsewhere in Elgin County
Other locations in Elgin County may be considered for a relocated Museum. However,
the primary issue to be answered is whether any site out of SI.Thomas would be capable
of an attraction poweñul enough to act as a major tourist draw, and act as a "gateway" to
the County. Criteria for such a site would include availability, historical features,
association with other tourism-related features, and ability to act as an attraction to
showcase Elgin County toa potentially large number of visitors. Such a policy was
adopted for LambtonCountyseveral decades ago in the location of the Lambton County
Museum across the road from Pinery Provincial Park (one of the most visned Provincial
Parks in Ontario) and near the tourism area of Grand Bend. The'Southampton Museum,
likewise, is located in Southampton at a considerable distance fromctheCounty seat in
Walkerton.However,themuseum in Goderich is only afew blocks from the County
, Administration Building and one block from a major north-south tourist route (Highway
21).
Tourism related areas or features include the Talbot Trail; the Trans Canada Trail, and
the Port Stanley area. If criteria for selection include centrality in the County, as well as
proximity to existing county facilities, these features are manifestly a part of the sites
examined in and around SI. Thomas. However, SI. Thomas is also ideally snuated to take
advantage of the two direction flow oftouristsfrom Detroit through to Toronto.
SI. Thomas and area, is therefore recommended as the area which should first be
consideredforan,allernative site,ifother options examined prove unworkable. Inclusion of
otherportionsoftheCounty should then be done byway of providing supportto
associated or satellne sites around the County in'thesame,manner asctheHuron County
and the Lambton County Museums have done over the past 20 years. In Elgin County,
should the Duncombe House not be the sneforthe County Museum,the house could be
'operated ,as a restored house museum ,associated with the main County Museum
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Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report 59
5. Analysis of Written Submissions
-
5.1 General Comment
On completion of the Discussion Paper document for this study, responses from the
public were solicited. These were received subsequent to the final presentation to
County Council in May of 2004. The submissions are appended to this portion of the
report.
The purpose of this portion of the report is to discuss the content of the submissions.
Corrections to the content ofthe original report, arising from some of the submissions,
were also made where warranted. Amendments were also made to the main document
resulting from discussions raised at County Council.
It was expected that, due to the highly political nature of the decision, a variety of
opinions would be expressed both for and against the findings of the report. Of the 10
responses received:
· 1 was in favour of the museum returning to Duncombe House
· 1 was in favour of the museum returning to.Duncombehouse until a final location is
determined and developed.
· 1 was in favour of the museum remaining in the current facilities at 449 Talbot Street,
St. Thomas
· 4 were in favour of the museum relocating to the CASO station
· 2 were in favour of the museum relocating to new purpose built facilities next to the
County Building at 450 Sunset Drive.
· 1 was conditionally responsive to relocation to the CASO station but with a preferred
location next to the County Building. In the interim, it favoured continued presence at
449 Talbot Street until new facimies were developed.
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Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report 60
We have provided a brief synopsis ofthe submissions and, where questions are raised,
have provided clarification to each. Amendments to the main report have incorporated
some of the content of these submissions in order to provide elaboration on the
conclusions reached.
5.2 Submissions
Submissions were received by the following parties (and are appended to this report):
1. Frank and Nancy Prothero, Port Stanley
2. Bertha Vickerman - on behalf of lODE, Elgin County/St. Thomas
3. Barb McCallum - on behalf of Alma College International Alumnae Association
4. Marion Facey, St. Thomas
5. Mary Lou Stanley, Central Elgin
6. Mary Olde, RR #2 St. Thomas
7. Joanne Erickson - on behalf of Yarmouth Glen Women's Institute.
8. Farhi Holdings Corporation, London
9. Perry Clutterbuck, Southwold
10. Mary Clutterbuck - on behalf of Elgin County Pioneer Museum
5.3 Detailed Responses to Submissions
5.3.1 Frank and Nancy Prothero, Port Stanley
SvnoDsis
This is an extensive and well thought out submission on the issue of a Museum for the
County of Elgin. Types of displays and themes are discussed and are of interest in
regards to the scope of interpretation and interactive displays possible at a Museum
appropriate to a County administration. It suggests rotating displays of a wide variety and
speaks ofthe provenance and relevance of artifacts held in the Museum's collection.
The comments are in line with current museological thinking.
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Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report 61
The document also states that a complete inventory of potential holdings in the County
be initiated and we concur that this would be a valuable exercise. As the potential
Museum moves towards implementation, further public input should be sought.
The document makes a case against relocation to the CASO station, to which we
respond below.
The,documentmakesacase,for,the,location ofthemuseum on,theJandadjacent to the
County Building. The arguments made are valid and have been incorporated into the
main body of the report.
ResDonse to OuestionsRaised bv the Submission
Several comments made in the document related to theCASO station are addressed as
follows:
. Capital Cost
Capital cost for restoration of historic sites vs. new construction is typically similar
assuming the restored buildings meet the standards .of new construction. However,
the payoff can be of a higher order. Heritage buildings of mass masonry (once
restored)typically last longer with lower maintenance costs than newer lightly built
buildings. The re'cycling of heritage buildings represents considerable environmental
benefrt in the reduction of waste from demolition and the reduction in energy required
for the fabrication of structural componentsalready;embodied in the recycled
structure. The largest payoff is in the historical associations intrinsic to a major
.' monument;;something which can ;onlyrarely be,purchased with the construction of a
new building.
. Gallery size
Constraints posed by the rooms at this site are minimal-the galleries are linear but
can include artifacts of significant size. Exhibit design can accommodate any specific
constraints posed by this structure. Similar sites, notably the first and second floor
galleries of the 1850's wing at the Huron County Museum and at the Woodstock
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Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report 62
Museum (both designed by the authors of this report) have been programmed in a
very successful manner.
· Elevators
Elevators would be a part of any museum of more than one storey, and are a small
component of cost in relation to the overall capital program. The Woodstock
Museum (housed in an 1850's building and designed by the authors of this report) is
a good example of a building of this type.
· Heating and Ventilation
Heritage buildings used as museumsrequire;upgradingto modern peñormance
standards and'arenovated CASOstation would be no exception. Examples of
upgrades to heritage buildings for this purpose include facilities at the Woodstock
Museum, Huron County Museum, Bruce County Museum, Portrait Gallery of Canada
(Ottawa), and the Canadian Museum of Nature - all sites, among many others, with
which the authors of this currentreport.have been involved. It is of interest that the
massive walls of heritage buildings actually contribute to energy saving by providing
thermal storage within the masonry walls. Modem, light weight buildings typically do
not function in this manner.
· ·:Doorsand windows and gallery size
Modifications to the building will require inclusion of special doors to permit
installation of large artifacts. Typically, a 10' x 10' service entrance is required for
large museum artifacts. This could beaccommodated'at one ofthe.central tunnels or
atthe end of the block. Carefularchitecturalintegration of modifications would be
requiredthatwould respecttheheritagebuildingwhile'meeting the criteria for new
use. The large number of windows in the building would not be an impediment to
interior displays - in all instances cited above for other museum sites, windows are
selectively used at the interior and blanked offwhererequired to meet exhibit
requirements., ;Such blanking off is from the interior only and is done in such a
manner that the change can be reversed if exhibits change in future. There is no
apparent change from the exterior as the black painted panels to the inside allow the
windows to appear normal when viewed from the street.
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Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report 63
· Access and ownership
To successfully develop this site, the original park between the building and Talbot
Street must be re-developed. Such a plan has also been recommended in at leàst
one other planning study for the area. This may be the most difficult of the
negotiations for the site and its long term success as the existing commercial building
would have to be relocated. ; Ownership of the CASO building must be clear and
without potential future disruptions. Such negotiations will take some time and will
depend on the good will of all parties.
The park must be a part of the attraction of this development. The spin-off would be
enhanced tourism andeconomic'activityfor.manybusinesses,onTalbot Street and
Elgin County as a whole. The largerregion,(fromDetroit toToronto) which would be
attracted to this unique site would enhance visitation and allow Elgin County to
showcase itself in amannerwhich would be less effective with the other options
explored.
· Vandalism
The site is the subject of vandalism because of its current state of neglect.
Redeveloped, and equipped with appropriate security equipment, it would be as
secure as any other location.
· Exhibits
The writer suggest that a plough, a fish tug or a combine would be out of place on
these premises. It is doubtful thal'a fishtugwouldbein,'place, for example, on any
premises save for a site on the Lake Erie shore and doubtful that an a(lifact of;such a
sizewouldbe.displayed within amuseum;building. 'kcombinewould only in rare
instances be displayed indoors, and for the proposed size of the Museum at 15,000
square feet regardless of location, the facilities would in any event not accommodate
an artifact of such size inside. Aplough could quite happily exist within a gallery in
the proposed Museum. The point here is, ,however, that the Elgin County Museum in
its proposed size of 15,000 square feet would be smaller than those in several other
counties. Huron County museum is approximately 43,000 square feet, for example,
while the new Bruce County Museum will be slightly smaller. The driving idea behind
Elgin County Museum has come from developments with which we have been
involved at other sites such as Huron County and Bruce County where the central
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Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report 64
museums support a growing network of satellite museums. The model in Elgin
County is the use of Duncombe House as a satellite site. The purpose of the main
museum is as a gateway to the County, with a variety of small museums developed
over a period of years in various communities. These small museums could be
operated by local boards and be affiliated with the County Museum (thus enhancing
their ability to obtain operating funds and support from higher levels of government)
and could have specific themes. 'Thus the "fish tug" and related exhibits could be
located in Port Stanley, while a combine and plough could be located at a site
interpreting agricultural activities in another part ofthe County. Other sites would
showcase their own distinct community identities.
5.3.2 Bertha Vickerman - onbehalfofIODE,Elgin County/St.Thomas
SynoDsis
This letieriswritten by the lODE representative sitting on the Museum Board. Several
questions were raised to which we respond below.
The letter suggests that the temporary site at 449 Talbot Street be closed and artifacts
stored in a warehouse with Duncombe house operated as an interim site pending
development of anew Museum: The letter is correct that the development of a Museum
may take from 3 to 5 years.
The letter appears to support a new Museum 'at another site with Duncombe House
operated as an artifact. However, the 'letter is;incorrect'iwits comments on the operation
of the Huron County Museum in terms of staffing'of'satellite museums imthe Goderich
area - all of those sites have normal operating hours and are fully staffed during the
summer season.
ResDonse to Ouestions Raised by the Submission
. Why were persons selected by Museum staff to be interviewed?
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Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report 65
The selection of interviewees by the Museum or County staff was a part of the terms
of reference of this report. It is noted that the Board had input, to the best of the
Consultants' knowledge and, indeed, the writer of the letter sat on the board during
the course of discussions with the Consultants of those who would be interviewed.
Members of the lODE were spoken with during the course of the interviews and all of
the Museum Board was present, including lODE representation, for substantial
presentations by the Consultants. The Members ofthe Board were offered complete
opportunities for input to the Consultants work.
. Why was lODE left out?
The lODE was not left out of the process -see above. ,The lODE was inadvertently
left out of the listing of groups whoseresponsewassolicited. This is corrected in this
fin/¡I report.
. Upgrading of Duncombe House
Full museum operatiowrequires an environmental control system that can keep
fluctuations of humidity and temperature within very tight parameters on a day over
day basis. The maximum fluctuations permitted for humidity, for instance, is +/_ 2%
in a 24 hour period. The building envelope of Duncombe House as currently
configured cannot maintain such tight levels. ' In addition, problems exist with the
equipment installed., Air cleaning equipment attached to the furnace, for instance, is
of the electrostatic type rather than a high efficiency filter system. Electrostatic filters
create ozone (free radical oxygen molecules) which attack and degrade the suñaces
of historic objects. They are not acceptable for museum environments. Other issues
at Duncombe also present problems. These include the development of mould
"visible on thesuñaces of walls in thebasemenl.'As welUhe.basement itself is not a
suitable environment forartifactstoragedue'to the risk of uncontrolled humidity and
potential for'damage to artifacts from backed up sewers.
We could continue with the comments. However, having had experience with more
,thanfourdozen.museums throughout North America over the past 30 years, it is the
Consultants' opinion that significant upgrading would be required at Duncombe
house to allow it to function to the standards usually expected of County Museums.
Once such renovations would be complete the Museum would still be too small to
meet the mandate of a County facility.
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Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report 66
. Accessibility and Codes
Universal accessibility requirements to second floor spaces in heritage house
museums is not typically, in Canada, enforced due to the damage introduction of
elevators or lifts can cause to heritage fabric. However, in the U.S. some sites have
incurred law suits due to inaccessible upper floors and have had to partially close as
a result. There is some risk ofa similar situation arising in Canada, although we
know of no instance yet. Building Codes are separate from the usability ofthe site as
a museum. A site may meet all aspects of the Building Code but fall short of the
requirements'for a museum related to environment, size, ability to house temporary
exhibitions, etc. (see above comments).
· Damage to artifacts from humidity swings
A full conservation study did not form a part of this present report. We can say,
however, that given the conditions achievable in Duncombe House and in the
àgricultural building, some classes of artifacts would be damaged over the short term
and others over a longer period. Damage can be caused by uncontrolled lighting
levels, humidity swings, and rapid temperature changes.
· Duncombe House in an empty state
The suggestion by the writer is that rather than leave Duncombe House vacant
during the selection of anew Museum, conversion to an historic house Museum
could proceed concurrently with the development of a larger facility. We agree with
this:point of view and have adjusted the main report to reflect this opinion.
· Determination of Location
Alternative locations were suggested by'the Museum and were suggestions solicited
during the Public Meeting. IUs entirely possible that other sites exist in the County
thatmightbe investigated, although we must point out that the current study cannot
be considered open ended in this respect.
· Use of Duncombe House as an Historic Home
Some upgrading would be required at Duncombe House for use as an historic house
Museum. However, objects of value on display which would otherwise be considered
at risk due to the available environment, could be removed and replaced by
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Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report 67
reproduced artifacts. It is suggested that to do the job right, the exterior of the house
should be restored to its original appearance (including wood siding and restored
windows and doors) with upgrading of the building "envelope" done during that
process. Consideration might also be given to a reduction in the rear wing in a
manner that it would be more appropriately scaled to the main house. Any work
proposed should be examined in the form of a master plan prepared by a competent
restoration consultant familiar with museums of this type. Fundraising for the
redevelopment could then proceed using such as master plan as a guide.
. Other Issues
Issues ,of DunCombe House operation as an off-site arm of the Museum would
require,apolicy decision of County Council and the Museum Board. Issues of
ownership of the CASO station are deaR with in the revised report.
5.3.3 Barb McCaUum - Alma College International Alumnae Association
SynoDsis
This letter represents the views of the Alumnae of Alma College. It notes that the
archives of Alma College have been stored by the County and thanks the County for
saving these records.
The letter suggests that Alma College site could be a location for a cultural centre which
may include the Museum a.nd County Archives but only if the building could be purchased
so that there would be no residential use of the second floor.
The letter supports the reconfiguration of Duncombe House as an historic house museum
as a satellite .site of the County Museum.
The letter suggests pros and cons related to the use of 450 Sunset Drive (4th Floor) as a
museum, although some confusion was noted with respect to comments made in the
report. These comments have been adjusted in the final report to eliminate this
confusion.
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Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report 68
The writer states that, for a variety of reasons, the CASO station is the best site but does
not recommend relocation of the Jumbo monument. A second choice would be a new
building next to 450 Sunset Drive. A third choice would be an alternate site, one option
being Alma College assuming it could be acquired.
The letter states that success at the CASO station would require the County, the City and
On Track to work together.
5.3.4 Marion Facey, St. Thomas
SynoDsis
This is a short letter encouraging the use of the CASO station and speaking to the
precedent of a combined St. Thomas-Elgin County partnership as evidenced by the St.
Thomas - Elgin General Hospital.
5.3.5 Mary Lou Stanley, Central Elgin
SvnoDsis
The writer is a Past Board Member of On Track and strongly supports the relocation of
the Museum to the CASO station. The letter highlights issues related to the station as a
central hub for the County Museum, it historical associations, and its ability as a tourist
attraction to showcase the County to visitors.
5.3.6 Mary OIde, R.R. #2 St. Thomas
SvnoDsis
The writer expresses concerns with respect to the report and recommends retention of
the Museum at Duncombe House.
It is stated that the whole theme of the Elgin County Pioneer Museum was that it was Dr.
Duncombe's home. This statement is responded to below.
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Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report 69
It is stated that the house was the first Medical School in this area of Ontario. This
statement is responded to below.
It is also stated that the City of St. Thomas and the St. Thomas Tourist Association have
been working with other parties to create a park at the nearby Jumbo Monument. This
statement is responded to below.
It is stated that tax dollars are being wasted in relation to the monthly cost of the
temporary facilities. This statement is responded to below.
A comment is made with respect to the need to preserve local history. This statement is
responded to below.
ResDonse to Ouestions Raised by the Submission
. Theme
It is not our information that the whole theme of the Elgin County Pioneer Museum
was Dr. Duncombe's home. While this historic residence is a means by which the
history of the County has been presented, confining the theme of Elgin County as a
whole to a single historic house is not appropriate to a museum which must present
the full scope .and breadth of history of a county. Therefore, whether the statement is
correct ornot, the idea is inappropriate to a County Museum. It is for this reason,
however, that we recommend continued use Duncombe House as a restored period
site which, in its own way, would contribute to the interpretation of the County along
with other sites as they may be developed.
. Medical School
IUs stated that the house was the first Medical School in this area of Ontario. It is our
understanding that this statement is incorrect and that there are several
misconceptions related to Duncombe House that should be corrected.
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Elgin county Pioneer Museum Report 70
· Jumbo Monument
Creation of a park at the Jumbo Monument is to be applauded and is part of
enhancing the local neighbourhood which would, if our recommendations are
accepted, continue to have Duncombe House as a museum in its midst.
We have, however, suggested that the Jumbo monument be relocated to the front of
the,CASOstation in theevenU\.becomes the site oUheMuseum. This would be
. consistent with that recommendation creating a major regional/international tourist
attraction. Such a move would, of necessity, be the subject of negotiations and final
decisions outside ofthe bounds ofthis current report.
· Waste of Tax Dollars
The current temporary Jacilities meet the needs of the Museum whereas Duncombe
House does' not. Rent 'paid in this instance does not represent a waste oftax dollars.
Rather than state that the current situation is a waste of funds, an alternative would
be immediately to begin the process of restoration of Duncombe House to its original
appearance including removal of stone siding, restoration of windows, re-
configuration of the rear wing, and furnishing of period rooms. This would permit
Duncombe House to establish itself in the same manner as Eldon House in London
well in advance of the completion of a new County Museum.
· Local History
We completely agree thatthere isa need to preserve local history as suggested by
the ,writer of this letter. However, 'in our, terms of reference, local history is the history
oftheentire County, in all of its individual components; rather than history of a small
,part of one community in that County. A vision of a compact central Museum, as
proposed, with a network of sites around the County (of which Duncombe House can
be one) will distribute this act of preservation more widely than has heretofore been
the case.
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Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report 71
5.3.7 Joanne Erickson - on behalf of Yarmouth Glen Women's Institute.
SvnoDsis
This letter reports on attendance by the writer at the Elgin County District Women's
Institute spring Board meeting. The meeting voted 90% in favour ofthe Museum
relocating to the CASO station.
The writer lends support to the relocation and references other allied attractions in the
vicinity ofthestation. The letter also encourages collaboration between the County and
City of St. Thomas in relation to this proposal.
5.3.8 Farhi Holdings Corporation, London
SynoDsis
This letter was written by Mr. Shmuel Fahri, owner of 449 Talbot Street, the"current
temporary location of the Museum.
The letter identifies a typo in the Discussion Paper which indicated that the main floor
space rented by the Museum as 5,000 square feet instead of 8,152 square feet. This has
been corrected in the main body ofthe report. The letter also suggests that the
basement, with an area of 6,736 rentable square feet, would provide a total rentable
square footage of 14,888 square feet if the museum required. Thisissueis responded to
below and in the main body of the report.
The Ietlerindicates that parking could be made available in the lot behind the building for
staff and patrons. This issue is responded to below and in the main body of the report.
The Ietler indicates that, since the building was upgraded to Public Works and
Govemment Services standards, it should not be considered a "storefront" This issue is
responded to below and in the main body of the report.
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Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report 72
The writer expresses confidence that, having carried out numerous retrofrts and
design/builds for three levels of government across Ontario, this building can be
retrofitted for long-term occupancy of the Museum at a saving of several hundreds of
thousands of dollars. This issue is responded to below and in the main body of the report.
ResDonseto Questions Raised bvthe Submission
. Use of Basement at 449 Talbot
The use of basements for, museums, as proposed in the letter, is usually considered
unacceptable for the purposes of storage or display of artifacts due to the potential of
floods from natural causes or from backed-up sewers. In this case, the problem is
compounded by the very low ceiling height of the basement which was measured in
several areas at 6'3"; Extensive excavation would be required to underpin the
existing building in order to increase clear height of the basement to a minimum of 10
feet plus an additional height to accommodate necessary mechanical equipment. It
is also noted that the ceiling heights at the main floor are not ten feet which is
normally considered a minimum for large museum objects, although these ceilings
could be raised if desired. In addition to these constraints, the basement is divided
into relatively small areas by the existing structural system supporting the main floor.
Removal of this system in conjunction with an excavation of the basement would
require insertion of long-span joists or beams which would increase the needed
excavation for museum purposes. Access to the basement would also require
installation of an elevator (as has been the case for other multi-storey museum
facilities which we have developed).
Therefore, to assume that the basement could be included in the area rented for
museum purposes at a much cheaper rate than any other sites proposed is
erroneous. To meet the standards of other County Museum, the basement and main
floor would have to be gutted and essentially reconstructed.
. Parking
The proposed parking arrangements would enhance the attractiveness of the
museum, but the quantity would not enhance use of the site during major events.
Altemative parking would be required even if the building could accommodate large
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Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report 73
crowds. Properly programmed, a museum of the size proposed in our report should
be able to attract visitation for special events in the order of 5,000 over a weekend.
This would be difficult at the current temporary location, whereas the other proposed
sites have (or could have) areas which can be used for parking in close proximity.
. Storefront
The writer does not indicate which PWGSC standards are being applied in relation to
the site save for floor loading which would be required by the Ontario Building Code
for any commercial building at ground level. Having an entrance from the sidewalk at
grade; meeting loading requirements for commercial ,buildings at grade level; having
large show windows facing Talbot Street; having 'solid party walls within a context of
a commercial street; and having beenpreviouslyaBigV Drugstore, qualifies this site
. in our mind as being a "storefront" , regardless of specific renovations which may
have previously been completed. This; however, is not a derogatory comment.
'There are examples of small local museums and libraries which function in an
environment of this type. ' If, however, the County wishes to use a' new museum to
showcase itself, attract travelling exhibits and. large volumes of tourists, a small local
museum is not the best means to the end.
. Building Standards
As tó PWGSCStandards, the standards required of museums are considerably in
excess of standards for commercial properties. Typically, in a new museum up to
40% of the costs represent mechanical and electrical systems required to protect the
collections and exhibits. Standards at the Federal level are referenced to the
Canadian Conservation Institute rather than PWGSC. As one example, sprinkler
systems must be installed with galvanized ratherthanblack,pipe to avoid corrosion.
While the writer oftheletter expresses confidence that, having carried out numerous
retrofits and design/builds forthreelevels of government across Ontario, the building
could be retrofitted for long-term occupancy of the 'Museum at a saving of several
hundreds of thousands of dollars, the low cost for renovations as suggested would be
extremely difficult to achieve even if adequate space were available.
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Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report 74
5.3.9 Perry Clutterbuck, Southwold
SvnoDsis
A variety of points are raised with this letter. A brief synopsis of the history of the building
is the first with the commenUhat the museum has now outgrown its site.
General comments are made with respect to the Talbot Settlement, Agricultural Heritage
of the County, and the Elgin County Archives.
Due to perceived problems related to theCASO station,' including heating costs
associated with high ceilings and multiple floors; the constraints of many small rooms
limiting 'display opportunities; the possible need for more staff the writer does not believe
that the station is a viable opportunity.
The writer suggest that a cultural centre be developed next to the County Building which
could ultimately incorporate the Military Museum, Art Gallery and Tourism creating a "one
stop site" for visitors to the area.
The letter endorses the need for collaboration with the City of St. Thomas in the
development of the museum.
ResDonse toOuestions Raised by the Submission
. High Ceilings
A clarification should be made with respect to the "high ceilings" and two stories
"being a liability· with respect to,the CSAOstation. Most major public museums have
ceilings of equivalent height or higher and can be of multiple stories.
. Peñormance
Properly retrofitted, the CASO station would peñorm in a manner similar to a new
structure. This is proven at many sites including the 1850's school portion which
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Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report 75
forms approximately 1/3 of the Huron County Museum. Indeed, the massive walls of
the station may provide longer term viability with lower maintenance than lightweight
walls typical of modern construction.
5.3.10 Mary Clutterbuck - on behalf of Elgin County Pioneer Museum
SvnoDsis
This letter is from the Chair of the Elgin County Pioneer Museum. The letter begins by
expressing the opinion that the Collection is the Museum rather than the building and that
appropriate facilities for curation of the :collectionis in thebest:interest of the collection.
The letter also states that the lODE and Women's Institutes are adamant that Duncombe
house is not suitable for a museum buUsin agreement with the Discussion Paper that
the house be presented as a heritage house museum as a part of the main museum.
Issues.ofdetail, including'management and continued separation of the entrance to
Duncombe House from the Military Museum are also discussed.
The option for relocation to the CASO station is mentioned as being supported only if
several "hurdles" were overcome. The potential problems are well considered and must
be dealt with if the CASO option is to succeed. We have incorporated the issues raised
within the main body of the report.
A preferred option would be the establishment of a new purpose built facility next to the
County BUilding and conjoined with the Elgin County Archives. It is suggested that the
site be designed with expansion in mind and built within a Teasonablebudget. A variety of
exhibit themes are proposed.
The letter favours remaining at 449 Talbot street until new facilities are developed with
concurrent efforts to turn Duncombe House into a period house museum. However, 449
Talbot lacks appropriate display areas despite being of sufficient size to [currently]
contain artifacts that cannot be stored at Duncombe house.
ResDonse to Ouestions Raised bv the Submission
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Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report 76
77
. Issues raised in this submission have been incorporated into the main body of the
Report.
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Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report
6. Recommendations
-
6.1 Duncombe House
, It is recommended that the County consider relocation of the Elgin County Pioneer
Museumto anew site and that Duncombe House not continue in use as the County
Museum. However, it is also recommended that the current Duncombe house be taken
over by a separate board with a view that it beTestored and operated as an historic
house museum. Such a museum could be considered a branch or associated museum
of the County Museum.
Given the time frame required for negotiation of a new site for the Museum, and the risks
of leaving Duncombe House empty, it is recommended that a master plan be developed
for Duncombe House and that steps to reconfigure its operation commence immediately.
6.2 CASO Railway Station
The opportunities and benefits intrinsic to the development of the CASO station and the
possibility of the Museum's location there are so profound and of such potential for the
County and St. Thomas that this site is recommended as the option which should be
pursued forrelocations of the Museum in the first instance. Properly developed and
promoted, an attraction of the potential offered by this site should see annual visitation in
the 100,000 range. This could be a true economiC'stimulus for the County and the City
and put Elgin County on the map in terms of tourism from larger and more distant
centres. Negotiations between all of the parties related to this potential site should begin
as soon as may be practical. As identified in the report, several issue must be overcome
to make this proposal workable, notably ownership, re-development of the park between
the Station and Talbot Street, commitment to provision of appropriate amounts of space
for the Museum, and provision for future expansion.
Because of its regional and national stature, this development may be capable of
attracting more partners including Federal and Provincial funding as well as the City of St.
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Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report 78
Thomas. This may reduce the portion of costs which would otherwise be borne by the
County for development of the Museum.
Key to the successful development of this site would be the political will and co-operation
of the County and the City and with those currently involved with the development of the
site. Without such co'operation, this option would fail.
6.3 Other Options
Only one other options presents itself based on the, current study. This is a new museum
located adjacent to the Elgin County Administrative Building. There are some advantages
to this option over the CASO option and these include the issue of site ownership. It
must be noted, however, thatsuch a museum would have local and County appeal but
would offer less of an opportunity as a regional attraction. Typical attendance levels of
properly programmed county museums is in the 20,000 to 30,000 range per year. While
. this is certainly a large increase over current attendance levels, it would not match the
potential of the CASO site. In addition, there would be less likelihood of shared support
from the City or other agencies such as the Federal Government with the result that
development costs would be significantly higher for the County.
Therefore, the higher costs and the lower "return on investment" suggest that the CASO
option be pursued first by the County with this option as an alternative.
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Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report 79
7. CLOSURE
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Goldsmith Borgal & Company Ltd., Architects and Canadian Cultural Resource
Consultants Inc. have prepared this Report in accordance with the requirements and to the
benefit of the Client to whom it is addressed. The information and data contained herein
represent our best judgement in light of the knowledge and information available at the time of the
Report's preparation. Except as required by law, this Report and information contained herein
are to be used and relied upon only by the client. Goldsmith Borgal& Company Ltd., Architects
and Canadian Cultural Resource Consultants Inc. deny·any liability;whatsoever to other parties
who may obtain access to this report for any injury,lossordamage suffered by such parties
arising from this use of, or reliance upon this report or any of its contents withoutthe express
written consent of Goldsmith Borgal&Company Ltd., Architects and Canadian Cultural Resource
Consultants Inc. and the Client.
Goldsmith Borgal & Company Ltd., Architects
and
Canadian Cultural Resource Consultants Inc.
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Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report 80
Appendix 1 - List of Those Interviewed
I
the Consulting team with representatives of various museum stake
holder groups and individuals identified by the staff of the Museum.
Interviews were conducted by
The consultants meet with ·the : full· board Elgin County Pioneer Museum on several
occasions during the information gathering process. These meetings not only covered issues
pertaining to the overall study methodology but also were ,designed to obtain the views of the
individual members of the board and the views of the organizations represented around that
table
the
of
In addition,the consultants were invited to and attended a special meeting of the Elgin Military
Museum Board where the vide ranging issues·ofthe futureofthetwo museums were discussed.
The ConsUlting team have also reviewed lengthy correspondence between the Elgin County
Pioneer Museum,
the County of Elgin and the staff and members of the Elgin Military Museum
community organizations and
representing a large number of
list represents some ofthese.
We have also meet with individuals
interest groups. The following
Staff of the Elgin County Pioneer Museum
Staff of the Elgin County Archives
Edison Museum of Vienna
Aylmer and District Museum
The Dairy and Heritage Museum
SI. T~omas Elgin Public Art Centre
Elgin County Railway Museum
Elgin Historical Society
Elgin St. Thomas Archives Association
Alma College International Alumnae Association
St. Thomas Economic Development Corporation
Mr. Glen White, Steelway Building Systems Inc.
Women's Institute
St. Thomas-Elgin Tourist Association
Gillian Martin of Ansell's Awards & Speciatties.
Ed J. Vandermaarel, SJMA On Site Group Inc.
special
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
taken place with a
n addition to these groups and individuals, many informal discussions have
wide range of interested members ofthe community.
A number of written submissions have been received during the process and all of these have
been reviewed and considered. A number of the formal responses to the preliminary draft of this
study have been to in this report.
responded
1
A1
Report
Museum
Elgin County Pioneer
1
A2
Appendix 2 - Copy of Questionnaire
A copy of the questionnaire is presented on the following pages.
Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report
the
forward
When you are done,
liS.
to
important
nput is
Your
ß
Elgin County Pioneer
Planning Study Questionnaire
Please take a few moments and complete this questionnaire,
completed form to the Elgin County Pioneer Museum.
Museum
...
us a bit about your self.
Please tell
A
Part
too.
O.K.
us, that's
What is yoúr Name? If you prefer not to tel
1
2
3
000
Code,
Please give us the first three characters of your Posta
2
Museum?
County Pioneer
What is your connection with the Elgin
3
4
Museum?
have you been associated with the
How long
4
~Ej~~
No 0 Yes 0
Is)
(M=Mont
the last?
Museum i
the
How many times have you visited
5
5
6
7
8
Me you a Museum Member?
6
I I
average year?
to?
Cultural organizations do you belong
the Theatre or Concerts
to
What other
How often do you go
7
8
1aI
us about the present situation
Tell
B
Part
9
its collection?
and
Museum
County Pioneer
think the
the Elgin
Who owns
9
10
annually?
doni
attracts
Musel
How many visitors do YOlI
Museum
10
11
2,
2b
12(:
2d
2,
12f
13
14
15
16
how much?
it is up to you.
] I %1
] I %1
] I %1
] I %1
] I %1
] I %1
o Yes 0
o Yes 0
I 1
I 1
think it is?
it comes from and
Choose $ or %
,,,hat do YOt
Where do you think
know.
operating revenue.
is fine.
spends annually? If YOl
have several major sources of aIUlUa
sure, take a
the
think
Museums
If you are not
What do you
11
12
guess and a % figure
annual
$
ete,
programs,
operating grant
Admissions,
revenue
Self-generated
12.
$
From the Province of Ontario as an annual
2b
$
operating gr
alll1Ua
Government of Canada as HI
From the
12c
$
operating gn
anllual
HI
as aI
the County of Elgi
Thomas
From
12d
$
operating gra
Sat
the City of St.
From foundations and
From
12c
$
operating grant.
annua
,
as
industry
Izr
No
the region?
in
major cultural player
,
as
Museum
County Pioneer
the Elgin
Do you see
t
No
major economic player?
a
Museum as
the
you see
presently performmg, do
is
As
Museum?
nk work at the
many paid, full-time staff do YOl
How
13
14
15
16
Museum?
Never II( . Always The next few questions are asking you to rank a series of statements, on a
IT] [J]JTIE[8 seale of 1-5 (absolutely awf11l or never to outstanding or always) If yon do
LAwful .. . Fantastic not feel you can react to some of the statements, please indicate
Don't know / Can't answer. III donlt know" or "I have never experienced this" by placing a 110" in the box.
he
a
nk work
staff do YOl
How many paid, part-time/seasol
17
18
19
20
2
o
o
o
D
o
to 5
to 5
to 5
10 5
to 5
17 The Museum is a major plnyer on the regional cultural scene
18 The Museum is a major tourist attraction for onr County
19 The Museum is easy to find (in its present location)
20 The heritage building that was the Museumls former location. was easy to find.
21 The facilities in the origi muser building was adequate
I
_J
,
Elgin County Pioneer Museum
Planning Study Questionnaire Page 2
22 Without the herit<1ge building the Museum will not prosper 1 to 5 022
23 The Museum offers great programs for children 1 to 5 023
24 The m<1in st~eet location of the Museum is <1 benefit to the community 1 to 5 024
25 We need <1 new purpose built museum 1 to 5 025
26 If <1 new Museum is built, it should be 10c<1ted next to Elgin County Administrative Building 1 to 5 026
27 Elgin County Council is very concerned <1bout the preservation of our local heritage 1 to 5 027
28 It is important to be that our local history is preserved 1 to 5 028
Part C - Where do you think the Museum should be heading?
The original Museum building has experienced structural problems, access problems and a fire. As a result, a temporary
location was est<1blished in downtown SI. Thomas. This downtown locatiou has been the home to the museum for the past
14 months. It Ims already been detennined that the original museum building will need a minimum of $800,000 to meet modern
museum standards. If other locations are selected for museum development similar costs can be expected.
The next few questions are asking for your input regardiug the future direction that the Museum might take.
29 Should the County of Elgin spend upwards to $800,000 to restore the original museum site keeping in mind that such an
expenditure would provide the museum with the same level of facilities I service
that existed prior to the move? No D Yes 029
30 Is there an operational advantage for the Museum to be in its original location? No D Yes 030
31 If the Museum was to re-Iocate, should it be to a downtown (St. Thomas) location? No D Yes 031
32 If the Museum was to re-build, should it be located in a new building constructed next
to the County Administration Building on property owned by the County? No D Yes D 32
33 The Elgin County archives will also require additional storage space in the near future
Would you support housing both the museum and the archives in one new facility D 033
as part of a "cultural center" in a building beside the County administration Building? No Yes
Part D - Anything else you want to tell us?
If you have any comments to make about the past, present or future of the Elgin Couuty Pioueer Museu please make
them here. If you do uot have enough room, please feel free to use the back of this fan
CCRC·290CTl03 ELG
Appendix 3 - Written Submissions
Copies of the written submissions received subsequent to the Discussion Paper are reprinted on
the following pages.
Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report A3-1
J
Appendix 4 - Article on Four Community Museums in Ontario
The following article by Mr. Claus Breede documents the evolution of several small museums and
describes the development of each from crisis to crisis. The similarities between the evolution of
these other sites and the Elgin County Museum should be obvious. The paper is presented here
to show that the current situation of the Elgin County Museum, although unique in some aspects,
is not unusual in the general context of Museum development.
Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report A4-1
Four Communit Museums in Ontario
by
Claus Breede
Introduction
Many of Ontario's community museums share the'same beginnings. Frequeutly the pattern is the same aud
the growth rate close to the same. Mostmuseums are characterized by a slow rate of growth uot unlike
mauy smaller municipal organizations. In some cases, oue might even argue that community museums in
tlùs province are undergoing a period of "de-evolution" 'as resources continue to shrink aud financial
growth is outstripped by the rising costs of almost everything-rauging from staff costs to energy costs.
As the County of Elgin contemplates the ueed for a new museum site, several optious have been identified.
Some members of the community have expressed the view that the County should simply "bite the bullet"
aud enter into a major capital project aud build a new signature building that will act as a fulcrum for future
cultural aud economic growth in the city core. Although tlùs view has merit, it is the one that will cost the
most. The Consultants have been assured by several individuals that collections of Elgin County related
artifacts are "out there" in private hands. The view has been expressed by a number of individuals
interviewed that if the County "builds it, they will come". It is difficult, at tlùs time to fully embrace tlùs
view aud to make a recommendatiou.
We have included, in tlùs section, the history of four community museums in order to illustrate that what is
being proposed for the County of Elgin is in factconsisteut with the .development of many of the current
museum "leaders" in Ontario. The common denominator in the development of these museums cau be
divided into a number of phases that spau several decades:
Creatiye Stage of Development
Phase I A single person or persons will have established a sizeable private collection which may include
au historic building.
Phase II The collector(s) will offer the collection to the municipality
Phase III The municipality or county accepts the collection and establishes a public museum
Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report A4-2
may stay on either as staff members or as an advisory
Phase IV The original collector or initiating group
member of the committee or board.
Crisis of Leadership Stage
The museum will move towards "professionalisation" in both collections mandate and
programming
Phase V
Growth Stage
Directional
well
The museum outgrows its facility and begins expansion
The museum matures over time and becomes a heritage leader in the community as
as a majorculturaiand heritage facility.
Phase VI
VII
Phase
The move from one phase to the next may be done smoothly or in' some cases with major disruption in the
overall goals and objectives of the organization. For some museums, these transitional changes were
accomplished with great pain and discontent fought in the public press.
Information regarding the cited museums comes from several sources. The principal data comes from
planning and feasibility studies conducted at these sites over the past fifteen years by a variety of consulting
teams: All four'COmmunity" museums are clients of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Recreation and as
such, file amtnal reports for a statutory grant known as the Community Museum Operating Grant (CMOG)
administered by that Ministry.
The CMOG grant requests information on amtnal income and expenditures broken down into a series of
primary expense categories. Other information requested pertain to the museum's operations such as total
attendance
by the month, hours open to the public by the month and days open to the public by the month.
In addition information such as,programming initiatives, conservation.activities, collections acqnisition and
other museological data are collected. These grant applications were freely shared by the museums muter
study here and proved to be a very valuable source of information. The Ministry itself publishes, from time
to time, the overall statistical results of these amtnal surveys.
A4-3
Report
Museum
Elgin County Pioneer
has an impact on the
it
the four peak summer months. As this profile "flattens" during the growth phase,
maturity of the organization.
than 80% of the annual attendance in the four
.ligher level of maturity was assigned as the
this same four month period but still
Low maturity was also rated as an organization that has more
months (May to August). A gmdual growth to a .
moved from through to 5( Yo for
summer
annual attendance figures 80%
maintained a growth in total annual attendance.
This was
collections
Operatioual budgets were also used to place a check on the institutioual history growth curve.
done using a cost per visitor figure that corresponds to museums with known quality
and professioual staff (at the community museum level).
programs,
Using data obtained from the annual survey conducted by the Council for Business and the Arts in Canada
(CBAC)2, an average was established thatwouId place $15,00 to $18.00 per visitor as a mature community
museum. A figure ofless than $10.00 per visitorrepresents a young, less mature (or smaller) musemn.
Three of the four community museum cases presented here
early part of the Creative Stage of their development. This was
operation. For the first fifteen years of its development, the Muskoka Lakes Musemn remained betow
period of time. These
reflect the non-revenue
Such activities include
addition the
a modem
moved through the $10.00 benchmark in the
done within the first ten to twelve years of
program development, etc. In
sophisticated ,physical plant that
$5.00 per visitor which is reflected in its stationary development for that same
figures also indicate the complexity of the infiastmcture of the museum and
producing activities that a growingmusemn is involved with as it matures.
research, cataloguing of'collections, conservation of,artifacts,
higher costs per visitor also includes costs of operating. a
musemn requires. These costs relate to such items as operating the enviromnental control systems of the
musemn, monitoring security systems and maintaining an artifact conservation facility. In the case of the
Huron County Musemn, costs associated with enviromnental controls (natural gas, electricity and water)
amount to just over $55,000 per year and when compared with the seasonal operation of the Muskoka
Lakes Musemnatjust over $2,000 per year, ' points to the variation in "museological maturity
Museums and Art
The Council for Business and the Arts in Canada, Annual CBAC Survey of Public
Galleries (1994), Toronto, Out.
A4-5
Report
Museum
Elgin County Pioneer
Fig.
Attendance.
Low and High Maturity Based on Seasonal
D
50%
Attendance
in May to Aug
lllGH MATURITY
J
D
80%
Attendance
in May to Aug
LOW MATURITY
J
Collections Growth and Quality
As 'part of the measure, a cursory review was made of the collections' growth of each institution and
discussions with the current director on issues pertaining to the quality of the collection were undertaken.
These discussions included issnes pertaining to the collections policy of the museum and how it was
interpreted. It is interesting to uote that virtually hO communitymnseum in Ontario had any form of policy,
mission statement or generally stated goals and objectives prior to 1981. At that time the Ministry of
Culture and Recreation' initiated a program whereby, if the mnseums wanted to continue as a client of the
Community Museums Operating Grants program, policies had to be pnt in place over a stJIged period of six
years. Shortly into this program, the Ministry lost the political will to enforce the cancellation of grants to
3 A ministry that has undergone many changes ín mandate and makeup over the past fifteen years -. Ministry
of Culture and Recreation; Ministry of Citizenship and Culture; Ministry of Culture, Citizenship and Tourism;
Ministry of Citizenship, Culture and Recreation; and Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Recreation; and
Ministry of Culture (the most recent). One must wonder if there are many more variations left that can be
created to group these ftrnctious.
A4-6
Report
Museum
Elgin County Pioneer
easier to simply send those museums a generic policy and reqnest
adon. the policy. Although it was not done quite that directly, the
1ft sample" was that, with very few exceptions, the policies of
many museums in the province read eX] Ie same way.
museums that did not comply. It was
that the Board simply pass a motion to, '"r'
net effect of sending all client museums a
The CMOG prognnu is now in a new phase of approvals. New standards have been developed and 200 I
was the first year in wmch the client museums of the Ministry were asked to reassess their original policies
of the early 1980's and submit updated infonnation in order to remain in the prognnu. These new
standards concentrated, in 2001, on the area of collections development management and exhibition
development.
The Huron County Museum
Case 1:
The Creatiye Stage of Development
The Huron County Museum is typical among some fifIy to sixty museums in Ontario'. They share the hard
work of a single founder who stay with a museum frequently for fifteen to twenty five years as its guiding
light. The founders were generally not associated with nmsemns prior to ms/her involvement with the
eståblislunent of the facility5 and attracted a core of well-meaning, hard-working volunteers around them.
The museum was founded on a "shoe string" budget and frequently in a condenmed school, wmch was
"ideal for such an enterprise"
the first
, for the
establislunent of the organization. During the nexFsixteen years .growth was, at. first, rapid theu slowed
down considerably, as resources became scarce. The facility was govemedprincipally by one] oan and
seen as
At the Huron County Museum, the Corporation of the County of Huron· appointed Herbert Neill as
curator of the Museum, in 1950, after he sold ms personal collection to the County as the "seed'
Ontario. The ROM is the second largest (annual budget
:-- is the largest ($62,000,000), and the Huron County
smaller by ( ,parison is considered to be one of the largest of the
4 There.are over600·museums·in.the·province of
$30,000,000), the Museum of Canadian Civilizauvu
Museum ($600,000), although much
"corrnnUIÙty museum" class.
_ a dentist; Lambton COlUlty
Huron County Museum - the founder was a handyman; Bruce County Museum
Musemn ~ a real-estate agent - just to name a few
A4-7
Report
Museum
Elgin County Pioneer
guided by his vision. Few records were maintúned and policies, budget controls and job descriptions were
non-existent. Attendance at the musemn continued to grow, but only in the area of tourism. Within the
first five years the figures were a very impréssivë average of 20,000 per year. Local pride was present but
not in tenus of regular visitation by the residents - rather primarily as a "show place" for visitors.
During this phase of growth the control of the Curator was total, nothing happened at the musemn without
his sanction and there are a number of cases where support for a particular project was not sanctioned by
the municipality. In such cases, the Curator simply went ahead anyway without consequence. One
'example was the desire to build a small addition to the frout of the Musemn at an estimated cost (in 1964)
of some $2,500. When the County turned Mr. Neill down for these funds, he simply used his own money
and went ahead and built it. This, incideutally, includeda'carvedstone monument dedicating the addition
to himself.
Crises of Leadership Stage
Mr. Neill retired from the position in 19666. Physical expansion had taken place during Mr. Neill's
guidance, but it was physical expansion only with no change in management style or mandate. His
replacements (two over the next 19 years), experienced an acute lack of resources and poor direction from
the Board (County Council) and entered into a "maintenance" period of existence where a general decline
,in programs, exhibit development and physical expansion, took place.
Attendance dropped from 20,000 visitors annually in 1962 to just over 11,000 in 1982, and in that year the
building began to show major structural flaws that resnlted in a partial collapse of two major roof trusses in
two different buildings.
A crisis, not of management; but of physical existence came to the attention of the Board. At this point
management decisions were taken over by the Board to solve the building problems. A series of studies
was commissioned and by 1984 a major study was adopted by the Corporation7 that called for new
management, a new mission statement and new policies, and once these were in place, a new building.
6 True to it's original promise, the County continued to provide for Neill, in that he was moved to the
COWlty'S home for seniors where he died three years later at the age of 83.
7 C. Borgal, Arch~ects and Canadian Cultural Resource Consultants, Huron County Museum
Planning Study, 1984
Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report A4-8
J
Directional Growth Stage
With the closing of the Creative Stage of development, the crises of leadership passed, and the mnsenm is
This growth was fajrly rapid for the first
stage of its development
" "~'II" -..," ^~~"'- to the facility. The bndget moved to just over
$400,000 and this was a reflection of 1 mgrams as well as the increased needs reqnired
II e 1990s progressed, however, there was a call
stage was slowed down considerably.
lices over that same time, the Mnsenm
now in the growth throngh direction
conple of years following the opening m u,~ .._.. _umuu..
to operate a sophisticated, modem mnsenm bnilding. As t ,
for 0% increases in operating expenses and the Directional Growth
With the increases in the general costs of vir1nally all
faced an overall negative growth.
Innovative new sonrces of revenne were fonad and the staff was able to diversify the services provided to
the Conaty. Directional Growth has been maintained as a resnIt of these new sonrces of funds. However,
the growth has been slowed considembly and at times the direction of the growth has been channeled away
from what some members of the community consider the primary mandate of the facility.'
Bruce County Museum and Archives
Case 2
Creative Stage ofDeyelopment
As the Hnron Conaty Mnsenm was being developed by Mr. Herbert Neill, in the town of Goderich, daring
the early 1950's, a nnmber ofindividnals pointed to the loss of some of the heritage objects of the Conaty
of Bruce to the facility recently established in Hnron Conaty. Discnssions were
initiated in 1954 by a
in Bruce took
the Conaty
The Huron COlUlty Museum now provides non-museum servIceS to the Corporation that center on building
maintenance and management for all of the County buildings. This service is provided by the «museum team" and is
billed back to the COWlty of Huron on an annual basís. The Musewn bills JÌom $60,000 to $75,000 annually to other
departments for these services,
nnmber of members of the Women's Institotes (WI) in the Conaty and soon a local resident
np the challenge of creating a conaty mnsenm. In that same year an ad hoc committee of
Conncil was established nader the chainnanship of the Reeve of Sonthampton, I.F. Morton.
A4-9
Report
Museum
Elgin County Pioneer
The Committee consisted of four members of council and three appointees from the Women's Institutes of
Bruce County. Armed with a capital grant of $4,000 and a guarantee of an annual grant for operating of
$1,200 fTOm the County and an additioual $1,000 per year from the Ontario Ministry of Travel and
Publicity, the committee set out to find a home for the new museum9.
Dr, J. F.Morton,a dentist in Southampton, in the County of Bruce became involved, through his wife, in
some of these very fonnative discussions and soon his drive and cOlmections to County Council took over.
Dr,'Mortonhad,atvarioustimesduring.his career,'been a member of the local town council and served a
time as Reeve of Southampton. He knew most of the members of the County Council at the time and was
asked by the WI to lead the museum development.
,The first issue to be deå!twith was the location of a bnilding to house the proposed museum. Anumber of
offers were made and buildings were inspected in Walkerton, Kincardine and Southampton. The
Southampton Public School was finally offered for the sum of one dollar with the condition that it must
remain in the hands of the County and it must be nsed as a museum. Ifeither one of these two conditions
would, sometime in the future, no longer hold, then the building and its lands would revert back to the
Board of EducationlO
With the capital development funds in place and with an assurance of an· operating budget, and uow with
the bnilding having been acquired, a hunt for objects was initiated in the early part of 1955. On July lOth of
thatyeai the museum opened its doors to the public for the first time. That summer the attendance almost
topped the 9;000 figure. It was with great pride that Dr. Morton was able to return $3,200 of the $4,000
capital budgetto the county, unspeut.
9 Musemn Committee, Bruce History,in Its 'Third Dimension ",Southampton, 1962.
10 At that time the Board was a 10ca1town board, but when the countywide school board was established
these conditions were transferred to the Bruce County Board of Education. It was not until 1993, when the
County wanted to do additional renovations to the property that they refused such work unless full and clear
ownership, with all restrictions on the property, were removed. The Board of Education agreed and the title
was cleared (almost 40 years later).
Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report A4 - 1 0
The Museum flourished under Dr. Morton's leadership and he soon bronght his wife on staff as well
Although viewed as volunteers, the Mortons soon received a small stipend for the work at the Museum.
Less than five years after the opening day, the collection had grown from 500 objects to over 14,400
including some rare paintings and drawings by the famous Canadian artist, David Milne.
One of Dr. Morton's strengths in the development of the Bruce County Museum, was his ability to network
in the very young and 'very small Ontario-wide museum commuuity.Hebecame head of the Ontario
'Historical Societies Museum Section, Founding member of the Bruce County Historical Society and one of
the early members of the Canadian Museum Association.
Dr. Morton retired in 1961 but remained active for the next four years in giving advice to his successors,
Mr: and Mrs. ·Gordon Hepburn. During the first six "years the museum grew very rapidly and came very
close to the ctises of leadership. However, the retirement of Dr. Morton caused a turndown in development
and growth of the Museum. ,A period of de-evolution emerged.
Crises of Leadership
'The Hepburns stayed with the Museum for the next 13 years. These were not very productive in tenus of
program buildingll. 'Both the Hepburns were retired and during the second'half of their tenure it was clear
that they were both exhausted. TItis lack of energy was reflected in declining attendance and also in a
reduction in the number of objects brought into the collection during their time as curators.
In 1967 the County .purchasedthe Continning School, ,adjacent to the Museum and the Museum expanded
into this additional structure. TItis purchase more than doubled the property· owned by the County for
museum purposes.
Following the retirement of the Hepburns, Mr. K.. Gore, a fonuer arena manager was hired and under his
direction and that of a large Toronto,architecturaltinn, Ctuff and Cluff, a major museum addition was
lIThe history of the Bruce County Museum ís well documented in a thesis by Jody Bell, written to meet the
requirements of a Masters in Public History, Uníversity of West em Ontario, London, Ont
Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report A4-11
constructed. This was one of the first Wintario Lottery funded projects for mnseum development and the
inexperience of the client team as well as that of the Ministry lead to what soon became known as one of
the poorest conceived and executed mnseum projects in the Province of Ontario. As a resnlt of poor
program planning and the total lack of promotion, attendance continued to decline and local interest was
allowed to drop. The Board realized that something had to be done and in March of 1978 the first full-time
professional museum director was hired.
Directional Growth Stage
The tirst order of business for the new Director was to improve the budget, then the building and tinally the
programming. The Board was in full support of all' of these effortso'Withinthe next three years a $500,000
capital project was approved, funded and executed, ,the cbudget went from $45,000 per year to $180,000,
and the staff went from one full time person to fourwith six part-timecseasonal staff. Galleries were rebuilt
and storage systems putin place.
The Crisis of Leadership had passed and a directed period of growth was initiated. The Director was with
the museum for seven years and was succeeded by an internal appointment whose principal mandate for the
tirst few years was the building of the community involvement in the museum A program of gallery
renovations was initiated to reflect the needs of the community and to update the exhibits that had been
installed ten years previously on,an extremely tight budget. Currently, the museum is under construction of
a $5,000,000 expansion of its facilities.
Case 3 - Peterborough Centennial Museum and Archives
The death of a museum.
AlthoughthePeterborough Centeunial Museum & Archives has:itsroots in the mid 19th C., for the
purposes of this report, the,foundationofthe Museum will be seen as 1967.
The origina1musemn,'however,was,established ,as a "library consisting of works on the arts and sciences
and general literature; a'museum ofnatura1 history, mineralogy, etc. etc.,,12 During the next fifty years a
12 Constitution of the first Mechanics llStitute in Peterborough, adopted in February, 1843.
Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report A4 - 12
great deal of debate over what to do with the collection and where to exhibit it, took place. The key movers
in these efforts to formalize the Mnsenm were spearheaded by the local historical society, specifically
under the direction of one man. It was not until 1897, under the leadership of Mr. Hall that the Town of
Peterborough finally agreed to support the creation of a pennanent home for the Musenm by donating
,
$200.00 to the establishment of such a home. The Victoria Musenm was established. As noted by the
director of the museum in 1994, "I can not help but wonder if they would have acquiesced then, if they'd
know they'd still be footing the bill 100 years later!,,13
The;museum had many ups and downs over the second fifty years and was'finally folded in under the
direction of the local Library Board who, at one of their meetings noted that:
"Articles pertaining to the Victoria Museum, stored with the Library, be transferred on
request to any suitable Peterborough organizationaf a permanent nature and a receipt
for such articles obligating the holders to return them to the Library or the original
owners or heirs if so requested 14"
This scattering of the objects contained in 36 exhibition cases, was basically the end of a community
musenm that no one was willing to fight for during its last thirty years of life.
Creatiye Stage of Development - The Rebirth of a Community Museum
It was not until the 1960's whenCanada1s centennial celebrntions loomed and many communities across
the country were looking for a suitable project that the issue of a musenm in Peterborough once again arose
as a possibility. It is this re-birth that we will"reviewhere for, the purposes of charting its institutional
,growth, which, like its predecessor, is not one without its own controversies.
13 K. Doherty, in a presentation to the Peterborongh Historical Society, Feb. 15,1994.
14 Minntes of the Pelerborongh Library Board, Sept. 2, 1948.
Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report A4 - 13
The new Mnseum Board was established in 1966 and consisted of five citizens and two etected members of
the City Conncil of Peterborongh15. This gronp appointed one of its own members as the first Curator,
Miss Anne Heideman, who then promptly resigned from the board to take this $8,400.00 per year
appointment. The bnilding comnùttee swung into action and began to look for a site, an architect and the
money to engage a genernl contractor. At the end of October 1967, the Museum had its official opening as
part of the City's Centennial celebrations.
Immediately complaints arose of too little money to do the work. A hnnt for financial support was lannched
,to assist with the establishment of exhibitsl6.The commnnity,and,the mnnicipality combined with an
inventive and frugal staff managed to get the exhibits installed and over the next few years' work continued
on the strengthening of the exhibition and educational progrannning.ofthe,museum.
In 1972"the archives function was fonnally,added to the responsibilities of the museum and a fonnal name
change to reflect that took place.
The fonnding director retired in 1974 and an interim director was appointed who held the position for just
over a year. In 1975 the City re-consti1uted the board and appointed a new Director, Mr. Donald Smithies
who was to steer the museum through a relatively steady growth period where the emphasis was on the
organizational structure, collections management and improving the public support of the museum. During
this period the collection continued to'growandsoon.storage became a major issue and discussions started
regarding the discarding of objects considered being largely irrelevant to the area. No substantive action,
however, was taken, either by staff or board members to rectify this problem.
Crisis of Leadership
A new director.was appointedcin' 1985 following the resignation of Mr., Smithies who was appointed as the
Assistant Director, Œxhibitions at the Provincial Museum of Alberta. . It ¡shere where the Crisis of
15Willcox,lIe1en R;·Peterborough'CentennialMuseum' and Archives: ' The First-Twenty Years. Board of
Museum Management, Peterborough Centennial Museum and Archives, Peterborough, 1987, p. 6
16 Ibid p. P.8
Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report A4-14
Leadership erupts. There had been a general approval of the slow methodical growth established by Mr.
Smithies and the new director identified as one of his key problems the need for the removal of segments of
the collection. This he proceeded to do with an ill infonned board, and nsing techniques that were
genernlly ftowned upon, not only by the museum community at large but also by the citizens of
Peterborough.
When the fact that museum objects were being offered for sale by a number of local antique dealers
(objects that still bore the museum's catalogue numbers) the press had a field day. Not only did the
Director come under a vicious attack that lasted for several months, the Board was not spared either. By
1987 the situation was so untenable that the Director of the Museum resigued and the board was re-
reconstituted by the City. A new Director was hired with a much stronger requirement for reporting to City
officials.
Directional Growth Stage
Emerging ftom this, Crisis, the new direction was established that would build on new models of
conununity support and involvement. Emphasis was placed on education, not only in the area of local
histol}', but more importantly, on what a community museum is and what it stands for in the City of
Peterborough.
The stJúf began to concentrate on planning for the next phase of growth, which was in part the result of the
changes in seuior government rules and regulations. Issues such as pay equity, freedom of infonnation,
French language demands, collective agreements, etc. began to necessitate the realignment of resources.
These issues and others are still vel}' much'part of the museum enviromnent and have, to some degree,
arrested the speed with which the musemn is experiencing growth through the current phase of
development.
Case 4 - Muskoka Lakes Museum
Creatiye Stage of Deyelopment
The Muskoka Lakes Museum (MLM) is the only museum representing the histol}' of the development of
the Muskoka Lakes area and is located in Port Carling. The Museum was originally conceived by the
Historical Society of the area and was founded in 1961 under the direction of Mrs. Caito. By July 1963 the
Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report A4-15
Society's museum opeued, in space rented from the Algonquin Hotel and financed by private donations and
fund-raising events.. The president of the Society, following the opeuing of the Museum was Mrs. L.
Amey who also assumed the responsibility of the caretaker curator during the summer months.
The museum property is leased by the Towns1úp of Muskoka Lakes, from the Ministry of Government
Services thorough the Ministry of Natural Resources for $1.00 per year. The village of Port Carling is
regarded as the "hub" of the Muskoka Lakes and is also the administrative center for the Towns1úp. The
Township is, generally, recognized as one of the most prestigious cottage and tourist areas in the Province
of Ontario with a total population of 26,000, this being divided between 5,000 permanent and 21,000
seasonal residents.
In 1964 the society was incorporated. as the Port Carling Pioneer-Museum, a nonprofit corporation without
share capital.
In the spring of 1967 the artifacts were moved from the Algonquin Hotel to the new museum buitt on
Island Park as part of the Port Carling official Centennial project. It was soon found that one exhibit area
was not adeqnate to house the collection. A new wing was added in 1972. The next addition was
coustructed in 1976, to house an ever-expanding collection, featuring artifacts from the local boat building
industry. In June of 1977 a work room/office and washroom fucility were added. The most recent
addition, in 1984, was the reconstruction of a pioneer square timber home on the museum site with a
counecûng haIHo'themuseumproper:This building is usedprimarilY'forspecial'events and as a teaching
space.
In the mid 1980's a proposal was made to construct a display bam on the site. A great dea10f effort in
developing the needed support and drafting agreements, citing ,locations, and other feasibility issues was
expended. However, in 1988 the Board dropped the proposal. This decision caused a reduction in
programming and the staff saw this as a severe blow to the development of the museum.
The Crisis of Leadership
Following on the heels of the abandouing of the display bam proposal came a period of frustration
experienced by the seasonal curator who fett that the Board was interfering in the day-to-day operations of
the museum. Finally, in a response to this frustration, the Curator resigned ouly to be hired back a few
months later in a full time position under the direction of a newly coustituted board. This new board saw
Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report A4-16
its principal mandate as the development of policies rather than directing all levels and activities of
permanent and seasonal staff. The Crisis of Leaderslùp was thns over and the Museum proceeded to grow
with the exciting promise of a master plan to be developed by a professional consulting finn.
Directional Growth Stage
In 1991 the Museum Board received, funding from the Township as well as from the two semor levels of
govemmentI7 to conduct the master planning study 'for the future development of the Museum. It was
generally recog1Ùze(Hhat growth had reached its limit in the existing building. In. order to satisfy the
expanded museum mandate to include a more comprehensive exhibition program devoted to the famed
Muskoka Boat, more space was needed. Anumber of members of the ,Museum Board were convinced that
the story of the Muskoka Boat was vitale to the Museum's future. They pointed to the authors Duke and
Gray who stated that it
" .:.' is a, genre unto itself, and none here will 'dispute the claim that the
standards of artistry, woodworking and finishing were unsurpassed
elsewhere."I8
The fact that the proposed construction of the exhibition bam put forth in the 1980s had not taken place,
still loomed strongly in the minds of many members of the Board and other museum supporters, as a major
obstacle to any new project of that scale. There was a strong seuse of appreheusiou during the study
process to undertake any major capital development,eveu the conducting of a study that might suggest
such a developmeutwas viewed with suspicion. For the consultants, this doubt was difficult to over come,
but gradually, wlùle the study was underway, some confidence began to emerge among various members of
the board that capital projects that caused a.major change in museologicaldirection and the commitment of
substantial resources, might be possible.
17 Musewn Assistance Program, Department of Commmrication, Ottawa, and the Cultural Facilities
Improvement Program, Minístry of Culture and Commmrications, Toronto. The : study was undertaken by
Canadian Cultural Resource Consultants Inc. Goderich, Ont.
18 Duke, AR. & Grny, W.M., The Boatbuilders ofMuskoko, W.M.Grny & Company, Toronto, 1990, p.l.
Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report A4-17
With the presentation of the Master Plan in 1992, the Board and the commnnity began to embrace the
notion of a major museum development and that it looked like it might materialize. The momentum
created by the planning process had lead to growth in the collection as well as the identification of some
eight or ten Muskoka Boats that would be made available to the Museum should they follow the
recommendations. This required the Mnseum Board to change the emphasis from one of the "pioneer
lùstory" of the area to one focusing strongly on the development of the Muskoka Boat.
Development of the Museum had been largely due to the initiatives of one or two of the lùstorical society
members in the early stages. 'Leaderslùp was supplied from these individuals but by 1988 a full time
Director/Curator was hired. Although each successful season was, followed by several months of closure,
the museum director remained on staff. Winter:officeswereestablished off site and the business of rumúng
a museum was maintained even though the,'ga1leries were closed.during the three or four months per year.
The downturn of the economy in the mid 1990 ,and the lack oftotal commitment to the new mandate placed
all, consideration of a major capital project on hold. The abandoument of the much hoped for change of
exhibition and programming direction caused a back slide in the growth of the Museum.
In a recent conversation with the Director of the Museum it would now appear as if the plans for the new
museum would be "dusted off' and acted upon. The potential for the facility to experience rapid directional
growth, given the market that is available and the private resource assistance that may be offered to the
museum, will· cause substantial conflict with the' remailling members of the "old guard" and some of the
5,000 of the full time residents who would see the move to the "Muskoka Boat" museum as an
abandonment of the true heritage of the region.
Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report A4-18
Bibliography
ERGOTS, Carol, BURR, Catherine, SOBEREST, Felici1y, Employment Equity: Cooperative Strategies
for Organizational Change, Prentice Hall,Canada, 1992.
BLAKE, R:R; MOUTON, J.S;, BARNES, L.B., and GREINER, L.E., "Breakthrongh in organization
development", Harvard Business Review, November-December, 1964
BRIDGES, William, Managing Transitions. Addison-Wesley Publishing Co., Inc., 1991.
BRUCE COUNTY MUSEUM
-- Bruce History in Its "Third Dimension"
--.Commnni1y Museum Operating Grant application, 1982-1994
-- Annual Reports, 1980 to 1994
--"Policies and Procedures Manual
CANADIAN CULTURAL RESOURCE CONSULTANTS Inc"
-- Muslwka Pioneer Village: Master Planning Stúdy, Goderich, Ont. 1989
-- Muskoka Lakes Museum: A Master Plan, Goderich, Ont. 1992
COUNCIL FOR BUSINESS AND mE ARTS IN CANADA, The, Annual CBAC Survey of Public
Museums and Art Galleries (1994), Toronto, Ont.
CUMMINGS, L.L. and STA W, B.M. (Eds), Research in Organizational Behavior, Vol 7, Greenwich
CT: JAI Press (1985)
E1gin County Pioneer Museum Report A4-19
DOHERTY, Ken, A Tradition of Preservation: A Tangled Web., Presentation to the Peterborough
Historical Society, Feb. 15, 1994. Uupublished.
-- Victoria Museum Chronology, Feb. 1994, Unpublished.
DUKE, A.H. and GRAY, W.M., The Boatbuilders ofMuskoka, W.M. Gray & Company, Toronto, 1985
GERSICK, ColUÚe J. G., "Revolntionary Change Theories: A Multilevel Exploration of the Punctuated
Equilibrium Paradigm", Academy of Management Review, Vol. 16, No.1, 1991.
GREINER, Larry E., "Patterns of Organization Change",Harvard Business Review, May-June, 1967.
-- "Evolution and revolution as organizations grow", Harvard Business Review, Jnly-August,
1972.
HAYWARD, Ann, "Notes for Museum Management: The Transition to Teams", Review, Alberta
Museums Association, Edmonton, 1993.
HEFFRON, Florence, Organization Theory & Public Organizations, Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs,
New Jersey, 1989.
HURON COUNTY MUSEUM
_" Community Museums Operating Grants Program applications :,19804994
-- Policies and Procedures Manual, 1993
-- Committee minutes, 1950-1994
--Attendance Statistics, to 1994
MUSEUM PROGRAMMES COLLABORATIVE
__ Report Feasibility Study for Huron County Pioneer Museum, Toronto, 1985
Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report A4-20
MUSKOKA LAKES MUSEUM
__ Community Museum Operating Granis applications for 1982-1994
-- Museum policies and procedures, 1990
--Attendance Statistics, to 1993
PETERBOROUGH MUSEUM,
"-Community Museum Operating Grant application, 1977 to 1994.
--Museum Policies and Procedures.
-- Attendance Statistics, . to 1994
WILLCOX, Helen R., PeterboroughCentennial Museum and Archives: The Firsi Twenty Years.
Peterborough Centennial Museum and ArcJúves, Peterborough, Ont. 1987.
Elgin County Pioneer Museum Report A4-21
"IN THE COUNTY"
A Commentary on the
Issue of a Museum
;.;..,;-- he County of Elgin
..
";--:..,....,,
Submitted by
Frank and Nancy Prothero
III
)
,
Location Study- Elgin County Pioneer Museum
Commentaries Received by Elgin County Counci
Received by Apri/Sth, 2004
1. Frank and Nancy Prothero, Port Stanley
2. Bertha Vickerman - on behalf of lODE, Elgin County/St. Thomas
3. Barb McCallum - on behalf of Alma College International Alumnae
Association
4. Marion Facey, St. Thomas
5. Mary Lou Stanley, Central Elgin
6. Mary aide, R.R. #2 St. Thomas
7. Joanne Erickson - on behalf of Yarmouth Glen Women's Institute
8. Farhi Holdings Corporation, London
9. Perry Clutterbuck, Southwold
10. Mary Clutterbuck - on behalf of Elgin County Pioneer Museum
Page One
"IN THE COUNTY"
8,2004
1
March
To the members of Elgin County Council:
As residents of Elgin County with an enduring love for the history of our
community we have compiled the following commentary on the issue of a
county museum in the belief that citizens should speak out on proposals
placed before the public. We are also hopeful that any discussion generated
by our remarks will ultimately assist in the difficult decision-making process
that lies ahead.
Respectfully yours
Frank and Nancy Prothero,
Port Stanley, Onto
Page Two
PROCEDURE
1 . Defining 'museum It should be noted that a museum can mean different
things to different people and before much more effort has been expended
on this issue it might be wise to determine what is envisioned for the future.
Is it safe to presume that there is basic agreement that we are talking about
a facility for the preservation of material items from our past rather than a
museum for art (a gallery) or objects of nature (natural history)?
If so we have arrived at one function.
A. Preservation of material artifacts in a proper environment would seem to
be a primary function but it is certainly not enough as that aim could be
accomplished by a warehouse and a museum needs to be much more than
that.
B. Display of artifacts. This has been the main function of museums for
many decades but as a primary function it is increasingly questionable.
Static displays of rooms full of furniture roped off for viewing only,
complete with 'Do Not Touch' signs may be somewhat interesting to adult
visitors but they fall short of the potential of a museum to transmit
heritage in a meaningful way.
C. Transmitting heritage. If the purpose of the museum is to provide a
nostalgic flashback for adults, perhaps the simple display of artifacts is
adequate. If the function of the museum is to transmit a heritage to a
younger generation a much different approach is needed. Increasingly,
museums are turning to interactive experiences in order to interpret the
past and make it meaningful. More and more, display cases filled with
artifacts are becoming a backdrop for activities that involve the patron in an
historical experience. It is this approach that is most likely to make the
museum an effective teaching tool and a place of true recreation that the
visitor will return to again and again as new 'experiences' are presented. This
function can also involve many people in the community as we shall see.
Examples of Interactive experiences
Commercial Fishing. We ask you to envisage a space inside a museum where a
man is working at what is known as a 'stretch'- basically two ropes
stretched out side by side for a length of forty feet. Some of you may know
John 'Scoop' Warren of Port Burwell, a retired commercial fisherman. Thirty
years ago he won the trophy for the fastest net 'simming' on the Great
Lakes. Mr. Warren could still demonstrate tremendous dexterity and skill in
building new nets. Best of all, he could lower the stretch to allow a child to
try his or her hand at threading a needle through the twine.
Page Three
Next we have a replica of a fish tug, complete with rocking deck and aboard
this 'vessel' the visitor can help set nets at the stern, observe how fish are
removed from a net, watch nets come aboard through the puller and steer
the boat from the wheelhouse while feeling the vibration of the engine.
On the dock is a net reel for drying nets. Children will always delight in
turning that reel.
On a screen we have moving pictures of ice being harvested from the
harbour in the winter of 1936 as it was for decades and beside the screen
we have the tools used in that annual ritual.
Wherever possible, the visitor is encouraged to actively participate.
Ploughing and Planting. Most of the history of Elgin County has been
agricultural. Ample space outdoors with some good old Elgin clay to work on
would be an ideal setting for several gardens which could be set aside.
Visitors could watch a horse being harnessed and perhaps older children
could walk behind an early type of plough. Certainly they could broadcast the
seed after the land was tilled in the fashion of early settlers. Several plots
of land could be planted in this way for different classes over the course of
a few days. In the fall, students could return to harvest the crop by hand,
winnow it, grind it and take home the flour they produced.
Tobacco. How many kilns of the original type are sti left in our countryside?
How many tying tables, slats, tobacco boats? As unpopular as tobacco has
become, it would be historically instructive to plant a few rows of tobacco,
harvest them by hand, hang the leaves by hand and flue cure them. Tobacco
was very much a part of the culture of this county for the better part of a
century. It should be relived.
Others: Imagine an old printing press of the platen type being donated to the
museum. Put it to work. Let people set some type under the direction of a
skilled master. Allow the visitor to turn the lever to print a page and let him
take the paper home as a souvenir. An old schoolroom? Make the students
bring in firewood for a pot bellied stove, fetch drinking water from a pump,
use the Ontario speller. Medicine and dentistry- the possibilities are endless
The results of this approach are spectacular.
None of these displays should be permanent.
To present interactive historical experiences requires that a good deal of
Page Four
flexible, open space be dedicated to the subject in focus. That means less
room for the static displays that were common in the past
Our first procedural step is to decide how we wish to balance the possible
functions of our 'museum'.
2. Whose heritage? We have a very nice piece of sCrimshaw carved by a
sailor on a whaling expedition in the southern Atlantic. Does the museum
want it? How big is the warehouse? What areas of interest are appropriate
to a county museum? Probably you don't want the scrimshaw. But is I tell
you the scrimshaw was brought back to Port Stanley by Captain May who
sailed the seven seas from this port, perhaps that sheds a different light on
the question. It would seem correct to identify agriculture, commerce, small
industry and maritime activity as the chief economic activities of Elgin
County. If these endeavours alone were to be the focal point of the museum,
it is obvious that fairly large accommodations would be required although the
outdoors could be used effectively if the surroundings were appropriate.
Some limits need to be set to give the museum a manageable focus
3. For whom? Ideally, a museum would appeal to everyone and a high traffic
is desirable. It seems fair, however, that the first audience and the primary
participants should be residents of Elgin County and not some other
municipality. It is our own obvious prejudice that the facility should be very
appealing to the young and we would be disappointed if school buses were not
pulling into the parking lot on a regular basis. That does not mean in any way
that we are advocating a children's museum- just one that they can enjoy
and learn from as well as adults.
4. Inventory. To the best of our knowledge there is no inventory detailing the
facilities that presently exist in the county, what their holdings are and how
these institutions might relate to the county museum. What square footage
is required to house the present holdings? Taking inventory is a task that
should be carried out immediately.
5. Informing the stake holders and seeking their opinion. No resident of the
county should be surveyed for an opinion unless he or she has been given
some information and some alternatives to choose from. Community input
should be sought to establish the criteria enumerated above. Once this has
been done, it should be possible to start looking for public support and input.
Page Five
largely in
This should NOT be done b~ some random questionnaire distributed
some other municipality. T~e approach should be made directly to
constituent municipal coun¢ils, service clubs and other groups "In the
County"
THE CASE AGAINfT CASO
The impulse to preserve a great building such as the railroad station in St.
Thomas is a noble one but it should not be mistaken for a realistic
alternative for an Elgin Courlty Museum. The proposal to combine these two
objectives requires an estin1ated expenditure of four million dollars just to
preserve the building. Thererfter, the building will have high maintenance
expenses throughout the remainder of its life span.
If the museum were to be housed at the CASO building it would have to be in
galleries separated from ea9h other by the arches that divide the ground
floor. Presumably some of t~e second floor would be required which would
necessitate elevators for access. The building is poorly designed for heating
and would not be suited for lei nvironmentally friendly features such as the
famous Black Wall which can provide up to 40% of heating and ventilating
costs with passive solar heating. (eg. The Ford plant in Oakville.)
The doors at the CASO bUild~ng would be very difficult to use for the large
types of items that might be displayed. The staff would end up having to
make their displays conform Ito the building rather than the other way
around. The building has a grFat many windows which limit interior display
space unless they are coverE(d on the inside which detracts from the
integrity of the building. I
Access has been mentioned as a reason for choosing the CASO option. In
fact, the building is served bt a laneway that runs between a large discount
store and a vacant grocery oUtlet, half way down a block on Talbot Street.
This is not easy access. The parking lot looks upon the back of the Giant
Tiger and the former CTC bui1lding. There is limited opportunity for attractive
signage on Talbot Street. I
It is easy to imagine Locomotive Number 9 hissing steam as excited
passengers board their coac~ for an excursion from the CASO station. It is a
lot harder to imagine a ploug~, a combine or a fish tug on those same
premises. Not only would they be out of place, they would detract from the
building. ~'
The CASO site is currently su I~ect to a good deal of vandalism.
Ownership of the CASO statio could be a problem. OnTrack has an interest.
Access to the CASO building is neither
easy nor attractive. Windows occupy
most of the wall space and the lower
floor is broken up by arched corridors.
The doors are inadequate for large
displays. The building is subject to van-
dalism, requires millions of dollars in
repairs and is difficult to heat and
maintain.
I
Page Six
Thomas be a partner? The
Canadian National is still in the picture. Would St.
ownership question could become a quagmire.
The questionnaire responses that weighed heavily in favour of a Talbot
Street location appear to have come largely from residents of St. Thomas
The participation of that municipality appears problematic.
Spinoff benefits have been mentioned several times with regard to the CASO
site and it was stated that these would be less if a site next to the County
Building were to be used. Nobody defined spinoff benefits. If the reference is
to business activity that might be generated in the area by patrons of the
museum we would take exception to that. We would not choose the location
of a church or a school with an eye to the income of a local coffee shop and
the same applies to a museum
A MODEST PROPOSAL
It is our contention that the land adjacent to the Administrative Building is an
ideal location for a County Museum. It is highly accessible to the people of
the county. Visitors coming from Port Stanley, Sparta, Southwold, Dunwich,
Springfield or Port Burwell enjoy easy access by Sunset, John Wise Line or
other highway connections without going through many stop lights or
congested areas. The museum would also be on a major tourist route that
would provide more exposure than a location behind Giant Tiger on Talbot
Street.
The County site has ample room for a building that could display large
artifacts, for future expansion and for a building that will be designed to be a
museum, not a museum designed to fit a building.
Suitable space for the archives could be part of the design.
The County site consists of soil- the kind you farm on- not coal.
The ownership of the site is not a problem.
We firmly believe that some of the procedures we listed above need to be
attended to quickly. Once that is done we feel it is quite likely that a new
building located adjacent to the County Building could well be one of the
proposals that would be presented to council and the residents of the
constituent municipalities.
We thank the members of County Council for any time they may have been
able to spare from their busy schedule to consider our comments on the
proposal for a museum
RECEIVED
r¥/'
PO"/ ,
MAR 19 200f
COUÑIY OfaGW
ßJ"!§ß¡·¡!:t'TP';O,..../I': s,;:!I:...../~~
l·w!iIiM\.¡;~,:; <I ¡i~!:""f f kt ,'. ".\.,,,'Mi~¡,!,,;'I~::%:.1i
.
ODE
900
Response to the Discussion Paper by Goldsmith Borgal & Company Ltd.. Architects
Of the Location Study
Elgin County Pioneer Museum - St. Thomas, Ontario
FOUNDED IN CANADA.
PATRON. HER MAJESTV THE QUEEN
As your rODE representative on the executive board of the Elgin County Pioneer
Museum r would like to update your chapter on the future of the Museum.
The consultants presented a 52 page discussion paper to County Council and interested
parties on March 9th, 2004.
Receiving the paper r questioned the executive board of the museum regarding some of
the items drafted by the consultants.
Why were persons selected by museum staff to be interviewed by the
consultants? No member from rODE was selected and they are supporters along
with the W.I. for the museum;
Page 31
3.1.2
left out?
Why was rODE
Page 32
3.1.3
Page 35 Question: Why would Duncombe house need upgrading for· proper humidity
control, plus alarm system. These items have been upgraded plus windows were
treated for sun damage to artifacts. New carpet installed in the meeting room
and the attic was dry walled with shelving installed to store artifacts in a
controlled humidity level.
Page 36 Question; Accessible availability was the only concern at the on set of
3.2.5 investigation. Was there a proper complaint filed over the years? Did this come
from wanting a new building? Consultants confirm Duncombe house meets
most codes with some minor infractions.
3.2.6 Would there be limited windows in new museum location? There seems to be
concern for alarm system with too many windows.
Page 42 Question; Have artifacts been damaged by humidity swings? The agricultural
building on museum grounds was built to hou.se larger items but was not used
to full capacity.
Page 43 . While deciding on alocation, would it be wise to leave Duncombe house
empty? The consultants suggest it's use as a historical showcase so why not
take one step in this direction waiting for future plans.
Pages 44 Question how the consultants found locations
45,46,47
J
·
ODE
I
soo
Page 2
is used as a display feature of a historic home,
FOUNDED IN CANADA.
PATRON. HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN
Page 50 Question; If Duncombe house
3.1.7 does it have to be upgraded?
Is the county willing to assume the cost of added expense to operate
Duncombe house as an off site operation? What part would the present staff
play in the setup?
If the decision is made to go to CSAO Railway station, who owns the
building? How much input would the designing of the museum in a leased
building be shared with the owner of said building?
Page 51
5.1
5.2
Short Tenn Solution to Making a Long Tenn Decision
Save the County $2,500.00 per month for leasing a site and take a step forward and
setup Duncombe house as a historic artifact and store leftover artifacts as the museum
is doing at the present time at the Talbot Street site or locate a smaller warehouse.
Let the public enjoy Duncombe home on display until County council can make a
favourable decision. The Museum will be looking for a 3 to 5 year completion of this
project and in the mean time the public interest will be hard to maintain unless the
Museum makes itself present in the community.
Proceed, Restore the Duncombe as a historic showcase, store the unused artifacts.
Maintain the agricultural building and honey house at the Duncombe home.
Close the door between the county and military museums and reopen the fonner
entrance to allow each their own identity.
Long Tenn
The Pioneer Museum, plus the artifact (Duncombe House) should be operated under
one board and staff. Duncombe House operated as an artifact may not need'the
upgrading required by operating (Duncombe House) as a museum.
It could offer opening afternoons and the new museum (when site decided) mornings
the staff moving from site A to site B. My understanding is that Goderich employs this
system.
When a favourable location is made fmal by County council, hopefully the public will
enjoy a facility allowing space to expand in future years.
Dated - March 17th, 2004
lODE Representative
J"
Copies to:
Kenneth Lucas Chapter rODE
Stirling Chapter rODE
Centennial Chapter rODE
Warden and Members of County Council
Elgin County Pioneer Musemn Executive Board
PAGE 01
í.) J- '
1<J2¡'v'cif ~
f/
MCCALLUM
Alma College International AlumnaeAssociation
P.O. Box 8084
London. ON
N6G 2BO
Fax from: Barb McCallum
Phone number: 519-773-5241
Fax number:
6316745
20:27
04/06/2004
519-773-5231
Fax to: Warden David Rock and Elgin County Council
County of Elgin
Fax Number: 633-7661
Nwnbe¡: Qfpages (including cover) 3
To: Warden Rock and Elgin County Council
We are sending our response to the Location Study for the Elgin COlUlty Pioneer Museum. Thank
you fot including us in this project
Barb McCallum,
President,
Alma College International Alumnae Association.
04/0612004 20:27 6316745 MCCALLUM PAGE 02
Alma College International Alumnae Association
P.O. Box 8084
London, ON
N6G 2BO
c/o Barb McCallum
4916 Granger Rd.
Aylmer, ON
N5H 2R2
Warden David Rock and Elgin County Council
County of Elgin
450 Sunset Dnve
St. ThòlX\ils, ON
N5R SVl
April 5, 2004
Dear Warden Rock and Elgin County Councillors
On bebalfofthe AJrna College IntemationalAlumnae Associatíon, I would like to say thank you for
mcluding the Alumnae in the Location Study for the Elgin County Pioneer Museum.
I would also like to thank County Council again, for assisting the Alumnae by providing storage for
our archive collection until the Elgin County Archiyes was up and running and ready to accept our
collection. Thank you for belping to save the history and hentage of Ahna College.
The Alumnae believes that it makes sense to consider having the Archiycs and the Museum in one
facility (not necessarily a new building), and that a cultural center sounds like a tenific concept. The
Museum already needs more space, and the Archives will need more eventually, so it makes sense
to do some long range planning now.
We agree with most of what has been said in the Location Study.
The Alumnae's first choice would of course beAlrna Coilege. The beautiful historic building would.
make a wonderful museum and there is plenty of room for both the museum and archives. It would
of course only work if it was a single purpose building (ie no residential use on the second Boor).
If the property could be purchased to be used for the cultural center, there are" great number of
possibilities. As a shared building, there are many problems.
The recommendation that Duncombe House be preserved as an historic house museum (with a
separate boørd) is a good one. The house itself is historically significant (particularly the doctor's
office) and could be a yaluable att.\'action as a house museum (and easier to find, once the pUblic has
visited the main museum and received maps of the area with points of interest marked!). It would
J
03
PAGE
MCCALLUM
6316745
20:27
04/06/2004
Alma College Alumnae response
It would
Page 2
visíted the main museum and received maps of the area with points of interest marked!).
be wonderful to preserve the house as a sateIlite museum.
We understand that the 450 Sunset Dr., fourth floor location has some problems (floor strength,
humidity in a multiple use building, etc.), and some good points (close to the railway). We also
understand that the 450 Sunset Dr" separate building location has some problems (cost, not in city
Jinúts), but we believe it has some good points too. A very interesting cultural center could be built
with a bridge between buildings (to include the Archiyes). Eyerything would be of museum code
because it would be new and would have no conflict with other functions.
We don't understand why tue report says that 450 Sun$et, fourth floor, is good because it is
accessible to the railway, and on a towist route from London to Pt. Stanley, but that 450 Sunset Dr.,
new building is away from the railway line. It is really the same location and the same proximity to
the railway line, and on the same tourist route.
The Railway Station is the best choice (size, parking, central location, railway, a heritage building).
The report is Correct - the key to success would be the co-operation between the County, the City and
On Track. We agree that the Railway Station option should be pursued first, and that the arigina]
park should be restored, in order to make the most of the location. (What would the effect be on the
west end of St. Thomas tourist attractions if you move Jumbo? Perhaps it is better entice tourists
to tour the town - with the maps they receiye at the main museum location!).
Is there a plan to
The, report stresses tbe importance of tbe accessibjJjty to tbe Pt. Stanley railway.
extend the 1Iain past Parkside, to a different track and on to the station?
The Alumnae agrees that the Railway Station option !iliould be plll'sued first and then the new
building at 450 Sunset Dr. Ifneither of these is feasible, another location in St. Thomas and area
should be oonsidered (Alma College, if it could be a single purpose building, solving building code
problems).
depends on the COUl1ty, the City and On Track working together
Success at the Railway Station site
towards a common goal.
Thank you again for including the Alumnae.
Sincerely,
ßk~/fh~
Barbara J. McCallum, President
Alma College Intemationa] Alumnae Association
519-773-5241
APR 6 2004
COOI11Y OF ELœi
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COUNlY OF BßIN.
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April5, 2004
Warden David Rock & Elgin County Council
County of Elgin
450 Sunset Drive
Sf. Thomas On.
N5R 5V1
Dear Warden Rock and Members of Council:
In March of 2003 On Track facilitated the purchase of the 131
year old Canada Southern Railway Station. From a TJ article I
give you this quote "This station will now become a hub. It is a
destination and it's not just relevant to Sf. Thomas or Elgin this
station is of national importancer
You now have an opportunity to locate the Pioneer Museum in the
geographic centre of the County. By locating the Museum in the
station you would be investing in our region's history more than
any new building ever could Supporting the Pioneer Museum's
location at the Station would allow the redevelopment of one
historic building by incorporating a museum dedicated to
preserving our historical elements. The Pioneer Museum would
not only be a place but the 'entire building'itself. The Station
could become a starting point for tourist to visit smaller
attractions through out Eglin County.
The station needs public funds, so does the Pioneer museum in
order to flourish. Why not combine both and direct our
community dollars to maximize their value? Imagine a Cultural
attraction that includes live history displays, steam train
departing on a regular basis, Pioneer Museum showcasing our
communities heritage, Tourist info highlighting Elgin County's
many attractions a real historical information centre.
I support locating the Elgin County Pioneer Museum at the CASO
Station location.
Yours truly,
/ìî~~ St~
Mary Lou Stanley
Past Board Member of On Track
Central Elgin Tax Payer
Community Supporter/Volunteer
RECEIVED
APR 6 201M
coumv OfEI..CM
ADMIN!SmATIVf SERVICES
:Mary oCde
7970 QuaƧr CJ{çaá
1?1? # 2
St. %omas, Ontario
:N5P 3S6
March 29, 2004
Mr. Dave Rock, Warden
County of Elgin
450 Sunset Drive
St. Thomas, Ontario
N5R 5V1
Rock:
I,am writing to you as aconcemed;citizen and taxpayer of Elgin County and
Central Elgin regarding the future of the Elgin. County Pioneer Museum. : - ;
Dear Mr.
My personal feeling is that if at all possible you should look at keeping the
Museum at the Duncombe home site. The whole theme of the Elgin County
Pioneer Museum was that it was Dr. Duncombe's home, it is there main artifact
and was the first Medical School in this part of Ontario. As well the city of St.
Thomas and the St. Thomas Tourist Association have been working with other
businesses at the top of the hill (old TalbotStreet) as a tourist area with plans to
put a parkette by the Jumbo Monument.
also feel that some accountability should be made for the waste of my tax
dollars. The Museum should not have moved to the location they are at now unti
everything was decided and you were ready do the renovations or rebuilding.
Instead they moved out and you have been paying $2500. rent and nothing, not
even a regular check on the old building was done.
like
After the fire when the restoration was being done why wasn't the washroom
ÞroughtluP,to:bUilding'code;at:thattime?:. ram sure if 1 wereto¡ do: something
that on. my own property you would not-allow- iUohappen.
We really need to
I hope you will give this decision careful consideration.
preserve our local history when we can
Yours truly
1{=cf d!I
Mary Olde
Museum
c.c. County Council
Elgin County Pioneer
Ú;VVlG\
~
RECEIVED
45560 Edgeware Line
R.R. 8
St. Thomas, ON
N5P 3T3
April 2, 2004
2004
COUNTY OF aWN
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5
APR
Warden Dave Rock
Elgin County Council
420 Sunset Drive
St. Thomas, ON
N5R 5VI
Dear Sir:
This is further to my attendance atthe Elgio County District Women's Institute Spring Board meeting hetd at the
County Building March 29th, wherein the Report of the Elgin County Pioneer Museum was given.
The date of April 8th was given as the deadline for the public's input into the tocation site for the new Pioneer
Museum. The Roll Call at this meetiog, "where woutd you like the new Museum to be" was responded with
approximatety 9Ö% in favour of the new site to be at the Railway Station.
As I also agree, the Station is such a beautifut historic building, in sound condition; it would be a proper settiog for
the Museum. .For a few comments personally, io the large room on ground' floor, the windows are so unique with
the shutters sliding into the walt and being abte to be pulled out to cover the window. Also, the panelled wainscot
is unusual. This room would make into a beautiful diniogroom/convention hall.
With the Railway Museum, Talbot Trail and traio rides at this site, the addition of the Pioneer Museum would
certaioly be an asset to the downtown St. Thomas area. The site woutd be more attractive and accessible for the
tourist trade in passing through the City, rather than at the County BuildÍl)g property site on No.4 Highway, which
is out of the way. There could be potential for inclusion of shops on the Railway Station property.
It is therefore, my recommendation and hope that both County COUhciland the City of St. Thomas come to a
mutual and understanding agreement wherein the new site of our Pioneer Museum to be downtown in St. Thomas
at the Railway Station.
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Sincerely,
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Secretary
Yannouth Glen. Women's Institute
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FARHI HOLDINGS CORPORATION
484 Richmond Street, Suite 20Ø
London, Ontario
N6A 3E6
PHONE: (519)-645-6666
FAX: (519)-645-7735
ï
FAX COVER SHEET
2004
1
Aprj
DATE:
County of Elgin
TO:
Brian Masschaele
63~-9209
Shmuel Farhi
Mr.
ATTENTION
FAX NO:
FROM
3
TOTAL PAGES:
Museum
No
Elgin County Pioneer
ORIGINAL TO FOLLOW:
REGARDING
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:
A complete package will be dropped off to Warden Dave Rock at the
County office later today.
THANK YOU
SHMUEL FARHI, PRESIDENT
~I
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CONF\OENTIAL
Apr 01 04 03:05p
FARIIIHOLIJINGSCOIU'ORATION
2004
484 Richmond Street
Snite 200
London, Ontmio
Canada N6A 3E6
Business (519) 645-6666
Fax (519) 645-7735
E-mail: fucJúN>ellnelca
Web-Site : www.lhc.ca
March 31
Gentlemen;
ELGlN,ÇOUNTY PIONEER MUSEUM
With interest I have read the Location Study Discussion Paper prepared by
Goldsmith Borga! & Company Ltd., Architects and Canadian Cultural Resource
Consultants Inc. for the Elgin County Pioneer Museum.
RE-
. .
My property at 449 Talbot Street has been mentioned in the report as the
temporary location of the museum. It must be noted that the actual rentable area
of the main floor is 8, 152 square feet, and not the 5,000 s.t:, as listed in the
report, which is therefore misleading. Furthermore, the lower level consists of
an additional 6,736 rentable square feet for a total of 14,888 square feet, which
could be further utilized by the museum. Please note that the building at 449
Talbot Street has been accurately measured by Mr. Ray Luft, , M. Eng., P. Eng.,
CEO and President ofLuft Enterprises Inc., as per the ANSIIBOMA Z65.1-
1996 Standard Method of Measuring Floor Area in Office Buildings,
While the report does recognize that the downtown location has increased
attendance at the museum, it does not consider that parking arrangements can be
made with the City ofSt. Thomas for the lot directly behind the building for
both staff and patrons. This had been done successfully while Public Works &
Government Services occupied the premises for a nine-year period. Again, this
omission is misleading in the consideration of 449 Talbot Street as being a
viable option for the museum.
Please be advised that this premises was totally retrofitted to the standards set
by Public Works & Government Services Canada, and should not be considered
a "storeftont". The floor was strengthened to provide 100 pounds per square
foot capacity, which is necessary for use in a museum setting.
Apr 01 04 03:05p p.3
Having carried out numerous retrofits and designlbuilds for three levels of
government across Ontario, it is with confidence that I can state that this
building could be retrofitted to accommodate the needs of the museum for a
long-term tenancy in an economical manner. Based on my experience and
without any indepthknowledge of the renovations required, I can confidently
state that our firm would be able to retrofit the Museum in the temporary
location at a savings of hundreds of thousands of dollars from the estimated
retrofit costs estimated in the report.
Farhi Holdings Corporation is known for its sensitivity to heritage development.
Heritage buildings bring a conununity's rich history to life, providing a mirror
to reflect the values and circumstances of the communities that constructed
them. What better way to showcase our museum artifacts than to house them in
this well-maintained and retrofitted heritage landmark?
I therefore wish to speak to County Council on the future location of the Elgin
County Pioneer Museum at your earliest convenience.
I look forward to hearing from you shortly regarding a suitable time.
Thank you,
Sincerely,
Shmuel Farhi, President
/pv
cc. Mr. Brian Masschaele,Archivist, County of Elgin ~
Ps. I welcome you and your staff to view our website at www.fhc.ca
02
PAGE
0~/08/2004 10:24 5196313884 ELGIN PIONEER MUSEUM
{'I\~t>eù"" 9rùc\¿} - G:,"''''Q,.)f1:A'Y~1'' ~ C. \.) \\e.rbx.J<..
ELGIN COUNTY PIONEER MUSEUM
Museum Beginninl
The Women's Institutes and the to.D.E. had the foresight to see that important lústorical
artifacts were being lost and worked diligently to try to preserve these artifåcts. The
DWloombe House was purchased and the beginnings of the new museum opened its
doors in May of 1957. The founders of the Pioneer Museum deserve a great deal of credit
for their hard work and perseverance in establislúng the museum. A great collection of
our past was accumulated and preserved While the lústoric house served well for a long
time, it is evident that the museum has now outgrown this site. The site does not rolow for
expansion of the collection or for proper space to exhibit the collection that it now has.
There is so much more that could be done if the space and type of building were
improved. After visiting other museums in other counties and in the United States. one
can see the possibilities for the future if only we take the opportunity.
:
Becinni, with the Talbot :settlement
Elgin County is the seat of the Talbot Settlement, the beginning of settlement for the
whole area. Fortunately our present museum has much of this history as demonstrated in
2003 during the two hundred year celebrations. These presentations were well attended
by YOWlg people who undoubtedly learned a great deal of our past Much oftbis history
is stored elsewhere and could possibly be returned here where it belongs ¡fwe had a
proper facility. We owe it to our future generations to act now while the history is stilt
available and before it is lost
Amcull Hen
Agriculture was and still is a main occupation in the County ofElgin. The history of
agriculture is cbtmging very rapidly and equipment from as little as twenty-five years ago
is no longer used and should be preserved. While the cUITent museum has an agricultura1
component, it is very limited in space and opportunity to display artifacts. Many visitors
to the Museum probably do not know of the agricultural collection that now exists. This
collection is stored in a facility that has little public access. With proper facilities these
articles of our agricultural heritage could be displayed. Many more artifacts could be
preserved, and would be donated if it were known that proper cate would be taken. Ti.me
is of the essence as possible donations are being lost every day.
,
Elgin Archives
The arclúves were discIISsed for quite some time before becoming a reality. Time was
taken for the planning. and thanks to the foresight of County Council this bas become a
very important asset for the county. The archives at the County building have shown tbat
the county has don.e things right. Historical documents have been preserved and made
available to the public for research, genealogy etc. A large number of people, at
sometime in their lives feel a need to research their past.
ilwav Buildin,
This building is in very poor state of repair, and by the consultants own report would cost
almost as much to refurbish as building new construction. Ongoing heating and
maintenance costs could be high because of the high ceilings and two stories. The
museum would have to be built around the constraints of the many small rooms, limiting
display possibilities and possibly requiring more staff to maintain. 1 don't believe that this
is a viable alternative tòr a proper facility.
6'4/68/2864 16:24 5196313884 ELGIN PIONEER MUSEUM
PAGE 83
ELGIN 0 INEERMUSEUM
Cultural Centre
We have the opportunity now to consttuct a "Culture Centre" I1e)d to the County building
by locating a new building there for the museun\- This would ø1low for incorporating and
enlarging the present archives when this becomes necessary. The necessary land is
available and is owned by the county. I believe that the "New consttuction" could be
arranged so that the Military Museutn, the Art gallery and possibly Tourism could be
centered in this same area, making a "One StoD Site" for 1ravelers to obtain infonnation
of our area, greatly enhancing the positive experiences of our visitors. Each organization
by their proximity would then help support each other.
This new construction does not all need to be completed at the saroe time as long as
proper planning is followed SO that it coUld be enlarged in the future as the need arises..
With proper planning a first class museum can also become a reality. If all this were to be
in one place there would be an excellent teaching opportunity for our young people with
school visits etc. 1 know from experience that museums can be very busy places. The
open area next to the building could be used for an outdoor display in the summer, and
depict agriculture of the past, our military history, etc.
Much of the history now in the museum. and in the Archives, includes items ofhistory
from the City of St. Thomas, so their support for this proposal should be sought
Funding is always a challenge, but I believe that the majority of residents would support
the concept if possibilities were properly explain(ld, Council should very carefully
consider the potential for loss of our history. which is irreplaceable, when deciding the
future course of action. If we allow this loss to happen, future generations will never
forgive us. The opportunity is now.
The citizens of Elgin County deserve nO less than your careful consideration
Perry Clutterbuck
RECEIVED
APR 82004
Et..6\Ø
AI :mMCES
.'~' .
Elgin County Pioneer Museum
32 Talbot Street, St. Thomas, Ontario N5P IA3, (519) 631-6537
Email: ecpmchin@execulink.com . Fax: (519) 631-3884
RECEIVED
APR ß 2004
CQUmYOfaGm
"",._ill:!m~_ð'l: _111\111.,,,,,,
j:~lUi»'nli~nn;; ,~n'YI\J¡r.A»
April 6, 2004
Warden David Rock and Elgin County Council
County of Elgin
450 Sunset Drive
St Thomas, ON
N5R 5Vl
Your Worship and Members of Council;
Re: Museum Location Study Discussion Paper by Goldsmith Borgal & Company
Ltd., Architects, and Canadian Cultural Resource Consultants Inc.
Throughout the process of planning for renovations to the Elgin County Pioneer
Museum at 32 Talbot St, subsequent relocation to 449 Talbot St, and
consultation process, the Elgin County Pioneer Museum Executive Committee
has been keenly interested in the best interest of the Museum. It is our view that
the collection is the Museum, and it isin the best interest of the Museum to be
housed in the best circumstances possible. We thank you for this opportunity to
comment on the future of the Museum.
With regard to the recommendations outlined in section 5 of the Discussion
Paper, we hope that County Council will take into account the following
comments regarding each of the recommendations:
5.1 Duncombe House:
The Museum Executive Committee agrees that a new, purpose-built museum is
the most desireable option. We also believe that there are two issues to consider:
museums, and heritage homes. A heritage home, once set up, requires only
small changes to the display. A museum, on the other hand, requires ongoing
changes to the displays and continuous upkeep of the artifacts. The Duncombe
house has been home to the Museum for nearly fifty years, supported by the
lODE chapters and Women's Institutes. These groups are adamant that the
house be maintained as a heritage home and not be allowed to fall into disrepair.
They also agree that the home is not suitable for a Museum.
If this option were considered, our Executive Committee would like to see it
restored as an artifact and set up as period home affiliated with the Elgin County
Pioneer Museum, cost permitting. We would also suggest that the excess
collection (artifacts not on display) would be stored in the Main Museum, at
another location, and that, it could be staffed by rotating staff members between
the Main Museum, and the house. We also feel an entrance separate from that of
the Elgin Military Museum would be necessary to maintain our separate identity.
We do not support the operation of the house with a separate board.
CASO Station:
If this option were considered, our Executive Committee would like to make it
known that we would support this option only if the following serious "hurdles"
were overcome:
such a plan would require an agreement/ partnership with the City of St
Thomas, the County of Elgin, OnTrack, and the commitment of others
currently involved with the development of the site;
the County of Elgin would not own the property outright, and would not
have control over construction and changes to the building, etc.;
the County of Elgin may not be able to acquire more property from CN to
enlarge the facility in the future;
the proposed park between the CASO station and Talbot St would
involve tearing down a viable business operating on the property;
the time involved in negotiating with all parties involved could take years
to accomplish; and,
the County's cost, though comparable to a new building would only
renovate a portion of the building, and without a contribution from the
City of St Thomas to upgrade the building, it wouldn't be a viable option.
a.
b.
d.
f.
(Building adjacent to the Elgin County Administration
5.3 Other Options
Building):
If this option were considered, our Executive Committee would like to
recommend a new museum be built in this location conjoined with the Elgin
County Archives. It would be built in a "modular" way to allow for expansion
in the future, as need arises. The scope of the museum building should reflect
realistic tourism expectations and projections. As well, the museum building
should be constructed within a realistic budget The scope of the collection
showcased should include permanent displays on such varied topics as Elgin
County's agricultural heritage, industry and manufacturing, and political and
social history.
5.2
e.
c.
The construction of a new Museum could take a few years to complete. In the
interim, the Executive Committee would like to see the Museum's operations
continue at 449 Talbot, and all reasonable effort be made to turn the Duncombe
house into a period home. The heightened visibility enjoyed by the Museum at
the 449 Talbot location has been a benefit; however, we have had only a small
display for the public to enjoy during our temporary situation. By allocating
more space for display, and constructing "permanen(' galleries, the Museum
would have more to offer for the public's enjoyment Furthermore, this address
affords more storage space than at 32 Talbot, and the Museum's collection is
larger than 32 Talbot can hold.
On behalf of the Executive Committee, I wish to express our appreciation for the
opportunity to comment on the findings outlined in the Discussion Paper
submitted by Goldsmith Borgal & Company Ltd., Architects, and Canadian
Cultural Resource Consultants Inc. Please contact Linda Louwagie-Neyens,
Manager of Museum Operations at 631-6537 if you desire further clarification of
opinions expressed in this document We look forward to your final decision
regarding the future of the Elgin County Pioneer Museum.
Sincerely,
Mary Outterbuck
Chair
Elgin County Pioneer Museum.
May 3, 2004
Proposal to Council for use of Bobier Villa Facility.
I am requesting permission to use the Bobier Villa Facility in Dutton as a location for
filming two music "sing along" yideos which I will market as an actiyity resource to
Long Term Care and Adult and Alzheimer's Day Care Centres.
Currently I am performing liye in oyer 50 such locations, including Bobier Villa. My
new business, Melody Lane Productions will be producing and marketing a series of
interactive DVD's for use in LTC facilities. Eyentually there will be more than a dozen
such yideos ayailable; how eyer, these will be the first in the series.
I have obtained the services of a reputable Video Production Company and am now
seeking an appropriate yenue in which to film the yideos. This entails the filming of
two 50-minute "live" performances.
There are seyeral considerations in choosing a site for the filming including lighting,
size of room, acoustics, décor and of course the interest and co- operation of staff and
residents. It is of added interest that seniors from the adjacent apartment building
might attend. I understand that it will be necessary to also obtain written permission
from either residents or their family members prior to any filming.
This project was suggested to me by staff of LTC facilities and I am also liasing with
staff from the Alzheimer's Society regarding content and overall composition, which
will be appropriate to their clients' interest. I haye pledged 5% of the net profits or a
minimum of $5.00 per sale as a donation to the Alzheimer's Society.
If this location is approved I will certainly try to keep any intrusion to a minimum
during the one day of filming, working with staff around timing and safety issues.
Bobier Villa is a loyely facility and would make a peaceful and attractiye setting for the
yideos. I am looking at a production date sometime before the end of June. Of course
the facility name would be included in the yideo credits.
I also need permission to conduct a "rehearsal" yideoshoot May 26th in order to yerify
on tape that the elements of the room work well on film. This yideo would be solely of
myself performing and would not include any residents without their written
permission. There would be no cost for this performance.
Thank you for your consideration of my request. I will be glad to attend the May 11th
Council Meeting to address any questions or concerns you may have.
Sincerely,
Georgina Rae
Melody Lane Productions
GEORGINA RAE-Memorable & Affordable Live Music
519-453-9095/rae9095(a)rogers.com
Georgina Rae has been performing music both as a professional and as a
volunteer for over twenty-five years. In the seventies and eighties she performed
throughout Ontario and the Maritimes at clubs and resorts including Toronto's
Royal York, The Deerhurst and the Pinestone, Muskoka Sands and Holiday Inn
Chain.
Living and working in Woodstock from 1987 to 2001, Georgina managed Seniors'
Housing and served on Woodstock City Council and the Boards
of the United Way, Women's Emergency Shelter and Theatre Woodstock.
Combining community service with performing, she often volunteered her talent
as a musician and performer for benefits and fundraising events. During this time
she was also lead vocalist for the dance band "Select".
Now, retired from her "day job' and relocated to London, she is once again
performing professionally, Georgina's unique vocals and guitar evoke "magical
musical moments" with her professional and memorable renditions of classic pop,
folk, country, swing and jazz tunes.
Georgina Rae
"Songs from the Heart!"
433-4066
661-0400
432-1162
432-2648
641-6330
646-6100
646-6100
769-2153
453-0777
661-
688-0347
Georgina Rae
1920 Marconi Blvd. #49
London, Ontario N5V 4X8
519-453-9095/rae9095rw.rol!ers.com
REFERENCES
Chateau Gardens -London Maureen F.
Dearness Home-London Susan
Grand Wood Park Noni
McCormick Home-London Jane Rowe
Meadowcroft Place-London Eva Jean Davidson
Mt. Hope Centre for LTC Deb Lyons
Parkwood Hospital (Veterans) Joan McKinnon
Port Stanley Legion Mac Kerr
Richards Memorial Church Jim Paulson
Riverside Kiwanis Seniors Centre lsobel Wood
5740
Tillsonburg Retirement Centre Debbie Hough
,
I
_J
01
PAGE
FOSKETT EQUIPMENT
519-457-7515
q.!'iŒ3i 2 Eiº-'L-J.1 : 2.ê._.
(p 33 7' 7&ú
FAY
I
2004
May I,
TO: Sandra Beffren, County of Elgin
FROM: Georgina Rae, Melody Lane Productions
on May 11th
Request to appear before Council
RE:
I am a performer currently entertaining seniors in over 40 long-term care
facilities including Bobier Villa. I have recently started a business-Melody Lane
ProductiolUl and will be producing and distributing Music Sing Along Videos to
long term care facilities and adult day care and Alzheimer's centres across
Canada for use as an activity resource.
These productions will feature my own voice and guitar and will be filmed by a
reputable video production company. I will be paying royalties to obtain legal
use of the material on the videos.
It is important to find an appropriate location for filming what will be a
performance on site in a LTC facility. There are several considerations
including lighting, windows, size of room, acoustics, décor and of course the
interest of the staff and residents. I believe that Bobier Villa would be suitable
for this project.
"live
I have spoken with Kate Dymock, Manager of Resident Care regarding the
technicalities involved in this project. She expressed an interest and advised me
to ask Council's permission to use the County owned facility for this purpose.
Please allow me to come before Council and present the details of the project
and my request to make my video at Bobier Villa.
I am looking at a June 2004 production date with a "dry run" or rehearsal the
last week of May so would appreciate a hearing at the May 11th meeting.
i\~
Thank you,
Georgina Ra!
#49 1920 Marconi Blvd.
London, ON N5V 4X8 (519-453-9095)
1-
í
~
REPORTS OF COUNCIL AND STAFF
Mav 11.2004
orts - (ATTACHED)
Staff Re
Contract with OPP
2004
Co-Ordinator - 9-1-1
March 31
Comparison
Ambulance and Emergency Management
Director of Financial Services - Budget
8
12
í
!
Coordinator
REPORT TO COUNTY COUNCIL
Larysa Andrusiak, Ambulance and Emergency Management
FROM
with OPP
May 4, 2004
Contract
911
DATE
SUBJECT:
INTRODUCTION
Effective December of 2001 , the County of Elgin and City of St. Thomas, entered into an
Agreement with the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) for the provision of 911 CERB (Central
Emergency Reporting Bureau) Services, which is the first point of reception for 911 calls.
The current Agreement expires in December 2004. There is a Renewal Clause in this
agreement which provides for the renewal for a further term of three years, on the same
terms and conditions with the exception of price. Six months written notice of intention to
renew is required
The 911 Steering Committee has met, reviewed the provisions of renewal, the new cost for
the renewal period, reviewed stakeholder satisfaction with the service being provided, and
has unanimously moved their support to renew the existing agreement as per the original
contract at the renewal price.
the County of Elgin and the City of St. Thomas
A decision and resolution is required from
DISCUSSION
The cost of the current Agreement for the provision of CERB services is on a per capita
basis based on a population of 76, 528 for the county and city. The annual rate per capita
is $0.575 and the annual total is $44,003.60.
The current contract allows for a price adjustment if the permanent resident population
varies, plus or minus ten per cent, based on the per capita rate.
The OPP were contacted to provide information on the new price associated with renewal
for a further term of three years as specified in the Agreement. Written confirmation has
been received confirming that based on the current population of 76,611 for the county and
city, as per 2003 municipal census, the annual per capita cost would be $.561, for an
annual total of $42,978.77. The OPP indicated that this cost reduction of approximately
$1000 is a result of a re-evaluation of the OPP 911 CERB Services cost formula.
The 911 Steering Committee that was in existence durin~ the time when the original
contract was negotiated was called togetheron April 22" They were apprised of the
contract expiry date and the information provided above.
Reports on 911 activity in our county and CERB efficiency levels were requested and
provided by the CERB. In 2002, the CERB responded to 109,103 calls. They answered
the calls in less than 2 rings, 98% to 100% of the time, calculated monthly. In 2003, the
CERB responded to 120,511 calls, a 10.5% increase in call volume. They answered the
calls in less than 2 rings between 97.5% and 1 OO%of the time. The number of 911 calls
originating from the County of Elgin and City of St. Thomas for 2002 are estimated to be
approximately 12,836 and 14,500 for 2003.
The Steering Committee also addressed the very important issue of stakeholder
satisfaction with the current service being provided. Stakeholders representing St.
Thomas Police, Aylmer Police, OPP, Ambulance Dispatch, Fire Departments across the
county and St. Thomas Fire, County of Elgin and City of St. Thomas council
representatives, and Amtelecom all expressed satisfaction with the current service
provided by the OPP. Municipalities not represented at the meeting were contacted by
phone and letter requesting input regarding their level of satisfaction with the current OPP
911 services. All replied that no concerns or issues had been raised regarding the
provision of services.
The 911 Steering Committee was asked to provide a recommendation to the councils of
the County of Elgin and City of St. Thomas. They responded by unanimously passing a
motion which reads:
"That the 911 Steering Committee supports the terms per the original 911 OPP
contract and the new three year renewal price of $42,978.77."
CONCLUSION:
The current Agreement between the County of Elgin and the City of St. Thomas and the
Ontario Provincial Police for the provision of 911 CERB (Central Emergency Reporting
Bureau) Services expires in December 2004.
The Agreement contains a Renewal Clause which provides for the renewal for a further
term of three years, on the same terms and conditions with the exception of price. Six
months written notice of intention to renew is required.
The renewal price based on the current population of 76,611 for the county and city, is
$.561 per capita annually, for an annual total of $42,978.77. This represents a cost
reduction of approximately $1000 over the previous contract price due to a re-evaluation of
the OPP 911 CERB Services cost formula.
The 911 Steering Committee has met and reviewed the current contract and renewal
provisions, renewal term price, volume and efficiency reports provided by the CERB and
the key component of stakeholder satisfaction. Based on their findings, the 911 Steering
Committee unanimously voted to recommend the renewal of the existing Agreement with
the OPP at the renewal price.
Council is respectfully
The decision of the County of Elgin Council and a Resolution of
requested The previous resolution is attached for information
report is being
A
Thomas
A decision and resolution is also necessary for the City of St.
brought fOlWard for decision in early May.
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT County Council approve the renewal of the existing Agreement with the OPP for the
Provision of 911 CERB (Central Emergency Reporting Bureau) Services, as per the
renewal clause in the existing Agreement, for a further term of three years, on the same
terms and conditions, at a cost of $42,978.77 per annum
time period stipulated
the
THAT County Council direct staff to provide notice of such within
in the Agreement,
and
with these recommendations
renewed contract as required
the
to
THAT City Council be encouraged to concur
Council be affixed
this Resolution of
THAT
ALL of which is respectfully submitted
Approved for
Respectfully Submitted
~ ;~ Chl~~
tary(Ja Andrusiak
Ambulance and Emergency
Management Coordinator
Corporation of the County of Elgin
September 11,2001
contract with Belnor the 9-1-1
Moved by Councillor Rock
Seconded by Councillor Faulds
THAT CountY' Council direct staff to discontinue the present
Primary Answering Service; and,
"
THAT, County Council award the contract for' the Elgin-St. Thomas 9-1-1 primary
Answering Service to the OPP, at a cost of $44,003.60 per annum, starting January, 2002;
and further,
recommendations.
THAT City Council be encouraged to concur with these
Carried.
I, s. J. HEFFREN, DEPUTY CLERK OF THE
CORPORATION OF THE COUNTY OF ELGIN DO
HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THE FOREGOING IS A
TRUE COPY OF A RESOLUTION PASSED BY THE
COUNCIL OF THE SAID CORPORATION ON THE
'1'" DAY OF SEPTEMBE[\ 2001.
.
REPORT TO COUNTY COUNCIL
Director of Financial Services
Linda B. Veger,
FROM
2004
March 31
May 3, 2004
Comparison
Budget
DATE
SUBJECT:
NTRODUCTION
As indicated in a previous Council meeting, staff will now include a budget comparison
each month. The first comparison, to March 31,2004, is attached to this report.
DISCUSSION
Highlights of the comparison are as follows:
March 31 = 25% of the budget
Administration Building _ under budget - 21 ,295 - Some purchases not made as yet
Corporate Expenditures - over budget - 123,110 - insurance paid early in the year
Engineering _ over budget - 254,218 - higher levels of maintenance payments to
municipalities early in the year when most needed by the municipalities
Provincial Offences _ under budget - 104,918 - partial payments to be made to
municipalities in June
·
·
·
·
·
received and filed
2004, be
RECOMMENDATION
March 31
Approved for Submission
I
Mark G. ~
Chief Administrative Officer
t~~
Linda B. Veger
Director of Financial Services
Comparison
the report titled Budget
Respectfully Submitted
THAT
COUNTY OF ELGIN
Departmental Budget
Comparisons
For The 3 Periods Ending March 31
%OF
BudQet
Variance
2004
5.
YTD
Actual
YTD
BudQet
40,843
2,655
16,419
59,9T'7
Total
BudQet
163,372
10,619
65,675
Warden & Counci
Wages
Benefits
Operations
Total
,
24.84%
334
1,171
9~
521
59,905
14,404
4,383
78,69
60,238
15,575
3,400
79,213
240,953
62,298
13,600
316,851
Administrative Services
Wages
Benefits
Operations
Total
24.40%
1,280
1,331
(446)
2,166
66,376
16,259
4,717
87,352
67,657
17,591
4,271
89,518
270,627
70,363
17,083
358,073
Services
Financial
Wages
Benefits
Operations
Total
23.60%
1,729
956
2,943
5,628
74,146
18,431
1,944
94,522
75,875
19,388
4,887
100,150
303,500
77 ,550
19,550
400,600
Human'Resources
Wages
Benefits
Operations
Total
4.96%
320
594
20,380
21,295
26,608
6,407
(1,267)
31,748
26,928
7,001
19,114
53,043
107,711
28,005
76,454
212,170
Administration Building
Wages
Benefits
Operations
Total
05.44%
(134,927)
399
2,206
1,191
8,022
123,110
184,177
8,245
12,794
9,559
9,432
224,207
49,250
8,643
15,000
10,750
17,454
101,097
197,000
34,573
60,000
43,000
69,815
404,388
Corporate Expenditures
Insurance
Telephone
Legal & Professional
Retiree Benefits
Other Expenditures
Total
34.78%
5,221
1,282
(5,709)
255,013
254,218
52,529
12,968
27,334
811,002
903,833
57,750
14,250
21,625
555,989
649,615
231,000
57,000
86,500
2,223,958
2,598,458
Engineering
Wages
Benefits
Operations
Maintenance
Total
23.10%
(35,973)
31,632
84,405
2,190
82,253
(2,634,154)
2,499,354
620,800
516,467
1,002,467
(2,670,127)
2,530,985
705,205
518,657
1,084,720
(10,680,506)
10,123,942
2,820,819
2,074,626
4,338,881
Homes for Seniors
Revenues
Wages
Benefits
Operations
Totai
4.91';,
6,403
6.403
1,566
1,566
7,969
7,969
31,876
31,876
Agriculture
Operations
Total
20,680
4,579
8,617
7
72,546
17,952
34,975
5,47
Museum
Pioneer
Wages
Benefits
Operations
Total
o
(1,148)
1,839
(925)
9,638
248,750
61,250
58,687
25,523
995,000
245,000
234,750
102,093
,57
Library
Wages
Benefits
Collections
Operations
Total
18.40%
928
755
9,617
11,301
24,035
5,506
1,971
31,512
24,963
6,262
11,588
42,812
99,852
25,047
46,350
171,249
Archives
Wages
Benefits
Operations
Total
0.00%
1,889
201
7,148
9,238
11 ,465
2,286
22,988
9,238
13,354
2,486
15,8401
o
53,415
9,945
63,3601
o
Land Division
Wages
Benefits
Operations
Total
5.88%
1,250
325
1,504
3,079
o
o
946
946
1,250
325
2,450
4,025
5,000
1,300
9,800
6,100
Emergency Measures
Wages
Benefits
Operations
Total
24.73"to
340
(1,080)
2,236
1,495
42,985
10,178
83,153
136,317
43,325
9,098
85,389
37,812
173,300
36,393
341,556
551,249
Information Technologies
Wages
Benefits
Operations
Total
355.43%
(12,599)
87,681
1,585
2,809
25,441
104,918
(162,401)
1
32,437
8,037
11,071
112.856
(175,000)
87,682
34,022
8,846
36,513
7,938
(700,000)
350,727
136,088
35,383
146,050
31,752
Provincial Offences
Fines Revenues
Shared Revenues - Municipal
Wages
Benefits
Operations
Total
22.93%
(5,602)
(19,855)
o
62,377
(1,551)
(149)
2,647
37,869
(403,375)
(293,638)
o
1,086,869
16,551
4,049
8,478
418,733
(408,977)
(313,493)
o
1,149,046
15,000
3,900
11,125
456,602
(1,635,907)
(1,253,970)
o
4,596,185
60,000
15,600
44,500
1,826,408
Ambulance Services
Province of Ontario
City of St. Thomas
Intermunicipai Transfers
Contractor Payments
Wages
Benefits
Operations
Total
39.80%
32,209
773
210
1,654
34,846
(107,209)
10,578
2,741
171
93,720
(75,000)
11,350
2,951
1825
58,874
(300,000)
45,401
11,804
7,300
235,495
Collections
Fines Revenues
Wages
Benefits
Operations
Total
2004
11
CORRESPONDENCE - Ma
Items for Consideration
Mayor Bill Smith, City of Edmonton, requesting support for City of
Edmonton Councillor Karen Leibovici as a candidate for the 3rd Vice
President of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. (ATTACHED)
1
Federation of Canadian Municipalities, Members' Advisory, "Municipalities
Call for a New Deal on Rights-Of-Way". (ATTACHED)
2
Councillor Carolyn Amyotte, Township of North Kawartha, requesting
support for the impact the Safe Drinking Water Act will have on tourism
operators and other small businesses. (ATTACHED)
3
Weiland City Council requesting support for the Provincial Government to
strengthen the Ontario Pension and Benefit Guarantee Fund. (ATTACHED)
4.
Debra Page with concerns regarding the location of the Elgin County
Pioneer Museum. (ATTACHED)
5
St. Thomas & District Chamber of Commerce requesting contact
verification. (ATTACHED)
6
Brenda J. Hamilton, Clerk, Loyalist Township, requesting the Province
for finance relief for small municipalities facing increased costs for
water and sewer services
7
2nd FLOOR, CITY HALL
1 SIR WINSTON CHURCHILL SQUARE
EDMONTON, ALBERTA, CANADA T5J 2R7
PHONE (780) 496·8100
FAX (780) 496-8292
EMAIL bill.smith@edmonton.ca
MAYOR BILL SMITH
CITY OF EDMONTON
April 15, 2004
tìfj~
APR 2,$
Warden Dave Rock
County of Elgin
450 Sunset Drive
St. Thomas ON N5R 5Vl
Dear Wârden Rock:
This letter is to express my support of Councillor Karen Leibovici who has put her name forward as
a candidate for the 3rd Vice President of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.
I have had the privilege of knowing Councillor Leibovici for a number of years. She has earned
great respect for her commitment to public service, first as Member of the Legislative Assembly of
Alberta and in her current role as a Councillor for the City of Edmonton. Karen's contributions to
the FCM have already been significant. In addition to her roles as Vice-Chair of the Western and
Northern Regional Caucus and the Sub-Committee on Right of Way, she is currently chairing the
2004 FCM Convention.
Karen is recognized for her analytical skills, ability to communicate effectively and for her spirit of
cooperation. These characteristics, coupled with her experience and determination to advance a
"new deal" for cities, will add great value to the important work of FCM.
to give her your support. Thank
I encourage you
leader.
Councillor Karen Leibovici is a proven
you and best wishes.
Yours truly,
Bill Smith
Mayor
'I If I
--:'~~
/~
2004
EDMONTON
Federation of
Canadian Municipalities
April 23, 2004
Fédération canadienne
des municipalités
MEMBERS' ADVISORY
hts-of·wa
members of Counci
for a New Deal on ri
Please distribute to a
the
by
alities cal
FCM's Rights-of-Way Defence Fund IS allowing us to monitor and participate in
defense of legal challenges to the use of municipal rights-of-way
telecommunications carriers.
MUnlC
A series of Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
(CRTC) decisions have led to a growing number of disputes between municipal
governments and telecommunications carriers. We are concerned about these
decisions and the harmful outcome for municipalities across the country.
Municipal governments must have full authority to manage publicly owned property
under their jurisdiction and receive fair compensation for the use and occupancy of
municipal property. Municipal taxpayers should not be forced to subsidize private,
for-profit companies.
We are engaged in a national campaign to communicate these concerns and seek a
solution to the conflict between municipalities and telecommunications carriers.
role In this campaign
We have produced the attached One-pager to explain our position on rights-of-way.
We urge you to put this on an upcoming Council agenda and share your concerns
about rights-of-way with us and with your Mernbers of Parliament.
eaders can playa key
Municipa
ext. 302
241-5221
(613)
more Information: Jacqueline Hynes,
For
In a series of decisions, the CRTC has eroded the ability of
municipal governments to administer publicly owned
lands, teaving mwùcipal t""payers subsidizing private,
ror-profit telecommunications companies.
For example, the CRTC has refused to allow municipalities
to charge telecommunications carriers occupanCy M "" lOt"
fèes or to recover from them the full cost of
using municipal property. This has deprived un ICI pa I les ca
mwùcipalities of tens of millions of dollars each
year, aggravating their already difficult financial N EW
situation and hindering their ability to deal with ~ ~
key local priorities like infrastructure. transporta-
tion, clean water and afIOrdable housing.
The CRTC has assumed exclusive authority to
decide how telecommunications carriers may use · AL'
mwùcipal streetS and rights-of-way. And it has
decided it can ove~turn and r~~ite existing con- 0 n
tractS between camers and munlctpal governments
,,"-'~--'"- ghts-of -way
Stop CRI'C inter£i:rence in municipal road management;
Confirm that municipal governments can recover from
telecommunications companies all costS related to the
use and occupancy of mwùcipal property and charge
fèes ror this use and occupancy;
Confirm that the CRTCs dispure-resolution function does
not include setting asidc or reviewing ptior agreements.
statutoty a=ss
the
amend
should
. .
earners
Canada
Restrict telecommunications
rights to highways only;
The Government of
Telecommunications Act to:
W¿re calling on the Government of Canada to apply the
spirit of the New Deal and restore baJance to this relation-
ship. The Prime Minister has said that "Evety £i:deral
Minister needs to understand what fèderal policy does to
Main Street." In this case, CRI'C policy means tearing up
Main Street to lay telecommunications cables and handing
taxpayers tbe bill.
Municipalities acknowledge tbe legitimate fèderal interest
in the development of the telecommunications industry.
But the equally legitimate role of municipal governments
in managing municipal property must also be respected.
For more information on the New Ðeal, please see our web site at www.fcm.ca
"
rl
for
o
·
·
·
·
it
A decision now pending concerns what municipal
properties telecommwùcations carriers may occupy
and use ror their busine.. activities. Some carriers
have argued they should have tbe same access to
all publicly owned land and infrastructure as thcy
do to highways. No other utility enjoys such a
right, and there is no justification ror awarding
to telecommunications carriers.
The New Deal ror Canada's cities and municipalities
calls ror a better working relationship among
the three orders of government. One example of
where this relationship has soured is tbe position
taken by the Canadian Radio-television and
Telecommunications Commission (CRI'C) on the use and
occupancy of municipal rights of way by telecommunica-
tions carriers.
Page 883
02
P,
519 633 7661 CLERK-Elgin Co
FAX NO. 416 97 6191
84/2B/84 22:86:58 EST ASSUCIATIUN UF?-)
APR-2B-04 WED 04:5 PM 260
Þ.O, 60); fS50, 136 aurlei ;lh street
Apsle-y,Onti\rio KOL.. 1AO
('105) 6.68-4446 Ot 1-800~7t;5..SB31
Fa;,¡;: (705) 656..t1446
em¡;:¡lI: 1,~rD@nolthk.~warthn.oil.(:!.IJ.
7Ï1'~ C0I7JOl"otiol1 of the Town.,-hip of
NORTH KAWARTHA
t::·<~·_,~,:· .~
:'~~":~.!oc¡ I.~.~~
....¡....J ~.{~
, ,~\,. I..,'¡ , 1',diI'
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..····...··'''n· ..~"',....-.-.,-,_...~...~._._""...................--.......,....,__...-..............__"
:22,200-1
,.--.\',
Ap;
Ont!\rio Muni('ìp~lilics
P1cM,1 b(~ ndvis"d Ih~t the ('O\lnci! of the ')'0\\11Ship ofNorlh Kaw¡u1ha has grave concern with Ihe
ì!11l'l1et ofStûe Lhínk ìng Water Acl (O.Rcg, ] 70/03) on tourism operators and olher small businesses
and h"s $~nt the «) Jmving cormspollllrmce to the Honourable Jim Bmdlcy, Miníster ofTomism and
Ik,, <'~Iion. Ph",lS~ provide Ihis correspondence to your Council for endorsement and support.
Tr
(>~lwn
COi e
Clerk
j'ï~Jï;ïïr;\jji~;·Jiïï;ß;"~~ïï~..y--·-··---·· ..."-_..._._~..._---
Mini,:¡"r ,\f'fourisln and Recreation,
9'" Floor, f Ii.,ars! 1Ilock, 90() nay Street
ToWiHO, ON M7A 2m
10
lBior:
Than\.; yon ror your corrc,spondence dated M¡lrch 19,2004 rogardin¡¡ the 'vital role that the lo\uism
industry has in contributing to Ontario's econl¡mic hea1th ¡Uld well being', We applaud your efiòrts
iuv\\:a in 111<1 tourism indllstJ'Y and your commitment 'll) providing snppOl1 for marl\eling, research,
inv,'¡¡tmalit 1\nd developmenl.
Min
DI3('
JO\WVèf, c COll!leil w()\lld like 10 bring to your attention a malleJ' of grave imp(1rlUTIce. Local
10\11 í~,m operato!s and many other small businossC1s in our community are Ü\Cing a 11111jorthreltlto their
r,w'li\irJal.liJiI)' l"J'<)rlllh~ Sal"e Drinking Walor Act (0. Reg. 170/03). Everyone H.:eogni7,cs the
il\1portlil1ce 'If' providing potable wnter to the puhlie. Yet, forcing these reGulations upon small private
b\I$¡u.)~SWS withouI j'c'gulaling the costs b~,ing du\rgcd by privat~ clIgineerîng firms or the prívale water
tl.':lIing cOiH J8nic.s, is o"e;:liing a hugd IintulCÌal bun!èl1 for our tourism b\lSinesses.
l'hc totltist ul,tab!isIHlH:nt~ in North Kawartha TO\'iI1ship are primarily marinas, tnuler parks,
"ilill]1gHHillds, cottar,e resods, lodges tU1d bed &. hr¡);tkfll$IS (b&1>s), For tho most partlhese are
~(m';()I1(i11 bœinosses wilh Imly a few months in the summer in which 10 generate enough reVen\le to
cl\ny them through the re"t of the yøar. In order to comp]y with these r.,gulations, many of these
b\l::;ín,,~,:\)~ are) r()ceiving costs cstimalCs that represent 50% or more of (and in some cases Z to 3 timos
gl mtør lltan) Ihdr I1nlluol wV~l1ue. Faced with these costS, 11lru1Y of our IOèa.1 tourism operators am
CnrllNl';p]¡ì!'il11:. sh11tting down permanently.
believe 'Ih:.llherc fiN a number ol"cnvironmontalIy approprìi\le, cosl-effective trel1tmont melhods
<:0111<1 !:Ic jmpJem(~I\lt:d by smaH businesses in ordcr 10 mcet Ihe need for pOl,able w(¡ler. In fact,
aj¡",uly providø trentn"~i1t and testing ol'their own accord, Yel O. Reg. 170/03 reSlriets a large
Wo
t1m
IMI.
l(\!<>!'Í'iy of OPCl'¡uors to chlorínation. B~ìng a ruml area, sewagc treatment systems a.re Jimitod to
""pt (; ~ysü::l\m. Evol'Y S()p1Î<1 system owner knows thatl1\lHing chlorine into a septic tank kîlls the
_J
Page BB4
03
P,
h:1rIl\ria 11"Ülkd 10 brMkdown the WMtc, lWld(>ring th(> sys1em incffœtive. Having acce:ss to clean
w:llel' [hll! dl)"~ no1 rl,>qllirl) tr~.~tl1l"l1t is considered to be a posilive aspect of rural ire by many of our
re~id()111$ and b\l"ine"s owncrs, If treatment were required, most would choose ahematÎve methods
olhlòr Ih:,\11 ch!orÎ!J3tÎon
519 633 7661 CLERK-Elgin Co
FAX NO, 416 97 6191
B4/28/B4 22:B7:29 EST ASSOCIATION OF?->
APR-28-04 WED 04:51 PM 260
our small touri$m
our enl'Ìre:
Nor!!1 Kawanl1'1 iR ocal~d in th" heart of cotta);;e cOllntlY, ThQ impact of losing
hmi,wss(,,: hCCillIf,e they c.¡111I10t ~m~rd to meellhese regulations will negatively affect
COI1I1î¡un!ty :IS we rdy heavily on the revonue generated by touriSl11 in our region.
A~ you c~n ;;('e, there ¡Ire l\ number of veT)' seriolls qucstions and concerns regarding O. Re:g. 170/03,
The, C'oundl (>n~orth K¡IWluth¡t wOll1d like to kllow what the Ministry of Tourism Md Recreation is
doing 10 1I1;f:isl OU! local1Ourism operalors ,md tOl1rism operators across the province, in dealing with
tl1',¡f;e rê'!\ullit i OilS, Your I oller of March 19,2004 stated that 'The McGuinty gOl'omment has committed
$30 mi1lion1ü hl,lp our tomisl11 indllst¡y." with $17.2 ¡ni1\ìon c,ommitted for tourism recovery,.. '. Are
1111Y of t1lcse fllnds enrmnrhd to help offse:! the financial burden being faced by tourism operators?
Unt'orlum,tely, il seðms Ihil! while the Ministry of Tourism and Recreation is working '10 help our
'l(lul'Ísm inrlnstry ilnd communities bring visitors baek to Ontario this sprh1g tmd slimmer' tho Ministry
of tl'w HiwÌ!'()II¡¡1<,nt is working to force small business owners of this same indl.l-~Iry out of business.
"{ou" prom 1"1 ¡,II'JI1tion to Ihis nmtter wOll1d be most appreciated.
;mC'i'\ìcJ:v~
Caw!),,; A<nyol.lc
Cu\,HwiU\Îr 011 bcha1t' ofthe
C')lIndl (If Nonh KawarUm Township
J.hill()l1 McGuillty, ¡'rernier of Ontario
Løo\la Dombrowsky, Miroi~;ter ()f I,;rwiwnmcnt
LU\lril' Sçotl, M1:'1' Haliburton, Lindsay, Drock
JoCf {,(>~I, MPI' l'eterbofOugh
K~wal'tl1a Ln1œs Chamber of Commerce Eastern Region
ßanc.l'oft District Chamber "fCommerce
PCI'JrboIOI1¡\h &. the Kawarthas Tourism
^,,~()d¡\tì(m of Muuicipalitìes of Ontario
H11H11 Ontario Municipal Association
OnVu'io ACCClU1U1l,d3tion Association
O¡HllriO ChiUnber of Commerce
Itc,,()\'I$ OnlalÌo
p."klntlOn of Ontario n~d & Bre~kfas\ Association
OJ\!ilijo I'dVHtD Campgl\)uIJd Association
Pd,~.r AtI'I1IJ.\, M.P.
J('hu O'Rdt!y, M.I'.
I'dl',r\101'l)\1gh COllnty MllnicipaJilies
\'''LcrbOl'ou¡.~h COllnty
P.;tc;rhNO\lgh Examiner
PcMrblyrù\1ßh 1'hi~ Weck
The Bancroft Times
Lükdídd H0ralt.1
Cr.:
----~-'
.._---.-_...
"Thit\ mnj!')ria! Is provi<.lod un(I'';¡:contrsct as a pàid se;v¡öébytìí;;;Õiigfrïäiiñg organ¡zã'iiol1,ãñcf
d00S no! nøcoss31'IIy rl,ßed the views or positions of the Association of Municipalities of Ont~rio
y~~~<?), its. ~u,b..~~dl!l!.:>,.s~!!,p."nÎ~s.;"eff!9.~!~,-directors or agents."
_.._,-..v~~"";~_.' _"'''__·
I
May 19, 2004
The following resolution from the WATER WATCH ASSOCIATION was adopted by the
Council for the Township of Killaloe, Hagarty and Richards at their regular meeting held on May
4,2004. We are asking for your support and request that you forward same to the Premier of
Ontario, the Ministry of the Environment, and your Local MPP John Yakabuskie and this office.
Township of Kill aloe, Hagarty & Richards
P.O. Box 39,1 John Street
Killaloe, Ontario
KOJ 2AO
613-757-2300
613-757-3634 (fax)
e-mail khr[a).on.aibn.com
Thanking you for your consideration.
Susan Sheridan
Deputy CAO Clerk-Treasurer
Moved by: Councillor Carl Kuehl
Seconded by: Councillor Isabel O'Reilly
affect
Local
Whereas the Ontario Government is implementing regulation 170\03, and in doing so will
Town Halls, Churchs and Private Property Owners including Small Businesses,
Community Centers and Campgrounds.
mean excessive
And Whereas meeting requirements of regulation 170\03 has meant and will
costs and financial burdens for all Drinking Water System Owners.
drinking
And Whereas there is no demonstrated proof that this New Regulation will improve
water that has been and continues to be safe in Rural Municipalities.
without adequate consultation with
passed
was
170\03
And Whereas Ontario Regulation
stakeholders throughout Ontario.
And Whereas said stakeholders should have been consulted concerning the Necessity, Efficacy,
Environmental and Health Impacts on Rural Ontario.
Therefore, be it resolved, that the Legislative Assembly of Ontario abandon the implementation
of and immediately repeal Regulation 170\03. As well as amending the pertinent, enabling
legislation.
of
Ministry
Premier of Ontario,
Ontario,
MPP
Carried. Copy to be sent to all municipalities in
Environment, County of Renfrew and John Yakabuski
J
Page ElEI5
04
p,
519 ~33 7~~1 CLERK-Elgin CO
FAX NO, 416 971 6191
ASSOCIATION OF?-)
260
APR-2B-04 WED 04:52 PM
EST
El4/28/El4 22:El8:El5
CITY OF WELLAND
O'fRCè of the City Clerk
411 East Main Street
Weiland, 01'1 L38 3X4
t'l1One: 905·735-1700 FaX: EJ05-"/32-1919
[,-rnrolil: craig.stirtzinger@wolland.ca
WEU..AND RESOLUTION:
~, .,.,'n"""'~.," ,..."..."'____.,w·'.......m.......'--~,..·_..·_...
ondor¡;es the rGsolution from CAW Local 523 with respect to requesting It)e
mediately strengthen the Ontario Pension and Benefit Guarantee Fund;
.ç:t'fy.qr::
"I hat Woiland City Counc.i
Provinci:,iI GovoJrnment to
,uid
further
Th¡1t s resolution be circulated to the Region of Níaøara and the Area Municipalities as well as to the
Ai.Hi,Oc:[(¡I!Û\\ of Ml.lnicíp<Jlities of Ontario (AMO) and all municipalities in Ontario for their endorsemen
its urgent attention; and
Governm",nt for
Provincial
the
be forWúrdod 10
Q;¡¡olu\i(:¡r
th<!
That
CAVil fU:SOLUTION AND BACKGROUND:
.' ~ _ _'.00'''". "..." ""...,.... ,. ._.___.,,"~"'........,,"~,..___._,_,...w..,-.....-__..........._<--~·~
V\I\;,~r('é'S them m... ¡.; number of employors such as Stelce and Ivaco in the Province of Ontario
illcludirl(l SMI¡)ip,.." W011,lnd Pip(~ and Slater Steel within the Hegion of Niagara currently operating
und"y tho protE'Gtion of the Cetnp,mies' Creditor Arrangement Act (CCM), and
th,¡ro
and
a $erious impact on the pensions and benefits of both active employees and
a wind-LIp of those Pension Plans, and
Ontario pension Plans,
those and other
in
liabilities
unfunded
aro significant
lhoro will b<.1
tho event of
VVb(~V·ØQi.~;t
Vt!íH;r(!{::-~m
rt:·hrt~I;)~1 in
protect the entire amount of accrued
does not
(PBGr=)
Guarantee FUI1(
W!ï¡¡,roi.1J''¡ the Pen~,ion B';¡l'\efits
pç,ngion b()nqf¡H~, and
protection again$t the loss of these
fu
have sufficient ass",ls to provide
Wh(Hø:m 1he f'ûGF m;;¡y not
P811"ioJ1 bon(,fits,
l' bN(,lol'O b,1 it r.~sotvcd the City of Weiland at1d other municipal and regional governments request
111(:' L\)(Ji~,,¡,tive A$~,et\1bly of Ontario amend tho provisions of the PBGF in order that it provides for th,~
CfJl11p!,¡tl.! cGvør(!(j() and protection of "ccrued pension benefits for all active and retired employe0's
I",·m:i,)n ¡"i,ms, r1nd
"¡her r"$<:,>lved the Legisl<1tivo assembly of Ontario amend the financing provisions for the
m'civr to (òO$Llfe that slIHicient funds are avail~¡ble to provide for cornplete protection of all
p",nsion ben"fit;;, and
H~" it 111
PUGF II
ii'lcc:nloc.1
no it f¡II;~Uy rt''ô;olvcd the LegÎ$lotive Assembly of Ont.~río lake tho necessary action req~lired to
pmvid.,\ inllllQd,(~tQ protection of aGCruod pension benefits for all active and retired employees' in the
PI O'JlnC17 of Onimio.
._~
.__-.-.Ho"___"~_____""'"
,___H_ .. ".'_
")·hi~~ï;ì.1\¡JrGïi¡;·-prõÿídf)dU;;;¡ërCOñiiäc.t as a paid servlco by th';"orîginating'organization, and
doss not n()c.e~s"rily raneet tl1e views or positions of the Association of Ml.lnicipé1líties of Ontario
.(AMº)!..ì~,.. "~.~:.~~kti:::.ry.S~~'lP~!1ies.!.~f.[~~!!!.lrect~~~~~º!:Jl'ts.
..._ "ON n. .,.. ,_" .......
Paye 1'11'16
05
P
I:LERK-Elyin 1:0
6191
416 971
519 633 7661
FAX NO,
ASSUI:IATIUß UF?->
260
APR-28-04 WED 04:52 PM
EST
1'14/28/1'14 22:1'18:43
[J,".CKGF<OUND
......._---~.._--~-
thc Ontario
is insolv~nt
Ihe wind"
~'tq!~~rl.{L.l~!,~I·;J!),~..J~A~~.~ fit.~_r; uaJ.:n:!lt~~e Fu.!!.<1
Fund is" insurance fund esmblibhcd by
cèlt3in defined \Jcn",';ts when an C1rnployer
the filn (11110\1111 of pcnsion entitlements upon
the PßC;¡: is a program paid for by cmploycl'S or defined benefit
Or prCI'IlÎlnn, thaL ">leh employer pays to the fund is based Oil Lhe
nd the pIau'. current financial status. The fLlnd is adl\\ini.,tcred by
COInmi$s10n of Ont,\rio (fSCO).
pbn.
E~I¡.¡hli.bod ill 198
pl:m.s. The. ltnnU(i fee.
uumbcl' of I'HC"IHhcrs t'
rhe [. inaw.1 ~~:rvic~s
In tI,e event of b¡mkruptcy, the PBOt' tops up plnn membcrs' bellefits 10 a maximum of
$1000 per (1101111\, Th¢ amou"t of top-up Î.' determined llsing a complicatcd formula
bítS~d Oil fh~ 1nC'IÜh()I"'s agel aCCClH::,J bC'oeIitt expected rl'Iortalit:YI amor\ß other factors. 10
dekrminlng t11"," al'l1,Qunt of top-·up, the PßOl" d~"c~ not æC('1£Uliz~ any irnprovcl'l1cnts made
to thl.~ IJl'n:~i()ll phm dul'it'1t?, the thrl.:':c years pIior to IhtJ wind..up nor does It recognize nny
pension búnclit-g negoliuwd olJl'Sidc the pension plarL
" I'rovid~ an uxample as 10 how the PUC;F works, ooun filings show that Ihe Stelpip.
pc'n,ion plOIl, as "t Jommry 2004, was fUl1dud nt a level of eighty-one percent (81%). If
tho p.::n~Hm plml wm: wound lip ßt tlu'It date- and lhe employer was b~\llkrupt! mcmbel's'
p(,:11~ìu!'l I.mtill~ml;mls would b~ rcduced by niuelC'<n percellt (190/0). including bènciits for
\,,,tl1 aClives am! uurrml !'etiNCS. At this point, the I'ßGF would be activated, topping \11'
IU8tI1b'~rs' b\~l'cfils 1(.) ïI m3xÌinu1'lluf $1000 pcr nlonth,
On~ Jœy C'OllCcru is then ther" wi nol b~; enough mOllc)' itl thë P'BGF lo providu Ihe
l\\aXimllm $1 OOO/month guamntc" În the event that Steleo declarus bankmplcy. Th"
.."¡¡-dIll t¡gainst thø PBGF for Stcko nhll1e is. SOI11~ $773 nllHioJ1, bUllhcre is cuo'cntly only
$1~~ miUj() l Ì¡I lhe Pt3GF, nnt incitlding cxj"ing claims agaiusllhe PDOF.
'''''olverlC)'
bolh
laws.
often
or oredit.ol'S undur the BIA Hnd CCA^: secul'ed and ul!secw'.d.
u;unlly batiks, geL paid Jìrst, tinsecurcd creditor, llet whal is left over,
b~tnknJptc'y situation.':!. (hcn~ aT~ no lef\()ycrs.
ï h~~rc tH'11 tWl,) Iyp~s
Sl.'ctm.:d C/"ct,lÎI0[St
/I nH')~'
GUiì ·ù.ntQ'~
to gll1wan1e.::
nhlc to nmd
Th" Pension l.1unell1s
PCL~siün Benefits ACl
is
(b:.nlkl'U¡ ud
lip of a p~~n')ion
!!tl~S~Q:'" ~1......c.r~ç.'.!i~~~'i:':---l'ittH.t~'L__')rÛ~x.t£...c! ~'l1d ~]n."Iccnred (~Iililn~
Th~n~ an~ two slatule!; d(;\::¡ling Wlt.(l ìnsolve: compaI'lics: the 13ankruptcy tmcJ
."11.:( (BIA) nnd the CompuJ1ÙNi' Cri!ditur.\' l1rrangement Act (CCAA). These are
f~d(~I'at :-iC¡¡h.l1t:::S aml i.tre ÜlI.'reforc pnrnmount if thl.::Y C'ontlìct with pl'ovinciai J(¡bour
'nlCY Un! ;Jctmìnil.->tcrI;:d fhrough a comnH~rcì1l1 court where workers rights arc
nçg,leç(t;'ù,
~o a
the
flprcferred C'1alm,
'md only'
bill bcf<)ro
un~c:~.'ured ct'L~djtors.
The BIA ",okes lInpaid wages
núnlhs prior to the b;:,.nkl'up1CY,
,jre lJaid a!'tur lhe secur~d clahns
be
l
(kcmcd
uoprtid wagø¡:;.
in Ih" ,ix (6)
pl'olèL'red claims
Ihe-y iwe
An I:':-.ceptj()n I!;I ll1a(l\~ for
bllt GIll)' fOl" W(lg~s due
maxilllU¡n of $2000. The
t,)(]-¡¡:r IIIH.Cl.'llrúd <.:!¡1ims..
bCCfmse
()
løs(:
WUr!CC-fS
V¡'¡Ct1 pay is c~)t'1$idc;:r(';d ta bc. wages tlnH i!; Ì!'ealed On the some basi$. as a prefclTcd
rI:~¡m. Tcnnin'ltion p¡:¡.y and ~cvcnlllCC p.,)' ar~ l1'e:1tcd n5 unsc('ured clnims, and are fSu'dy
p¡Jid !.)ut cxcC'pt OIS a v~ry smell} p~tccntf1ge of what is owed. Pension {"nlÎtJ~mel'lts t}.rt.:: paid
ull! 111 ! '(lporlion to the ('¡mded I(,vel of the pension phln. Dy law, pon,qi(1ll monies are
I~~'juir(;d ll) be l"t.,~pt ::.cparmc from C~) l)Ol'ate funds. 50 whrilevC"t rnOl1ic.s ate in llw nl1\d at
tho tinl" of h~tnkr\,lptcy M(: iJ\açct::ssibl~ 10 oth(j¡- cfl.~dltol's.
[' '~1' r-;h."rñ;;;;:"i~,iTr¡ra~¿Y(¿i,~ti"i:jna~T"wnlrf.[(it tI;a"P;-ki--;;~'; bÿ"'li,õ'ÕriginuUnn fJrganizalipn, and deaf} nõi'òeë;ã~;1rilY rSflÐC\\hö·vi,jw'š'ö'T'..........]
.£;.I?!¡.~.!~']Jn!:n~~.~y~:~~~¡~!L?Tl.~~lJnlci¡?~~i!i~~.E.L~~~~'!..t~~2h.!~; (;lIb!..ídii1ty~p'an¡Ð5. o~~~~~.~!r.E!;!?~.8r"~~~L_..~,,_...~,,,.~"'.....~"M.
I
~
RECEIVED
,
2004
tŒj~lV Of ELGIN
"'¡'<" ¡¡'~!I..-m¡1<_!i1': _11:M':!~
!,:,>{l,f1~¡fjj§~ 'i,} ~ nírH ~w~.~ ~n v niy;iJ:r
ì)
APR 1
Museum
Re: Elgin County Pioneer
May Concern:
, am writing you today as a concerned citizen and taxpayer. I have been following the
media coverage relating to the Elgin County Pioneer Museum and feel compelled to
respond to the request for public input, which was recently published.
It
To Whom
As a current professional in the Heritage and Culture sector I have some concerns
regarding what has occurred over the last nineteen months. Recently averted threats of
funding cuts in Ottawa have caused the Heritage and Culture sector to reevaluate their
internal funding structures and reliance on the traditionally 'secure' resource of
munièipal government. As the caretakers of our heritage, we are obligated to act
responsibly in the use of public funding to provide care to the artifacts in our
possession.
Since the unfortunate fire in April of 2001, the Pioneer Museum's collection has been
crated up and moved three times. Each move requires that the artifacts be handled
twice, to pack the collection and then to unpack the artifacts. Each time they are
handled and moved they risk damage from the handling, as well as shock from
temperature and humidity fluctuations. The movement of museum artifacts is a field
requiring specialized training and expertise by staff familiar with museum practices and
standards.
With the risks inherent in the movement of the collection, I cannot understand why it
was deemed to be necessary to relocate the collection until such time as a final decision
on what to do, and when to do it, was made. I have seen no evidence that the structure
did, or currently does, pose any threat to the collection, staff or visitors.
However, this was done, doubtlessly at considerable cost to the taxpayers of Elgin
County, costs that continue to escalate each month. Plans have been prepared and set
out for tender, again at considerable expense, only to be withdrawn while yet another
consultant earns a fee from our tax dollars. If a decision to relocate is made, to the
railway station or elsewhere, how much will that cost, and, more importantly, how much
will the annual operating costs (and my taxes) increase?
--
______n.___
Another question, which does not appear to have been addressed, is how the museum
was allowed to deteriorate into this apparently terrible condition? Were there not
regular inspections and maintenance done, or have issues been conveniently
overlooked until such time as the only viable solution is a new museum?
It seems to this citizen that the historic home is being completely overlooked as an
artifact and early house in St. Thomas. It appears to have been left empty, and, from
what I can see, little effort is being put into its maintenance and repair. Is this lack of
attention permitting the structure to decline further and force the County to seek a new
location? Should the museum relocate, what will happen to this historic home? What of
the County's obligation to those who contributed to the founding of the museum, whose
hard work and efforts presented the County with a museum building and collection for
the nominal fee of $1.00, on condition that the County maintain the building and
collection?
"
How many thousands of our tax dollars have now been spent, and where is the benefit?
For over a year and a half, our money has poured into the pockets of landlords and
consultants, with no visible results, and, it seems, no end in sight. For over forty years,
the location and conditions at the Pioneer Museum site seemed to be adequate. What
has changed?
If there are issues of accessibility, as have been reported in the media, why is it that the
adjoining Elgin Military Museum, which receives no money from either the City or the
County, has been rated as "Totally Accessible" by the St. Thomas Access and
Awareness Committee? How can they do something that the Pioneer Museum, backed
with all the resources of the County, cannot seem to do?
The area of the Pioneer Museum home has been identified by the City of St. Thomas as
an area to be developed for historic purposes and tourism. Would it not make sense
to work with the City to help to rehabilitate and develop this area? Thousands of people
already stop every year to see Jumbo, so why can the museum not do something to
attract them across the street? It would seem to be an issue of marketing, not location.
The Pioneer Museum seems to be becoming the County's version of St. Thomas' Arena
debate. I would hope that County Council will take action to decide this issue and end
this costly indecision, and to put in place controls and safeguards to ensure such
expensive indecision cannot recur. Personally, I would hope that the historic home
would remain as the location of the Pioneer Museum, for future generations to visit,
learn and enjoy.
Respectively
Debra Page
Cc. Elgin Council Members, County Council Administration, Board of Directors for the
Elgin County Pioneer Museum, St. Thomas Times Journal.
Page: 1
Accurate information helps us provide you with the best possible seNicel Date: 04/08/2004
Corporation of The County of Elgin
anization Verification Report
Or
Org. Number: 78634
Org. Status: Active
Rep: AL BOD
Billing Address:
450 Sunset Drive
Sl. Thomas, ON N5R 5V1
Corporation of The County of Elgin
Corporation of The County of Elgin
Mailing Address:
450 Sunset Drive
51. Thomas, ON N5R 5V1
DBA:
Physical Address:
450 Sunset Drive
51. Thomas, ON N5R 5V1
43
7
50
Full Time:
Part Time:
Total:
Toll Free:
Employees:
(519) 633-7785
Fax:
URL
125
Bus. Begin: / /
Date Joined: 05/09/2000
(519) 631-1460 E
Phone:
Emai
Sales Contact
Source:
Government
Government Services
Business Type:
Categories
o
05/01/2005
$145.00
Annual
Tax Exempt:
Next Bill Date:
Dues:
Cycle:
(MAIN)
BI
Fax When:
Fax
Mai
Emal
o
Prefer Method of Communication:
human-resour¢es@elgin-county.on,ca
Who
125 (519) 633-7785
Main Benefit Contact
(519) 631-1460 E
--
Contact lliJ
Director of Human
Contact lliJ Main Advertiser
Mr. Harley Underhi
lliJ Main Contact
lliJ Who's
lliJ Main Dues Contact
lliJ Main Event
Status:
Contact Title Phone Fax Email
Mr. John Wilson Councillor (519) 269-3364 (519) 269·3617
Address:
50850 Wilson Line, R.R. #1
Springfield, ON NOL 2JO
o Main Contact o Main Event Contact o Main Advertiser Contact o Main Benefit Contact o Main Dues Contact lliJ Who's Who
Status:
Contact Title Phone Fax Email
Mr. Ð.....I.i5 A. G.....:t:. Counci11or (519) 7BB 7112 (519) 7B2 70BB
Address:
~2-;,-,a5 r1ðB81 tß Ui ,8
U"i....", orl tJ8L £LS
o Main Contact o Main Event Contact o Main Advertiser Contact o Main Benefit Contact o Main Dues Contact lliJ Who's Who
Status:
,
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ST. THOMAS & DISTRICT
elER QECOMMERCE
~Jm! '¡W,
Page 005
04
P.
CLERK-Elgin Co
8191
418 97
519 633 7661
FAX NO,
ASSOCIATION OF?-)
260
16 AM
EST
05/06/04 22:06:38
MAY-06-o4 THU 08
Tcl. 613.386·7351
Fax 613-386-3833
www.loya1ist-tovmshíp.ol1.ca
al~t
1-
c.:::.-
']'11.' ('úI )Ofalioll of [,oyoliSl Townohlp
I'.n. Box 70, 2(,3 Mojo ~¡root
Ode""", Ontario KOII 2HO
2004
28,
^Jïrll
smaner municip~lí\ies facing increMes
PALITIM
Hcqucst to Province tor fimmdal relierto
}<!).~\.~,JQ!:_W.ílt!f..ï_.i!!!çJ.,'iP':\y'\)X..§QrviJ;.9.,~
1'!t:_...A!.J" ONJ:~UQ<.LMUNICI
I{l;
on April 26,2004:
Council
Township
Loyalist
by
was adopted
Councillor Orcsee
Cotll\cillor [hcy
(b!lowing rc~oJution
MOWll by
S(;condcd hy
The
Township is a mixed urban and filral municipality whcl'c approximately
(npptoximalely 10,500 ¡-csidents) rcccíve municipal waler and
units
Whl'l'C<t8 Ll1yalist
4500 rc'gidcnth
SC\Wr
sr:rvkes
Anti WJi<w~as Loyalist Township opèrales two Waler lrcnhnent facìlilies anti three
wastewaler fl.1cililies that alll'cql1irc scparatc and evcr inclwIsing rcporting;
prod l1ction to
And whc(c¡¡s pO$t-Walkcrlon regulations havc caused thc eost of water
:<ky!"()ûk<:l ¡llong wilh capital Costs for irnprovemGnts IQ infn!structurc;
^ r<'cogni:,>.Ìng IIml while the Ministry's evolving regulations arc intended to improvc
111'Ih 111..: qn,'1iI.y ofwilter and the proetJSSl~S to nsscss I]¡I;\ quality of water, they also C<.\use a
draml1lic incrcaRc in thc ndministrntivc and auditing rcsources required;
And whçr<:us, in Loyn1ist Township at least, tho c'ltra costs itleurrc<! have not improved
the alr,'ady ,'xccllent qllnlity of drinking water produced and provided to water e1lstomers;
incrc..1ses in
And whercas ful! eost recovcry is forcing municipalitics to imposc hugc
Wi,ter anÜ sewer servieQ rilles for a product lhat is essential to life:
ofTIIO Corporation ofI..(Iyalisl Township hereby rcquests the
and the Province ofOl1tario to provide JInandal and/or
¡¡n::as that face increasing costs
Sl'l-vice
Now lherc(orc, the Counci
l\·1inÎstry ()f lIw Environment
kµbl~",d rdi"f10 smaller
Page 886
05
P.
CLERK-Elgin Co
6191
416 97
519 633 7661
FAX NO.
ASSOCIATION OF?-)
260
AM
EST
6
85/86/84 22:87:86
MAY-06-04 THU 08
And !Ì,lr!flQI", C()UI\Qil fl\ljuests the Minister of the EnvirOlm1Cnt to acccpt an invitation to
nwc( with Loyalist Township rcpresentatiws with the h1\ent that opportunities to address
thi~ I'Osomco shorlí~l1 can be cxplorcd in a cooporntÎve and opcn manner;
And litrlhcr, th~l this resolution be fOl'wardcd to the Premier's Office, the office ofthc
Minister of the Environment, thc ofJice of the Minister of Municípal Affàirs and HOllsing,
nil nnl1licìpnlitíos (lhrollgh AMO) ;1(1\1 to lhe \YuleI' associations (A WWA, CWWA,
OMW 1\. OWW 1\) requesting thcir support
Motion cnrricd.
..
from
this resolution
for
support
respcctfully requests
L(>yn(Jsl TownslJip COllncÌ
I)llllieirnlil¡cs in Onlario
truly,
Yours
I J¡1111illon, CMO
Clclk
"Th ~ 1\1r,l¡;ri;;¡llSprovid;:;'dunderëõ'ntract "s a paid servlèã by the originating organization, and
do.~¡; not tJøœss"rily rùfloct Ih(! views or positions of the Association of Municipalities of Onlario
(AIAO). il!: slIb$ldínry companies, officers. directors or agents."
.. -~--''''--'\_'''.U'__''._--'' ~.,
Ilr"nda J.
T()wl\::;hif.
2004
11
CORRESPONDENCE - Ma
nformation - (Consent Aaenda
County pens and spoons from: Helen Harvey;
Keith & Ruth Davis
Dr. Sheela V. Basrur, Chief Medical Officer of Health and Assistant Deputy
Minister, Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, with information regarding
the interim Campbell Commission report regarding the SARS outbreak.
(ATTACHED)
2)
Thank you for
Items for
1)
Prime Minister Paul Martin, acknowledging Council's support for a
comprehensive new legislative framework for funding municipalities.
(ATTACHED)
3)
Cathy Crane, R.N., BScN, Compliance Advisor, Ministry of Health and
Long-Term Care with Annual Facility Review Summary Report for Elgin
Manor. (ATTACHED)
4)
Dan Mathieson, Mayor, City of Stratford inviting municipal officials and staff
to "Civic Night at the Stratford Festival". (ATTACHED)
5)
Tim Burns, Director (A) Long-Term Care Facilities Branch with decision
regarding the 2003 Municipal Tax Allowance Fund (ATTACHED)
6)
Association of Municipalities of Ontario Member Communication Alert
regarding Supply/Conservation: Key Elements of New Electricity Plan for
Ontario. (ATTACHED)
7)
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing News Release regarding New
Legislation to Reduce Rent Hikes. (ATTACHED)
8)
Premier Dalton McGuinty, acknowledging Council's support regarding GST
and PST rebates to municipalities. (ATTACHED)
9)
J. S. Burke, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, with
update on ~rovince's current plan regarding municipal costs incurred on the
August 141,2003 power outage. (ATTACHED)
10)
John Gerretsen, Minister, Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, with
Residential Tenancy Reform Summary. (Pamphlets available for viewing In
Administrative Services).
11)
Carllsenburg, Vice-President, Customer Relations, MPAC, thanking
Council for their support regarding MPAC's access to vital statistics data
(ATTACHED)
12)
and
the assessment
Greg Sorbara, Minister, Ministry of Finance, regarding
taxation of trailer dwellings. (ATTACHED)
13)
Malcolm Bates, Director, Emergency Health Services, Ministry of Health
and Long-Term Care, regarding an increase to the 2004 Response Time
Funding Grant. (ATTACHED)
14)
Larry Clay, Director, Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, regarding
the Municipal Performance Measurement Program (MPMP) Release of
2001 Summary Data Report. (ATTACHED)
15)
Greg Sorbara, Minister, Ministry of Finance advising Council of the 2004
Education property tax rate regulations. (ATTACHED)
16)
George Smitherman, Minister, Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
regarding Emergency Health Services - Land Ambulance Fleet and
Equipment Procurement Services Model. (ATTACHED)
17)
(ATTACHED)
Carol, Layton, Secretary General to The Order of Ontario, seeking
Nominations for the Order of Ontario (ATTACHED)
Nancy Naylor, Assistant Deputy Minister, Ministry of Finance, re
assessment of residential trailers for the 2003 taxation year.
20)
I
I
¡
AMO 2004 Annual Conference Update
18)
19)
416-863-2101
fficulties please call
í
. Duncan
The County of
In Case of Transmission Di
Mcphail
warden
Elgin
To
please Deliver
® Ontario
Mini!ïtèr'e de la Santé
et cles Solns do longue durée
Mini.try of Health
and Long-Term Care
MódÐ~ln hygiinlstø un chøf st
Sous-mlnlatré adjoint
Division de la :eantë p\.IbllQue
Edifice Hepburn, 11 êtag.
Queen's Park
Toronto (ON) M7A 1R3
Chief M.dlc~1 OffIcor of Hoalth :.nd
A.1Jv.lotant DQ: )uty Mlnh~\or
PubliC Hêalth Division
11111 Floor. Hepburn Block
QUBan's Park
TQronloONM7A 1R3
TêlèphOn.: (416) 212·3631
Tåláoopieur. (418) 325.a412
Telephone; (416) 212·3631
Fe",lmlle: (416) 325·6412
April 20, 2004
Councl
I am writing to inform you that Health and Long- rerm Care Minister George Smitherman has today released
the interim report from Mr. Justice Archie Campbell on the investigation into the outbreak of Severe Acute
Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in Ontario last year. The report was submitted to the Minister on April 15. For a
copy of the Campbell report, please visll our web site at www.health.!lov.on..ca
TO: The He¡>ds of
The Campbell Commission was established to investigate how the SARS virus came to the provlnoe, how it
was spread and later contained. The Campbell Cornmission report outlines wh¡¡t happened, what lessons have
been learned and what improvements should be made to Ontario's he¡>lthœre system.
As the Campbell report is quite extensive - It explores events that occurred during the SARS outbreak, some
of the lessonS learned, and what enhancemeota should be made to Ontario's health care system - we will need
some time to review Its content properly. However. I am personally committed to bringing fOlWard an action
plan that enables the government to address these concerns.
Please be assured that the Minister is very supportive and committed to revitalizing our province's public
heal1l1 system. We will rebuild the capacity Of the public health system and Improve its effectiveness In the face
of fUture health emergencies, Public health In Ontario requires a new mandate, new leadership and new
resources and this Is what we are working toward.
Medical Officer of
The Minister has committed us to develop an action plan for release in JI.Jne to address:
Public health leadership and accountability
Creation of a health protection and promotion agency for Ontario
Legislative changes to increase the independence ¡>nd strengthen the role of the Chief
Health
Emergency preparedness for the health care system
Expanded health human resources
Improved collaboration among all three levels of government
Enhanced linkages across the heallhcare system
Enhanced information and information technology infrastructure
look fOlWard to working with you in revitalizing public health In this province,
Yours sincerely
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
Dr Sheela V. Basrur
Chief Medical Officer of He¡>lth ¡>nd
Assistant Deputy Minister
RECEIVED
CANADA
ER MINISTRE:
PREM
F~
E
T
NIS
PRiME M
2004
Ç{JU~i'íY Of a.Git\I
"¡f'mf'1I!!ffl>11' ,"W" '''' t»'M1i"'1!:0
t~tiJgijß~M'J~i~) H rt;¡.¢~& ª }:lY~;~ \~\tm'\f \,; ?"â
APR 21
April 13, 2004
Heffren:
Thank you for your letter of March 12, 2004, in which you
advised me that the Council of the Corporation of the County of Elgin
supports the City of Sarnia's resolution calling for a cornprehensive new
legislative framework for funding municipalities.
Mrs
Dear
In the 2004 Budget the Government of Canada announced
that it will provide all Canadian municipalities with a one hundred per cent
rebate of the Goods and Services Tax. Municipalities asked the
Government of Canada for help and we have responded. The rebate wi
provide a total of $7 billion in revenue over the next ten years to all
municipalities enabling them to address some of the current challenges
they are facing.
As you may well know, the Government of Canada is also
working with its partners in the provinces and municipalities to explore
other means of providing long-term, predictable and stable funding to
municipalities. In most cases, any agreement on funding municipalities
will require the cooperation of provincial governments which have
jurisdiction over municipal governments under the Constitution and which
provide direct grants to municipalities.
,....---..
tA-
time to express your views
the
Mrs. Sandra J. Heffren
Deputy Clerk
The Council of the Corporation of the County of Elgin
450 Sunset Drive
St. Thomas, Ontario
N5R 5V1
Thank you for taking
® Ontario
Ministry of Health and Long·Term Care
Ministère de la Santé et des Soins de longue durée
Acute Services and Community Health Divisions
Division des services en matlère de soins actits at de la santé communautaire
March 25, 2004
Mr. Mark McDonald
Administrator (A)
Elgin Manor
39262 Fingal Line
R.R. # 1
St. Thornas ON N5P 3S5
Mr. McDonald
Please find enclosed the Facility Review Summary Report for the review of care and services
conducted on February 18, 19, 20 & 23, 2004.
Dear
This ANNUAL REVIEW must be posted for public viewing in a conspicuous place in the facility,
in accordance with Section 54(a) of the Homes for the Aged and Rest Homes Act and
Regulation 637.
I would like to remind you that under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act,
all information retained by the Ministry of Health relating to your facility is potentially subject to
public release.
A copy of this report must be made available without charge to any resident of the facility upon
request. The report will also be on file with the Health Care Programs Division, South West
Region
truly,
Yours
Cathy Crane, R.N.. BScN
Compliance Advisor
CC/ps
Attachment
w.
(St
Réglon sud-ouest
Windsor Office
8te. 300- 215 rue Eugenia
Windsor ON N8X 2X7
Tel (519) 250-0788
Fax (519) 973-1360
TOLL FREE '-800-663-3775
~
South West Region
London Office
Ste.201 - 231 Dundas (St
London ON N6A 1 H1
Tel (519) 675-7680
Fax (519) 675-7685
TOLL FREE 1-800-663·3775
Facility Review
Report
Acute Services and Community
Health Divisions
Ministry
of Health and
Long-Term
Care
@
Ontario
Rapport d'inspection
d' établissement
Division des services en matière de
soins actifs et de la santé
communautalre
Ministère
de la Santé et
des Soins de
longue durée
Long- Term Care Faci1ity/Ëtablissement de soins de longue durée
Line
Elgin Manor
39262 Fingal
R. R. # 1
8t. Thomas
ON N5P 385
Governing body/Organisme responsable
Elgin
Corporation of the County of
Administrator/Directeur général/directrice général
Mrs. Helen Nolte. General Manager
Approved capacity/Nombre de lits autorisés
90 Beds
Review date/Date de I'inspectlon
19,20 & 23,2004
18
February
of review/Genre d'inspection
ANNUAL REVIEW
Tvpe
Rapport d'inspection d'établissement
Le mandat du Ministère de la Santé et des
Soins de longue durée est d'assurer aux
pensionnaires des établissements de soins de
longue durée de l'Ontario des soins et des
services de qualité.
Facility Review Report
The mandate of the Ministry of Health and
Long-Term Care is to ensure that residents
in Ontario Long-Term Care Facilities receive
quality care and services.
Afin d'atleindre cet objectif, Ie ministère a rnis
en oeuvre son Programme d'inspections
des établissements de soins de longue
durée pour surveiller la qualité des soins
dispensés aux pensionnaires et des services
offerts dans les établissements de soins de
longue durée. Si, selon les inspections, les
établissernents de soins de longue durée ne
se conforment pas aux normes établies par Ie
rninistère, ceux-ci deviennent donc
responsables pur la correction des normes et
critères.non-respectés.
In order to achieve this goal, the Ministry
has irnplemented its Long-Term Care
Facility Review Program to monitor the
quality of resident care and facilities
services. Where Long-Term Care Facilities
do not meet Ministry standards, as
determined by facility reviews, the home is
expected to correct any unmet standards or
criteria.
La direction de la division des programmes de
soins de santé du Ministère de la santé et des
Soins de longue durée effectue régulièrement
des inspections sur la qualité des soins dans
toutes les établissernent de soins de longue
durée.
The Health Care Programs division of the
Ministry of Health and Long-Terrn Care
conducts ongoing quality of care reviews in
all Long-Term Care Facilities throughout the
Province of Ontario.
Le Rapport sur les cas de non-conformité
aux normes et aux critères donne les
résultats de I'inspection du ministère et Ie plan
de I'établissernent de soins de longue durée
en De qui a trait aux rnesures correctives à
prendre. Ce rapport est un document public et
doit être affiché bien en vue dans
I'établissement de soins de longue durée.
The Report of Unmet Standards or
Criteria outlines the Ministry's review
findings and the facility's review plan for
corrective action. Reports are public
documents and must be prominently
displayed in all Long-Terrn Care facilities
Pour de plus arnples renseignements sur ce
prograrnme, écrivez à la personne suivante
Directeur ou directrice de la division des
prograrnrnes de soins de santé
Région du Sud-Ouest
231 rue Dundas, bureau 201
London ON N6A 1 Hi
Téléphone: (519) 675-76801
1-800-663-3775 (Appels sans
frais)
Any inquiries related to this program may be
directed to:
Regional Director
Health Care Programs
Southwest Region
Suite 201, 231 Dundas Street
London ON N6A 1H1
Telephone: (519) 675-76801
1-800-663-3775
Free)
(Tol
FACILITY REVIEW SUMMARY REPORT
Definition of Terms
The monitoring and eyaluation process is based on the standards and criteria contained in
the Long-Term Care Facilities Program Manual. Each facility has a copy which the public
may request to view.
in concluding that a standard or criteria has
The reviewer considers the following factors
not been met:
Conditions hayebeen observed that pose actual or potential serious risks to a
resident's health, welfare or rights; and/or
Conditions haye been observed that are not as serious but are preyalent or
recurring; and/or
and/or
Conditions haye been identified during preYious reviews, but haye not been
corrected within the ne20tiated time frame for corrective actio
. ¡
initiate corrective action;
The facility has not made successful efforts to
D
. .
One or more criteria that were reviewed
relating to the identified standards, did not
meet the expectations; and
~.<.
All criteria that were reviewed relating to
the identified standard were found to meet
the expectations
The identified deficiencies met the
conditions for issuing a REPORT OF
UNMET STANDARDS OR CRITERIA or
AREA OF NON-COMPLIANCE.
Criteria reviewed relating to the identified
standard mayor may not meet the
expectations.
Criteria that were reviewed relating to the
identified standard mayor may not meet the
expectations; but
Criteria that were reviewed indicate the
need for other expertise to determine
compliance or to provide more in-depth
review and assistance.
A REPORT OF UNMET STANDARD OR
CRITERIA m: or may not be issued.
Identified deficiencies if applicable, do not
meet the conditions for issuing a REPORT
OF UNMET STANDARDS OR CRITERIA.
Recommendations were discussed to
enhance the quality of the care, programs
and services provided to the residents.
Elgin
February
Review
Manor
.
.
Long-Term Care Facility
2004
& 23,
20,
19,
18,
.
.
Date of Review
Annua
programs and services being provided
Type of
Updates on any care,
by the facility:
The new facility offers a pleasant home-like environment and
increased privacy for residents. A comprehensive wound
management program is in place.
Review:
All or some criteria related to the following standards were
reviewed. Comments in the right column reflect the status of
the standards at the time of the review AND ARE BASED ONLY
ON CRITERIA WHICH WERE REVIEWED. Conclusions are
based on observations and reviews of a selected sample of
residents.
COMMENTS
STANDARD
STANDARD NOT MET
A 1.11 (6)(18) regarding a
safe environment
There are mechanisms in place
to promote and support
residents' rights, autonomy,
and decision-making.
A1.23 relating to written
responses to Resident
Council concerns and
suggestions.
STANDARD MET
n
servicesl.
i
There is a facility-specific
written admission agreement
place to delineate the
accommodationl. care
1
programs and goods that will
provided to the resident and,
the obligations of the resident
with respect to their
responsibilities and payment for
service.
be
STANDARD MET
Each resident's needs for care
and services are determined
with the resident/
representative through an
interdisciplinary assessment
process.
STANDARD NOT MET
82.4 relating to a resident's
plan of care.
Each resident's care and
services are planned with the
resident/ representative
through an inter-disciplinary
planning process.
STANDARD NOT MET
83.45 relating to pain
management.
Each resident receives care and
services consistent with his/her
plan of care and with residents'
rights outlined in the 8i11 of
Rights.
STANDARD MET
There is ongoing monitoring
and evaluation of each
resident's care, services and
care outcomes.
STANDARD NOT MET
85.2 relating to
documentation of care and
services.
2
All significant information about
each resident is documented in
his/her record.
_J
STANDARD MET
There is an organized program
of nursing services to meet
residents' nursing and personal
care needs, consistent with the
professional standards of
practice of the College of
Nurses of Ontario.
STANDARD MET
There is an organized
orientation program that
responds to the learning needs
of new staff.
STANDARD MET
There is an organized in-service
education program that
responds to the assessed
learning needs of staff.
STANDARD MET
There are recreation and leisure
services organized to provide
age-appropriate recreation,
leisure, and education
opportunities based on and
responsive to the abilities,
strengths, needs, interests and
former lifestyle of the residents.
I
3
STANDARD MET
There is an organized program
of social work services, or
arrangements are made to
access available social work
services to meet residents'
psychosocial needs.
STANDARD MET
There is an organized spiritua
and religious care program to
respond to the spiritual and
religious needs and interests of
the residents.
STANDARD MET
There is an organized program
of therapy services or
arrangements made to access
available therapy services to
meet residents' identified
therapy needs.
STANDARD MET
There is an organized program
of volunteer services.
STANDARD MET
There is a co-ordinated program
of dental services, or
arrangements made to access
dental services to meet
residents' dental care needs.
4
STANDARD MET
There is an organized program
of foot care services, or
arrangements are made to
access foot care services to
meet residents' needs.
STANDARD MET
Other programs/services
provided by the facility are
organized to provide services to
respond to residents' identified
needs/preferences.
Fadl ityörg~~iZ?ltíQj¡¡ça rìd. Admi nistrÇlti~n
.... .. ...; ..........."......'........... -,-,-;,-"< "·C',',· '.-....... .....'...,...,.,..,;..."........;.
Recommendation discussed
regarding revision of
facility policies and
procedures.
The program and resources of
the facility are organized to
effectively manage the facility
and each of its programs and
services, in keeping with
Ministry Acts Regulations,
Policies and Directives.
5
STANDARD NOT MET
M2 relating to quality
management program.
There is a comprehensive, co-
ordinated, facility-wide,
program for monitoring,
evaluating and improving the
quality of accommodation, care,
services, programs and goods
provided by the facility.
STANDARD MET
There are co-ordinated risk
management activities designed
to reduce and control actual. or
potential risks to the safety,
security, welfare and health of
individuals or to the safety and
security of the facility.
STANDARD MET
There is an organized system of
records management which
includes the components of
collection, access, storage,
retention and destruction of
records.
STANDARD MET
Medical services are organized
to meet residents' medical
needs, including assessment,
planning and provision of
residents' individualized
medical care, consistent with
professional standards of
practice.
STANDARD MET
Environmental services are
organized to provide a safe,
comfortable, clean, well-
maintained environment for
residents,staff and visitors.
6
STANDARD MET
is
The facility, including
furnishings and equipment,
maintained.
STANDARD MET
s
i
The facility, including
furnishings and equipment,
kept clean.
STANDARD MET
Laundry services are organized
to meet the linen and personal
clothing needs of residents.
STANDARD MET
There is an organized program
of dietary services to respond to
residents' nutritional care needs
and to provide safe, personally
acceptable, nutritious food to
residents.
STANDARD MET
The facility makes
arrangements for diagnostic
services to meet residents'
needs as ordered by the
residents' physicians.
STANDARD MET
There is an organized program
for the provision of pharmacy
services to meet the residents'
identified needs.
7
STANDARD MET
There is an organized
interdisciplinary pharmacy and
therapeutics committee
responsible for directing the
facility's pharmacy program and
services.
J
STANDARD MET
The prescription ordering and
transmission of orders support
the safe provision of drugs to
residents.
STANDARD MET
The pharmacy service provides
for the accurate, safe
dispensing of prescription drugs
and biologicals to meet
residents' identified medication
requirements.
STANDARD MET
A system of records for receipt
and disposition of all drugs
received by the facility is
maintained in sufficient detail
to enable accurate tracking,
reconciliation and auditing, in
accordance with applicable
legislation.
STANDARD MET
All drugs and biologicals are
stored under proper conditions
of sanitation, temperature,
light, humidity and security.
STANDARD MET
Disposal of drugs is in
accordance with established
Ministry policy.
8
STANDARD MET
There is a system for immediate
reporting of each medication
error and adverse drug
reaction, with specific follow-up
action to be taken.
Ri..!!..... 'E·"''''~r'';¡'ít:I'·''V''··"I''E:·''''l··!''!3¡:
': . .... '. R19 f4!~ _ ·k·,
.' .":' 'M..'!? ~Z''\,~ ~ " t~!¡
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~~, . "\'¡'lriIiJl''IP'''''II:!l1I1
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-- ~";M"~,f¡~,;<":;iInß~~~1W,,,,, o¡cn'i, ~"-~I"¡~''''
3
MAY
2004,
April 1st
I
CITY of
STRATFORD
QJJi.ce of the Mayor
His Worship Dan Mathieson
une 25th. 2004
the Stratford
and staff to
CIVIC NIGHT IN STRATFORD - Frida
Stratford City Council, in co-operation with
Festival of Canada, is pleased to invite municipal officials
"Civic Night at the Stratford Festival"
The featured perfonnance this year is Guys and Dolls. As
always, the Stratford Festival can be counted on to provide an
entertaining and engaging adaptation of this well-known tale.
Additional information on the production and cast is available through
the Stratford Festival website at www.stratfordfestival.ca.
P.O. Box 818
Stratford ON N5A 6Wl
(519) 271-0250 Ext. 234
Faxi (519) 271-2783
dmathieson@city.stratford.on.ca
City Hal
The City of Stratford has reserved 450 Civic Night seats for the
June 25th performance, which begins at 8 p.m. at the Festival Theatre.
Once again, the Stratford Festival has offered a generous ticket
discount. The "A+" seating price is $63.05, and the "A" seating price
is $57.45. The City is pleased to host a reception following the
performance in the Paul D. Fleck Marquee.
www.city.stratford.on.ca
CO!l1l£illnrs:
George Brown
This year, patrons attending Civic Night are asked to reserve
their tickets directly with the Festival by contacting the Box Office at
1-800-567-1600. Please advise the representative that you are calling
tickets under the City of Stratford's Civic Night group
Your ticket request will be processed and mailed directly
Keith Culliton
Sam Dinicol
to purchase
reservation.
to you.
Howard Famrne
I look forward to seeing you on June 25th, 2004 and hope that
you enjoy the Stratford experience
Dave Hunt
Sincerely,
Lloyd Licht
Frank Mark
Kathryn Rae
Dan Mathieson, Mayor
Rickett
Chris
DMllw
Cheryl Ruby
"Community Excellence with Worldwide Impact'
tOf~OntariO
/03
,\::-
P.0
ELGIN
FR MOH-LTC SW REGIONl8 675 7638 TO CORP.CNTY
AM
o
APR 22 2004
Ministère de la Santé
et des Soin$ de longue durée
Ministry of Health
and Long-Term Core
longué duré~
00
Divi~ior1 de 1;\ s~mt¢ çomml,1T1autàire
Direction du étab\issements-¡jesoi\'ls
BO. rue Grosvcnor
')' Hu&c¡ Mitice Hepburn
Queens Park
To",nIOON M7A 2<::4
Community HellUh DlvÎ:¡ion
Long- Tmn C¡¡re Facilities Branch
30 Grosvenor 8mct
$111 Floor, Hbpburn Block
QueensPflrk
TorontoON M7A 2CA
T!I!phone: (4\~)212.2;62
Tôlécopicur: (4\6)326.0018
T,I,pMn" (41 ó) 212-2362
Fac,intile: (416) 326·00\1>
Administrators, Long-Term Care Facì1ìties
9,2004
April
Tim Burns
Director (A) Long-Term Care Facì1ìties Branch
MEMORANDUM TO:
FROM
at Till( Allowance Fund andAQJ!Ü
- - -
Munid
REJ
al Tax AlloWJUlce_Eund
This memorand1.11IJ is to advise you of the decision that has been made regarding the 2003
Municipal Tax Allowance Fund.
Munici:
For the 2003 calendar year, the fund has an allocation of$47.3 mì1lion to be distributed
among all eligible long-term care facilities based on their municipal tax assessment. The
p<:rcenlage allocation is approximately 73% of the facilities 2003 municipal tax
assessment.
Facilities that have received less than 73% of their municipal taxes will be reimbursed in
April 2004. In order to help provide enough planning time, operators will not be subject
to recoveries until 2003 annual reconciliation where distributions to date exceed 73%.
For the 2004 calendar year, the allocation of $47.3 million remains fixed at this time
while the goverrunent reviews all funding initiatives. The mOIÙes available for municipal
taxes for 2004 are being advanced this month to eligible operators taking into account the
increase in numbers of new bed5 being opened across the province and the increase in tax
assessments by municipalities. This has resulted in a projected percentage allocation of
50% of the current municipal tax assessments for eligible operators in the April advance
payment. We appreciate that this is a conservative estimate and will work with your
association to revisit the information with a view to distributing a higher percentage if
possible within the existing allocation of$47.3 million by June 2004.
/2
P.02/03
SW REGION19 675 7639 TO CORP.CNTY ELGIN
·2-
FR MOH-LTC
AM
o
APR 22 2004
¡¡se
Historically, the mìnistry has adjusted the nursing and personal care and program support
services per diems to reflect increases in acuity levels with adjustments effective April!,
2004.
A.cui
As stated above, the government is in the process of reviewing all funding initiatives.
Once a decision has been made concerning the acuity increase, the rninistry will provide
founal notice to facilities.
care sector.
Donna Rubin, Chief Executive Officer, Ontario Association of Non -Profit Homes
and Services for Seniors
Karen Sullivan, Executive Director, Ontario Long reun Care Association
Regional Directors
teun
Thank you for your ongoing commitment to the long
c:
P.ø3/ø3
._'~~
,Approved
Expenditures
~4
SW REGION19 675 7639 TO CORP.CNTY ELG
Multiplied by:
Nl,lmber Qf
Bed.@
30.5 days
2004
LOClRC
PefOiom
RedoClrtt.
F\ ( di1'l~
For the Month of Aprj
"ot'ðt¡:'~r
Diem
inçluding
Aœreditation
Oifferential
Olhàt CCHSA
ACGQm· Accred-
odation: itation
excludes Differential
Raw flood
:ï2:'93'
APR 22 213134
for the Aged
Raw Food
110H-L TC
Home
Program
.0<)
Support
SeNiGeS
2 AI", FR
Nl.lrsinQl;lnd
Personal
Care after
;aj)plying
CMt/100
13
Adju....
Caset.-M
ndQI(
320,359
Q
o
90
116.71
·--rï'i.041
125.02
0.00
116.71
'i1f.Õ41
i'25.Õ2'
~
~
0.00
ª
5.24'
5.24
~
5.g2
5.92'
62.62
62.S5
70,93
99.481
62.95'
Cla&&\flSd
" ,
Unclsssiñed
nterim
$320.369
98.648
-
$221.821
o
90
J1:''''D~L-~.:EËJ__# é!§r
42.93
42.93
Approved Expenditure
Les& Basic ResIdent Revenue @ 30.416 days
Estimated Monthly Provincial SUDsidy
o
-.-- --::I
, .£1
----š25
28,41
High Wage Costs Transition Fund
Municipal Cap)tal Tax Allowance
Pay Equity
90
# BedsT
10.35\
¡Per Diem'l
Funding for
S1ruclural Cempllance Premium 1!I¡30,5 days
Cat1Igòt'y I Pèt DieM Ptcvir'ltial/ fédéral
CanutbutlDn
60.00%
Construction COsts @ 30.6 days
o
$250,757
--
Estimated Str\K1yral
CompJ1i!nt:e Premium
. -Õ
facili\,cl'
Interim Bed
Í"
Std$
90
-PfC'V./Fedér'ð1
Contrlbul1on
50.00%
0.00
Compliance Premium TOTAL
A
Struotural
¡Recurring Monthly Payment
Adjustments
Olher
º
\Ädiuslmenls TOTAL
$250,757
-----··-l
\
I
I
I
,
-'
Amount
Code IPP Recov $
2004 païment
Business Unit: ~~J Spééd D;.I#: ISP05š---'··"
¡Standard Aceounl :ReGuttinQ Paÿn;;;ï]Mustment F'R Std Accoun'
;577010 i 260,757 0,465275
!577010 -·'--0 01.e6276
IA )r
~TES:
,
1
,
I
!
¡
i
i
l_.,
For Mlnlstty use only:
¡Cost Centre
Faomty \525951
Intenm 1626963
L..-....._...l._____""',
** TOTAL PAGE.03 **
o
o
Page 1'11'12
CLERK-Elgin Co
519 633 7661
ASSOCIATION OF?-)
EST
1'14/21'1/1'14 22:1'16:46
o
Association of
Municipalities
of Ontario
p,
l';~("
[\U·
8191
/
418 97
FAX NO,
280
APR-20-04 TUE 07:52 AM
39;j University AV1:11ue¡ SuH~ 1701
Taonlo, ON MOO 1 EG
Td: (416) 971-9856· fox: (41G)971·UI91
eml:ln: ~l 'nO(Û):ìmo,mun!çom,OOIt1
20, 20Q4 - Alert 04/017
--
\~ .' " ' , " ti~"I!.,
,Ii: .\i.·iJI" ~¡I:.'", ~). I ~ \{.'I': .
;': I"~:{:'" J"" .,'. I.' , ¡'
Jil ';""~L,;'^'" ~\,.i i~,t ~
~",WI'~,,,.,.,),'\~I'~o<II'~w;,;~~~~~~~-·~"'""··-.:t~"''H
"fc¡ tile ¡¡¡¡fnodi,!/'(> at/emf/on oUtre Clerk
¡¡'!' <K[~~~'<I/.'òI'~~.,~J:¡o~.
r"'-'
'. ~~ ~;:';~
,..
~':, . ~", ~,~\~
April
Supply I Conservation: Key Elements Of
New Electricity Plan For Ontario
Ontario
the
on
Energy. Uie I-Ion. Dwight Duncan, provid0d details
with Ontario's elc::ctricily systern
Mini~¡t8r of
s plan to dc,¡
1$\i;I.W TI)0
Gnl/l.mil'1lcnl
B:H:hnwund
In óJU April 15, 2004 specch, 1he I:;nergy Minister not0d, "...Ontario faces an energy crisis," By 202.0
l)olWE\on $7.5 <~fl(! $40 billion needs to be invested (induding frolll the privotc sector) in generating
cf1p:1cìly. To ml1í\<:IDC this, a new "Ontario Power Aulhority" (OPA) will be created early next year.
nl(.' (X'A will also prcp¡¡ro a system plan for generation and transmission. The Minister also
provldocl <letF.\il~> tln tho future of Ontario Power Generation (OPG).
and Council
Elor;triçí(y priGo!, ciìangçd on April 1, 2004. Notwilhstanding, further changes to prices will be
forthcoming, as ratopayers will begin to pay \tIe true cost of electricity. Prices are to be blended.
Ëlf)r;!l'ir:íly from GPG nuclear and b¡;¡s(!lo;:¡d hydroelectric assets will be regulated by the Ontario
t:l)oroy ¡:¡o~mi (OEB), IJut them will also be a competitive market for other generation. A stable
"standard mlo plan" wili bo offerod to slNJII and designated consumers [hat will be reguiated by the
OËU, Tlwre will be peak and non-peak prices. These consumers Cf.Jn also purchase power through
røt¡~ílol"(1 If thoy wi"I).
A 1.1rQo c.Oll1P<;>I\(1Ill of the government's strategy will include conservation. A Chief Conservalion
Offiç(;r for Onl,;¡rio will tle¡'jd r~ new Conservalion Socretoriat under thl;! OPA. The Minisler of Eriergy
Will "". !;;ot targets for conserV¡Jtior1, lhe Lise of renewablo energy, t'lnd the overa supply mix of
ploclricily the pl"Ovinca of Ontario,"
IIlfJt municipal local distribution companies (LDCs) "", can and should be agents
local level to promote conservation." Under OEB direction, they will provide
progmrns locally. Disincentives for LDC's to 0ncourage conservation and 10 upgrade
me to be mf'lìoved.
Tile MÌiIÎslor notm
of (,;1)"'100 at ll1e
C,Hlf;erVfJllon
tt I~)¡r sysl(:~rl\f.'¡
Mor(~ infotrnülion on those proposals wlil be annOlmced s110rlly by lhe Premier and Legislation IS
cxpncted by ,Iune. Tho Ministor nolod thot transmission ::md LDC issues would be addressed over
110 n (;xt yr.¡:;¡
AcOon: AMO wili reviow tllO ,¡peoming legislation 10 determine impacts on IT\unicipalities
(ngpoCÎ"lIy mound prices) and their LDCs. Information on the announcement, including the
Mlni$;t"r's ~rt)()Ch ~11'1' I1n ¡¡n¡.;Iysls of It by the Association's legal advisors (Borden Ladner Gervais
LLP) bl ,M1ilflbl!0 on AMO'H wcbsitc at: ilttP://w~jtJ.a\I1-º,Q.IJ.Jiª!Y)ll.",11LQ~"\1iLw.b_al:Llli!.\'{,h\ml under
no<:;(ricily News HeIG3so/Alerl:3. Electricity supply, municipal conservation activities and gmen
Olwrç¡y will PO covered Ht \he AMO Annual Conferonce (August 2004).
\'Y.W}1!:P1J.WÜ;O( II.JJ.P1J1·
at
network
310
AMO's sul)"cripliol1 based MUNICOM
AMO Exccutivo IJlmclor, oj 41 o·Q"f1·()Sr,O ,",xl
11110"911
P~H Vanln
rìvn\l\lb\l~
cònbcl
Thi~;~ rh)l"l1liJlÎon I,.
For J)V,)\ ~1 InJ(~ft'lmliO!
416-863-2101
pl ease call
In Case of Transmission Difficulties
The county of Elgin
Please Deliver
® Ontario
To
News Release
Communiqué
For Immediate Release
April 20, 2004
Ministère des
Affaires municipales
et du Logement
Ministry of
Municipal Affairs
and Housing
NEW LEGISLATION TO REDUCE RENT HIKES
Misnamed "Tenant Protection Act" to be replaced by real protection
TORONTO - The McGuinty government will introduce legislation to suspend the automatic
two per cent base portion of annual rent increases for tenants in 2005, Minister of Municipal
Affairs and Housing John Gerretsen announced today.
If passed, the legislation will provide a "time out" while the government consults with tenants
and landlords on replacing the previous government's misnamed "Tenant Protection Act."
"The current law has neither protected tenants from excessive rent increases, nor spurred the
development of sufficient new rental accommodation. Decent and affordable rental housing is
fundamental to the strength and well-being of our communities," Gerretsen said. "By developing
legislation that provides real, balanced protection to both tenants and landlords, and encourages
new rental housing, we can improve the quality of life in our communities."
The proposed amendment will be introduced this spring, and, if passed, means rent increases for
2005 would be based solely on the Rent Control Index, a fonnula which takes into account
increases in operating costs faced by landlords. Currently, landlords are automatically allowed to
increase rents by two per cent plus 55 per cent ofthe Rent Control Index.
Consultations to replace the current Act will commence immediately with a view to placing
legislation before the House this fall. Ontarians can provide their views through town hall
meetings, e-consultation and stakeholder meetings until June 15,2004. More infonnation about
the consultation is available at www.rentrefonn.ontario.ca.
"N early one-third of Ontarians are tenants who depend on a healthy rental housing market," said
Brad Duguid, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. "We
need to hear from them, and from their landlords, to ensure that the new Act is fair, balanced,
and contributes to building stronger communities, with a quality oflife that is second to none"
- 30-
Sonya Rolfe
Market Housing Branch
(416) 585-7398
www.mah.gov.on.ca
Contact:
Patti Munce
Minister Gerretsen's Office
(416) 585-6333
Disponible enfrançais
® Ontario
on
nformati
Backgrounder
Do d'i
cument
Ministère des
Affaires municipales
et du L0gement
Ministry of
Municipal Affairs
and Housing
20,2004
April
NEW LEGISLATION TO REDUCE RENT HIKES
Misnamed "Tenant Protection Act" to be replaced by real protection
The McGuinty government announced today a proposed "time out" on the automatic annual two per cent
base increase for rents and launched the Rent Reform consultation. The consultation begins today and runs
until Tuesday, June 15, 2004. The consultation includes 10 town hall meetings, an e-consultation and
stakehotder meetings. Brad Duguid, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister ofMunicipat Affairs and
Housing (Urban) will represent Minister Gerretsen at these meetings.
Rent Increase Guideline
The annual rent increase guideline is the annual amount by which a landtord can increase a residentiat
tenant's rent without making an application to the Ontario Rental Housing Tribunal. The current formula
consists of a base rate of 2 per cent plus an increase based on operating cost increases.
Annual
taxes, insurance, maintenance,
The operating costs include heat, water, hydro, municipat property
administration and miscellaneous costs.
The government is proposing to amend tegislation to remove the 2 per cent base as an interim measure while
consuttations proceed on the Tenant Protection Act.
Consultation Materials
To assist Ontarians in providing their feedback, the government has produced three documents: Residential
Tenancy Reform Consultation Paper, the Residential Tenancy Reform Executive Summary and the
Residential Tenancy Reform Questionnaire. The questionnaire is a concise, plain-tanguage brochure that
briefly summarizes all the issues. The consultation paper and executive summary also include a copy of the
questionnaire.
12
rates);
improving the following areas
where there are high vacancy
options for
rents for new tenants;
annuat rent increase guideline;
rents and utility costs;
maintenance and rent increases;
regionat decontrot (lifting rent controts
interest on rent deposits;
dispute resotution between tenants and tandlords;
making landlords and tenants aware of their rights and responsibilities; and,
demolition and conversion of rental housing.
in areas
detail
These documents
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
2
Peopte who wish to participate in the consultation are encouraged to read the executive summary or the
consultation paper before compteting the questionnaire. The questionnaire is atso available in Arabic,
Chinese, Korean, Persian (Farsi), Punjabi, Russian, Spanish, Tamil. Urdu and Vietnamese.
Ontario, 416-326-5300, or toll-free at 1-800-
are avaitabte in paper format at Publications
all Government Information Centres.
All publications
668-9938, and at
Meetings
Town hall meetings are open to everyone. Alltocations are accessibte. These meetings will include a
presentation about the options presented in the consuttation paper and executive summary followed by a
question and answer session. There will be an open house from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. prior to each town hall
meeting. Ministry staff will be availabte to answer questions and provide copies of the pubtications.
Town Hal
Details of the meetings will be publicized in local newspapers, the ministry web site and are available by
calling the toll-free number 1-866-751-8082. They are:
LOCA TION DATE
KitchenerlWaterloo Thursday, April 29
GT A East (Scarborough) Th ursday, May 6
Sudbury Monday, Mav 10
London Thursday, May 20
GTA Central (Downtown) Monday, May 31
Ottawa Wednesday, June 2
Kingston Thursday, June 3
Thunder Bay Wednesday, Ju ne 9
Hamilton Monday, June 14
GTA West (Mississauga) Tuesday, June 15
E-consultation
Ontarians can provide their feedback online at Wjy.w.re1!.!L~Or11l.0)ltaIiº&ª. The webpage includes
information on how to participate, online and consultation materiats that can be downloaded, detaits about
town hall meetings, an online questionnaire and a media room. The questionnaire can be compteted online in
English and French.
Tuesday, June 15, 2004.
The deadline for submissions regarding the proposed changes is
Sonya Rolfe
Market Housing Branch
(416) 585-7398
30
Contact
Patti Munce
Minister's Office
(416) 585-6333
wv,!w.!llillu~oV..Ql!J<ª
For more information visit
Disponible enfrançais
lti
"'Ima"
Ontario
Le Premier mlnistre
de l'Ontario
Édifice de l'Assemblée législative
Queen's Park
Toronto (Ontario'
M7A 1A1
t%~CC''''~E"''~rv·· 'E'" D" \, w
nli~ _$ .o.,,$m . ~ .
The Premier
of Ontario
Legislative Building
Queen's Park
Toronto, Ontario
M7A 1A1
April 20¡ 2004
28 2004
e'nl Win'.'\} r;;¡; ~-::¡ ¡I'll.. ~I.
\u)V~ß~'li 'þ .) .,_~!j r...~þ .~U-'
,', V"~ ""'I't!·!~" ~'1ffl\If,' "':i"I"J\Iif'fM1'"
J,t;,~,N'~f~~~\~i!"j 2 i¡:,ÚJ1:J1 fJ~J~f.>' ~i~:n'\ n1J't;~~;,IE,
APR
Heffren
Mrs. Sandra J.
Deputy Clerk
County of Elgin
450 Sunset Drive
St. Thomas¡ Ontario
N5R 5Vl
Mrs. Heffren
Thank you for your letter providing me informing me of councWs support for the City of
Sarnia's resolution regarding the GST and PST rebates to municipalities. I appreciate
your keeping m~ informed of councWs activities.
Dear
the Honourable Greg Sorbara, Minister of
resolution. I trust that the minister will also
As this issue falls under the jurisdiction of
Finance¡ I have sent him a copy of your
take your views into consideration.
Thank you again for the Information
Yours truly,
ºJ{~
Dalton McGuinty
Premier
'"" "C ~, ,,""
The Honourable Greg· Sorbara
c
@
416-863-2101
® Ontario
pl ease call
Minlstère des Affalres municlpales
et du Logement
In Case of Transmission Difficulties
Elgin
The county of
To
Please Deliver
Ministry 01 Municipal Affairs
and Housing
Bureau du Sous-mlnlstrB
17e étage
Tn. rue Bay
Toronto ON M5G 2E5
télé (416) 585-71 aD
télécopieur: (416) 565-7211
Olllee 01 the Deputy Mlnlsts,
171"" Floor
777 Say Street
Toronto ON M5G 2E5
Tal: (416) 585·71 aa
Fax: (418) 58S·7211
2004
April 21
Chief Administrative Officers:
I would like to update you on the province's eurrent plan regarding municipal costs incurred in
response to the power outage of August 14, 2003.
To
In
At that time, the province declared a state of emergency to enable the restoration of power.
most cases, power was restored within 24 to 48 hours thanks to the fine efforts made by
municipalities and all Ontarians to conserve energy.
The government understands that some municipalities incurred unexpected extraordinary
incremental costs to respond to the circumstaDces. However, across Ontario, regional blackouts
are a periodic occurrence. Generalized blackouts are unusual, but not unheard of.
Municipalities, utilities and other public bodies plan for these contingencies.
The decision to compensate municipalities and other public authorities waS made and
communicated by the previous government in August 2003.
All levels of government face serious fiscal challenges. Having inherited a $5.6 billion debt, we
can appreciate the magnitude of those challenges and the hard choices that must be made. In
light of thc considerable existing debt, the government has decided not to pyoceed with the
compensation program.
Building strong communities requires different approaches to problems and new ways to
empower municipalities to tackle these problems. The government has said it intends to restore
to municipalîti<:s the ability to plan, manage and invest for the future on a sustainable basis.
Ministry staff will continue to work with you to build the strength and resiliency of Ontario's
communities.
Yours truly,
Ÿ:S. Burke
Depuly Mini!;ler
J
~
~
RECEIVED~~tar'o
Ministre des Affaires municipales
et du Logement
Affairs
Minister of Municipal
and Housing
2004
Ministre délégué aux Affaires des personnes âgées
APR 21
777, rue Bay
Toronto ON M5G 2E5
Tél. (416) 585-7000
Télec. (416) 585-6470
WvVW.mah,gov.on.ca
Responsible for Seniors
777 Bay Street
T oronlo ON M5G 2E5
Tel. (416) 585-7000
Fax (416) 585-6470
WNW.mah.gov.on.ca
Minister
OOIJiIl1VOfIWD
~ISTAA1M:smVfCES
Please find enclosed Ihe Residential Tenancy Reform Consultation Paper, Residential Tenancy Reform
Executive Summary and Residential Tenancy Reform Questionnaire: Have your say.
ouncil
Dear
The Ontario governmenl is committed 10 delivering positive change by providing real and batanced
protection for landtords and tenants, and encouraging the growth and proper maintenance of the stock of
rental housing across the province. We understand that building strong communities depends, in part. on
a healthy rental market.
Before introducing new legislation to achieve this goal, we are consulting extensively with tenants,
tandlords and others affected by these issues to find out what they think. We are seeking input from the
people of Ontario by holding town hall meetings and discussions with a wide range of community
groups. The enclosed documents will help with suggestions and ideas on what reform is needed.
s rental
I have asked my Parliamentary Assistant, Brad Duguid, to be my representative for these public
consultations. He will travel across the province to hear views on the ways we can make Ontario'
housing market healthy and strong for both tenants and landlords.
Our consultation will take us to communities where we will speak with as many people and organizations
as possible. Town hall meetings will be held in the GTA (Central, East and West), Kitchener, Hamilton,
London, Sudbury, Kingston, Ottawa and Thunder Bay. I invite you and/or council members to meet with
us and to attend one of the public meetings to provide your comments on this very important topic. We
will be accepting written submissions until Tuesday, June 15, 2004.
For information regarding the dates and times of the town hall meetings please visit our website,
www.ientreform.ontario.ca. and/or call 1-866-751-8082, or TIY line 1-866-220-2290. To obtain
additional copies of the consultation documents in English, French and other languages, please call
Publications Ontario at 416-326-5300 or toll free 1-800-668-9938 or visit our website.
Existing
If you are interested in meeting with us privately, please contact Sonya Rolfe, Acting Manager,
Housing Stock Unit, Market Housing Branch, at 416-585-5877 for more information.
With your help, our government is confident we can draft legislation that protects tenants and landlords,
and pro ote a healthy private rental housing market both now and in the future. This will help keep our
nities trong and vibrant, and ensure that residents enjoy a quality of life that is second to none.
closures
CAO/Clerk!1lreasurer
1322{06l95)
MUNICIPAL PROPERTY ASSESSMENT CORPORATION
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2004
April 21
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NITs.SandraJ.Hefften
Deputy Clerk
County of Elgin
460 Sunset Drive
St. Thomas ON N5R 5Vl
Dear Mrs. Hefften:
Thank you for the copy of your letter dated March 26,2004, regarding Council's resolution
supporting the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation's (MP AC) access to vital statistics
data ftom the Ministry of Consumer and Business Services and a change to the July 31
Preliminary List of Electors (PLE) delivery date. We appreciate Council's support in this very
important initiative.
and
Prior to the introduction of provincial privacy legislation, MP AC had regular access to births
deaths information directly ftom municipal clerks. During the past 10 years, however, this
information has not been available to MP AC due to the interpretation of the privacy legislation.
As a result, the quality of the municipal voters' lists and the Ontario Population Report has been
severely impacted.
I believe that if the municipalities, the Province and MP AC work together, we can deliver
quality products and superior service to all Ontario taxpayers. MP AC's access to the vital
statistics data and moving the PLE delivery date closer to election day wil1 help us to achieve
this goal.
Once again, thank you for your initiative in this matter.
truly,
Yours
Carl Isenburg
Vice-President,
Customer Relations
The Honourable Jim Watson, Minister of Consumer and Business Services
Steve Peters, M.P.P., Elgin-Middlesex-London
Jim Pine, Chief Administrative Officer, County of Hastings
Association of Municipalities of Ontario
Copy
Form No. L5070M
1305 Pickering Parkway, Pickering, Ontario L1V 3P2
T; 905.837.6193 1,877.635.6722 F: 905,837.6280
www.mpac.ca
Ministère des Finances
Bureau du ministre
Ministry of Finance
Office of the Minister
(ti
~,-
Ontario
7e étage, Édifice Frost sud
7, Queen's Park Crescent
Toronto ON M7A 1Y7
T éléphone; 416 325·0400
Télécopieur: 416325-0374
7'h Floor, Frost Building South
7 Queen's Park Crescent
Toronto ON M7A 1Y7
Telephone: 416 325-0400
Facsimile: 416325-0374
RECEIVE[l¡:
April 22, 2004
2004
OOij~W Of ElGIN
ADMtJISmA1R1E 8EmflCf.!~
APR 28
Mrs. Sandra J.
Deputy Clerk
County of Elgin
450 Sunset Drive
St. Thomas ON N5R 5V1
Heffren
Dear Mrs. Heffren:
Thank you for your letter regarding the assessment and taxation of trailer dwellings.
On March 10, 2004, our government announced the cancellation of the omitted assessments that
were issued for the 2003 taxation year for trailers located in seasonal trailer parks.
When we made the original decision to prevent the issuance of omitted assessments on trailers
for 2001 and 2002 but allow for taxation in 2003, we believed that we were striking a fair
compromise between the interests of taxpayers and municipalities. However, after hearing about
the challenges and financial hardships that were confronting many trailer park owners and
residents due to the issuance of the 2003 omitted assessments and resulting tax bills at the end of
the year after many of these parks had closed for the season, we felt it was appropriate to extend
the original regulation and cancel these assessments for 2003.
This cancellation of assessments is a one-time measure in recognition of the unique
circumstances posed by the retroactive nature of the omitted assessments for 2001, 2002, and
2003. For 2004 and future years, trailers exhibiting characteristics of permanency will be
assessed and liable for property taxation in accordance with the requirements of the Assessment
Act.
We recognize that many people use mobile homes and trailer dwellings
recreational property. However, the use of a residential dwelling on a seasonal
exempt the property from assessment or taxation under the laws of Ontario. Property taxes are
based on the value of the property, not the amount of time that an owner chooses to occupy the
on a seasonal basis as
basis does not
./2
property.
2
Travel trailers that are towed behind a vehicle and parked in a campground on their wheels will
continue to be exempt from property taxation. It is only permanent dwellings that are being
assessed. In order to be considered assessable by MP AC, a mobile home or trailer dwelling must
exhibit the following characteristics
connections to the site;
garage or sunroom;
Unit has a minimum width of 8' 6"; and
meets at least three of the following five criteria:
has permanent water, electrical and waste disposal
requires an oversize permit for road travel;
is equipped with attached structures such as a deck,
tow tongue has been removed; and
is placed on concrete blocks or a concrete pad or other foundation.
carport,
Unit
1
2.
Many of these dwellings have already been included on the 2004 assessment roll and the owners
would have received assessmertt notices in November 2003. However, I have been advised that
there are still several properties which the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MP AC)
has not yet assessed - these will be visited by assessors during the spring and summer of 2004
and assessments will be issued at that time with the assessments taking effect on January 1, 2004.
I understand that MP AC is continuing to work with trailer park owners through the
reconsideration process to address concerns about the accuracy öf individual property
assessments.
We are committed to finding ways to improve the quality and consistency of property
assessments in this province. I appreciate the time you have taken to share your views on this
issue.
.
Yours sincerely,
0#
Greg orbara
Minister
Thank you again for writing.
® Ontari
Ministère de la Santé
et des Soins de longue durée
Ministry of Health
and Long~Term Care
o
Direction des services de santé d'urgence
5700 rue Y ooge, 6c étage
Toronto ON M2M 4K5
Emergency Health Services Branch
5700 Y oDge Street, 6th Floor
ToroDto ON M2M 4K5
()
AECE
TéléphoDe: (416) 327-7909
TélécopieDr: (416) 327-7879
Appels saDS frais: (800) 461-6431
TelephoDe: (416) 327-7909
Facsimile: (416) 327-7879
Toll Free: (800) 461-6431
2004
00Ui\I1V Of aÐlN
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APR ó>V
April 26, 2004
Mr. Mark MacDonald
Chief Administrative Officer
County of Elgin
450 Sunset Drive,
St. Thomas, ON N5R 5Vl
Dear Mr. MacDonald:
Grant
We have received and reviewed your Response Time Accountability Agreement dated March 24,
2004 and are pleased to provide you with an increase to your Land Ambulance Services grant.
Your grant will be amended as follows
onse Time Fundin
Res
RE
$1,568,372
44.149
$1,612,521
Current Land Ambulances Services Base Grant
Response Time Grant Base Increase - May 15 to Dec. 31, 2004
Revised 2004 Land Ambulance Services Calendarized Grant
Your Land Ambulances base grant for the 2005 calendar year will be $1,638,132 which includes
the annualized Response Time base increase of $69,760 ftom 2004.
Please note that all funds, reports and supporting records are subject to review or audit by the
Ministry or its representatives.
please contact your Field Office.
If you have any questions,
Thank you.
Sincerely,
fÍ
~~
~
Ma1col
Director
Emergency Health Services
"16-863-2111H
Please Call
The County of Elgin
In Case of Transmission Difficulties
Please Deliver To
® Ontario
Minlstère des
AIfaires municlpalas
at du logement
Ministry of
Municipal Affairs
and Housing
munlclpalités
Direction de la performance
et de la responsabilisation des
777, rue Bay, 13' êtage
Toronto ON M5G 2.5
Télêphone: (416) 585-7264
Télécopleur. (416) 565-6161
Municipal Performance and
Accountability Branch
m Bay Street, 13th Floor
Toronto ON M5G 2ES
Phone: (416) 585-7264
Fax: (416) 585-6161
26,2004
Aprj
To all Municipal Chief Administrative Officers, Clerks and ClerkfTreasurers
Program (MPMP)
The Municipal Performance Measurement
Release of 2001 Summary Data Report
Re:
Since the introduction of the Municipal Performance Measurement Program (MPMP) in
2001, we have received frequent requests from municipalities and other stakeholders for
MPMP summary results and other types of information related to MPMP data.
Over the past several months, Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing staff have been
working closely with members of the MPMP Advisory Committee, including representatives
from AMO, AMCTO, OMAA, MFOA, OMBI, OGRA and other municipal experts, to prepare
an MPMP Summary Report.
I am pleased to inform you that this report has now been finalized, and is available on the
Ministry's website at www.mah.Qov.on.c::ª.
The report summari;¡:es 2001 MPMP information, the second year of the program, and
groups it according to several population and geographic categories. We have done this in
part to avoid singling-out individual municipalities' results, and also to provide administrators
with comparative information against which you can assess your own municipality's
performance in several key service areas.
We hope you find the information in this report useful - our intention is to continue to find
new ways that financial and performance measurement information can be put to greater
use as a tool to assist municipalities in enhanc::ing the delivery of local services. It builds on
other related efforts, such as the Ontario Centre for Municipal Best Practices (OCMBP),
which is using the results of MPMP to identify and share best practices in service delivery.
We welcome any comments that you may have on the report. Your feedback is important
to us, as we are already preparing the next edition of the report using 2002 MPMP data.
If you have any questions, please contact Bohdan Wynnyckyat (416) 585-6638 (em ail at
Bohdan.Wvnnvckv@ mah.aov.on.ca) or contact your loc::al Municipal Services Office. If your
municipalit¥ does have high speed internet access, please let us know and we will send
you the rJilQ,ol D Rom.
J~~(II~~~t
Please Call 416-863-2101
Minls$rð des FinaftCt\S
BureÐU du mh1iwe
The county of Elgin
Mit11Dtry of Fi.n.nce
omœ af tile Minister
In Case of Transmission Difficulties
Please Deliver To
~
On_1o
7" é1age, ~djflCe Frost &00
7, Queen's PM< C_
TOmntOON M7A 1Y7
Ték!phon.., 41632:>0>400
TêI<lOO OIe>.¡r : 416 = =4
7'" F1ooI', Fm' eulldi"9 SOuth
7 QWOn's Park C~.nt
TOfOMoON M7A 1Y7
Tslepl1one: 416 Ø-0400
Facsõmhe: 416325-0374
2004
April 26,
Dear }teads of Council.
I am writing to "dvise you that the 2()()4 educatiol) property ta¡¡ J<lte regulations we,re filed tQday
to facilitate property tax billing.
The 2004 unifoun reside1\tial education tax rate is set at 0.296 per cent, x«luced from the fate of
0.335 per cent that applied to the 2003 taxation year. The revenue-neutIal 2004 fC$ìdential
education tax rate has bee.nlowered to account for the impact of an average 13 per cent increase
in assessed values across the province.
The business eduoation ta;¡c: rates for 2004 have been set to !UllY account for the 2004
,<eassessment on a mnwoipality-by-municipa.lity basis, As a result, conunercil.l1 and industrial
education taxes are not increasing in Ontario.
Th<;>se initiatives. together with the 2004 m1.U\icipal fle;'(ibility that was pl'Oviously ann01.mced,
will help ensure that the impacts of the reassessment are manageable for both resideotial and
business property owners
Detailed infounation about the eduçalion tax ratC$ are being sent to all municipal treasurers and
CAOs in II letter from the Assistant Deputy Minister of the provincial-Local Fin!1'O,CC Secrotanat
of the Ministry of Finance.
We are striving to work closely with mtmicipalities to address concernS that arise rega1'<ling
municipal taxation issues. I look folWlI.W to continuing to work with our municipal partners on
property tax issues.
fcerelY
"
~, Sorbar:a.
'Y~~Stð1"
RECEIVED
[tÆ
~-,
Ontario
Ministère de la Santé
et des Soins de longue durée
Ministry of Health
and Long-Term Care
Bureau du ministre
1Qe étage, édifice Hepburn
80, rue Grosvenor
Toronto ON M7A 204
Tél (416) 327-4300
Téléc (416) 326-1571
www.gov.on.ca/health
Office of the Minister
10th Floor, Hepburn Block
80 Grosvenor Street
Toronto ON M7 A 204
Tel (416) 327-4300
Fax (416) 326-1571
www.gov.on.calhealth
2004
COU~'f1 Ot aGUt
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APR Z 8 ZOO!
Warden Dave Rock
The County of Elgin
450 Sunset Drive
St. Thomas ON N5R 5Vl
Warden Rock:
Re: Emergency Health Services -
Land Ambulance Fleet and Equipment Procurement Services
Dear
Model
As you are aware, the Judson Street Ambulance Supply Centre (Judson Street) was
scheduled to close and cease all its operations as of March 31, 2004. You will be glad to
know that upon review and in response to concerns of municipalities and stakeholders,
we have acted to keep this essential service operating. Judson Street will now employ a
new service modelthat can be accessed by its municipal land ambulance partners.
Historically, Judson Street has maintained multi-year contracts and short-term
purchasing agreements with suppliers. In addition it has provided a wide range of
supports to land ambulance services, primarily in the purchase and sale of ambulances
and ambulance medical equipment to ensure compliance with legislated standards
Under its new service mandate, Judson Street will no longer purchase vehicles or
warehouse and stock equipment. Judson Street will now establish and maintain
Vendor of Record (VOR) lists and an order desk which municipalities will have the
opportunity to use to acquire ambulance vehicles and medical equipment.
Municipalities who choose to take advantage of this service will receive vehicles and
goods directly from listed vendors and will pay vendors directly, based on published
terms, costs and conditions. Judson Street will continue to review and revise VOR lists,
maintain ambulance and equipment standards, and will provide technical support to
municipalities, including vehicle inspection services. Furthermore, Judson Street will
acquire ambulances for those First Nations communities that provide land ambulance
service.
7530-4656
/2
204-03426
(01/04)
671-01
2
Warden Dave Rock
The Director of Emergency Health Services Branch will be conveying this information
directly to the Chief Administrative Officer in each Upper Tier Municipality and
Designated Delivery Agent.
The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care remains committed to ensuring the
provision of high quality pre-hospital emergency health services across the province
These modest changes to the role of Judson Street demonstrate this government's
commitment to assist our stakeholders responsible for land ambulance services.
Ministry staff will work with AMO and EMS representatives to further discuss and
develop appropriate ideas and processes designed to improve this new role
Thank you.
Yours truly,
~&
George Smitherman
Minister
Page ElEI2
CLERK-Elgin Co
519 633 7661
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· Infrastructure funding
· Electricity supply. pricing, and
reducing municipal consumption
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the OMB
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130 B~$$e:rer Street
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APR 23
2004
April
Dear Sir or Madam:
The Order of Ontario was established in 1986 to honour those people who have rendered
service of the greatest distinction and of singular excellence in any field of endeavour
benefiting society here and elsewhere. We are now actively seeking nominations for the
year 2004.
I invite your organization to submit nominations for the Order of Ontario, our province" s
most prestigious honour. I have enclosed a nomination form to be returned by the closing
date of May 28, 2004.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Glenda Milrod in the Ontario
Honours and Awards Secretariat (phone: 416-314-2043, fax: 416-314-7743).
Sincerely,
GÆ
416314-6050
SECR~T ARlAT DES DlSTIN CTION S ET PRIX DE L'ONT ARlO
400, avenue University, Rez-de-chaussée, Foyer sud
Toronto ON M7A 2R9
Téléphone: 416 314-7526 Télécopieur
Carol Layton
Secretary General to The Order of Ontario
ONTARIO HONOURS AND AWARDS SECRETARIAT
400 University A venue, Ground Floor, South Lobby
Toronto, ON M7A 2R9
Telephone: 416-314-7526 Fax: 416-314-6050
""''-,''""",., -'e·' '.=",,-w
-----------
._,..~~-"".,..~.. ~.<,
Please Call 416-863-2101
In Case of Transmission Difficulties,
®Ohtario
The County of Elgin
Ministère des Finances
Secrétariat des rela.tions provinclales-
munioipe.1es en matiere de finanoes
777 r\Je Bay I Î O· étaga
Toronto ON M5G :?:C8
Hlé. (416) 327-0264
Talec, (416) 326-7644
Please Deliver To
Ministry of Finance
ProvinciaJ·Local
Finance Secretariat
777 Bay Streot, 10· Floor
Toronto ON MSG 2C8
PI'IOne (416) 327·0264
Fax (416) 325·7644
30,2004
Apri
and ClerklTreasurer:
I am writing further to a recent government announcement regarding the assessment of
residential trailers for the 2003 taxation year. Please accept my apology for the delay in
forwarding this letter.
Treasurer,
Administrative Officer,
Municipal Chief
Dear
As you may be aware, Ontario Regulation was filed on October 30, 2003 to provide that
trailers located in seasonal campgrounds shall not be subject to omitted assessments for the
2001 and 2002 taxation years, unless the dwellings were previously assessed.
In accordance with the requirements of the Assessment Act and further to recent assessment
appeal proceedings, the Municipal Property Assessment Corp.oration (MPAC) issued omitted
assessments for the 2003 taxation year to assess mobile homes and trailers exhibiting
characteristics of permanency which had not previously been assessed. They have also
included these dwellings on the assessment roll for the 2004. laxation year.
Subsequent to the delivery of the omitted assessment notices, the Minister of finance
received extensive feedback about the challenges and hardships that were confronting many
property owners due to the issuance of the omitted assessments on trailers near the end of
the 2003 taxation year after the camping season had ended for the year.
After giving due consideration to the input received from trailer park owners and
municipalities, the Minister of Finance has issued a regulation (Ontario Regulation 55/04) to
cancel the omitted assessments on trailers located in seasonal campgrounds for the 2003
taxation year. The assessment of these structures will remain in place for 2004 and future
taxation years
It is our understanding that several municipalities have used the provisions of section 365 of
the Municipal Act, 2001 to forgive the taxes resulting from the 2003 omitted assessments on
trailers. However, we appreciate that many municipalities have issued tax bills on the basis
of the 2003 omitted assessments, and in some cases have already collected the taxes.
In situations where taxes were billed on the basis of the 2003 omitted assessment on trailers,
appropriate tax adjustments should be made to reflect the cancellation of the 2003 omitted
assessments.
From a tax administration perspective, we recognize that this is a unique situation as this is
the first time the Minister's authority under subsection 33(1.1) of the Assessment Act has
been exercised to cancel assessments. 1he MÙfJiCÎþáJAP!,g,QQJ ,d9~~Ql)t~·t)8ylat~.,tb<¡¡.: ,.
specific tax adjustment 'mechanism which should be used in a situation where omiüed'" ,
assessments are cancelled under subsection 33(1.1) of the Assessment Act.
['\( ~'J2
2
Accordingly, it is our view that municipalities may deliver the tax cancellations stemming from
the cancelled ässessl11ents by utilíling whichever vehicl$ theyçle~t"Q NbeW9:~! ¡:¡ppr()pria~e .
for the circumstances of each property, whether that be a refund cheque, an offset against an
outstanding tax liability, or a credit against the current year's taxes.
Ministry of Finance staff will continue to work with the municipal associations to address
questions or concerns that municipalities may have regarding this matter. ' If you would like to
contact us directly with any questions. please feel free to contact Mr. Murray Mann at 416-325-
2370 (murray.mann@fin.gov.on.ca), or Mr. Ian Veitch at 416-325-2382 (ian. veitch@fin.gov.on.ca), in the
Property Tax Policy Branch of the Ministry of Finance.
Sincerely,
(~ 11r4
Nancy Naylor
Assistant Deputy Minister
Municipal Tax Collectors of Ontario
copy: Grace Marsh
Association of
Ontario
Andy Koopmans
Association of Municipal Managers, Clerks and Treasurers of
Dan Cowin
Municipal Finance Officers Association
Pat Vanini
Association of Municipalities of Ontario
-".
.~
J
COUNTY OF ELGIN
By-Law No. 04-14
BEING A BY-lAW TO ENTERJNTOANAGREEMENJ WITH THE
MUNICIPALlIY OF CHATHAM-KENJ FORTHEJ>ROIlISIONOF MP-INTENANCE;
ON SHARED JlOUNDARYROADS'
WHEREAS pursuant to Section 29.1(1) of the Municipal Act, 2001, S.O. 2001, c.25
municipalities having jOint jurisdiction over a boundary line highway may enter into an
agreement under which each municipality agrees to keep any part of the highway in repair
for its whole width and to indemnify the other municipality from any loss or damage arising
from the lack of repair for that part; and
WHEREAS pursuant to Section 29.1 (2) of the Municipal Act, 2001, S.O. 2001, c.25,
each municipality who enters into an agreement under subsection (1), has jurisdiction over
that part of the highway that it has agreed to keep in repair and is liable for any damages
that arise from failure to keep the highway in repair and the other municipality is relieved
from allliabiiity in respect of the repair of that part; and
WHEREAS the Corporation of the County of Elgin deems is desirous to efÍter into
an Agreement to determine each party's obligations for the repair and maintenance of
Boundary Roads and Bridges.
of the Corporation of the County of Elgin
Counci
NOW THEREFORE the Municipal
enacts as follows:
1. THAT the Warden and the Chief Administrative Officer for the County of Elgin are
hereby authorized and empowered to enter into and to execute on behalf of the County,
the Agreement aforesaid and to affix the Corporate Seal thereto.
parties
immediately afteral
2. THAT this By-Law shall come into force and take effect
have executed the said Agreement thereto.
May 2004.
READ a third time and finally passed this 11 th day of May 2004.
David M. Rock,
Warden.
11th day of
READ a first and second time this
Mark G. McDonald,
Chief Administrative Officer.
COUNTY OF ELGIN
By-Law No. 04-13
"A BY· LAW ]"j:)CONFIRM PROCEEDINGS OF THEMUNICIPAL COUNklL OF
THE CORPORATION_OF THE COUNTY gE~LGIN AT THE SPECIAL
the
c.25
S.O. 2001
2004 MEEIlt"-G'
WHEREAS pursuant to Section 5.1 of the Municipal Act, 2001
powers of a municipality shall be exercised by its council; and
APRIL 27'h
the
c.25
S.O. 2001
WHEREAS pursuant to Section 5.3 of the Municipal Act, 2001
powers of every Council shall be exercised by by-law; and
WHEREAS it is deemed expedient that the proceedings of the Municipal Council of
the Corporation of the County of Elgin at this meeting be confirmed and adopted by by-law.
NOW THEREFORE the Municipal Council of the Corporation of the County of Elgin
enacts as follows:
1. That action of the Municipal Council of the Corporation of the County of Eigin, in
respect of each recommendation contained in the reports and each motion and resolution
passed and other action taken by the Municipal Council of the Corporation of the County
of Elgin at its Special Meeting held on April 27'h, 2004, be hereby adopted and confirmed
as if all such proceedings were expressly embodied in this By-Law.
2. THAT the Warden and proper officials of the Corporation of the County of Elgin are
hereby authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to the action of the
Municipal Council of the Corporation of the County of Elgin referred to in the preceding
section hereof.
3. THAT the Warden and the Chief Administrative Officer or alternate are authorized
and directed to execute all documents necessary in that behalf and to affix thereto the
Seal of the Corporation of the County of Elgin.
READ a first and second time this 11 th day of May 2004.
READ a third time and finally passed this 11 th day of May 2004.
David M. Rock,
Warden
Mark G. McDonald,
Chief Administrative Officer.
ROAD SUPERVISORS
MANAGERS AND FOREMEN IN ONTARIO
ONTARIO
OF
ASSOCIATION
SERVING ROAD SUPERINTENDENTS, SUPERVISORS,
EIV' "E~~"¡¡,,'\
rtii fi,
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10
2004
COU~ìY Of iSlS/fIt
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MAY
N CANADA!
Ontario
ATTEND THE LARGEST MUNICIPAL TRADE SHOW
June 2 & 3, 2004
East Elgin Communit,y Complex, Aylmer,
Mayor and Members of Council
Warden and Members of Council
Reeve and Members of Council
Dear Council:
On behalf of the Association of Ontario Road Supervisors, please accept this as your
personal invitation to attend the 2004 Municipal Trade Show, June 2 and 3,2004, to be
held at the East Elgin Community Complex in Aylmer, Ontario.
The Trade Show provides an opportunity for municipal employees and contractors to
view products and services required by municipalities. Enclosed is a free advance
registration form (make additional copies as required). Please complete and return by
mail or fax to A.O.R.S. office (519-461-1343) by May 21,2004. Your badge can be
picked up at the advance registration booth when you arrive. You may also register on-
line at www.aors.on.ca.
We thank you for your support and look forward to seeing you and your representatives
in the Town of Aylmer. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please do uot
hesitate to call.
Yours truly,
Bryan Clarke, CRS-S
Chief Administrative Officer
Ontario NOM 2PO
Fax: (519) 461-1343
PO. Box 129, Thorndale,
Telephone: (519) 461-1271
Encl
Association of Ontario Road Supervisors
2004 MUNICIPAL TRADE SHOW
June 2 & 3, 2004
Advance registration is FREE
Complete application below & fax to 519-461-1343
OR register on-line at www.aors.on.ca
":!~~~~\OROAbJ.~,
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A,a,R$· .
The Elgin County Municipal Supervisors Association will be hosting the Association of Ontario Road
Supervisors 2004 Municipal Trade Show in Aylmer, Ontario on Wednesday, June 2nd and Thursday, June
3'd, 2004 at the East Elgin Community Complex. The Trade Show hours are 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. each day.
Advance registration is FREE. Registration at the gate is $10.00.
be
www.aors.on.ca.
and construction organizations will
or fax OR rel!ister on-line at
services for both municipal
Complete annlication below and return by mail
and
A broad range of suppliers of products
represented, including:
Fire Fighting Equipment
Parks & Recreation Companies
Maintenance Equipment
Consulting Engineers
Recycling Equipment
Education and Safety Consultants
·
·
·
·
·
·
Construction Equipment
Construction Companies
Highway Sign Equipment & Materiats
Sewer Equipment & Materials
Water System Equipment & Material
Erosion Control Products
Personat Safety Equipment
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
2004.
& Clothing
Advance registration must be received by May 21,
To qualify, please mail or fax to:
Association of Ontario Road Supervisors
P.O. Box 129, Thomdale, ON NOM 2PO
Phone: 519-461-1271 Fax: 519-461-1343
Pick up badges at Advance Registration Booth on June 2 & 3 only.
Advance Registrations will be entered in the Daily Surprise Package Draw
Registrants must be present to win.
free to copy this fonn as required to acconunodate your group or organization.
TITLE
"Incredible Elgin" andjoin us at the 2004 Municipal Trade Show
in Avlmer on June 2 & 3, 2004.
ORGANIZATION
Please reel
NAMES
Come see
Municipal Trade Show
- - -
2 & 3 2 004
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Assoc. Of Ontario Road
-
A Y mer o n t a
Directions from Highway #401
Eastbound or Westbound to Exit #203, Elgin Road, County
Road #73. Travel on County Road #73 Southbound for
approximately 20 kilometres to Highway #3 (Talbot Line)
within the Town of Aylmer. Turn Right (Westbound) on
Highway #3 and travel for approximately 1.5 kilometres.
The East Elgin Community Complex is on the north side
Talbot Line and parking will be accommodated on the
south side of Talbot Line.
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Town Of Aylmer
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East Elgin
Community
Complex
Hwy#3
Talbot Line
Administration Buiiding County of Elgin
450 Sunset Drive, St. Thomas, Ontario, N5R 5V1
Phone: (519) 631-1460 Ex!. 103 www.elgin-county.on.ca
Fax: (519) 633-7661
Fax
To: Warden Rock and Elgin County Councillors From: ark McDonald, CAO
<ail mmcdonald(a)elgin-county.on.ca
Fax: Call Group Date: ay 7,2004
Phone: Pages: q
Re: Addilionalliems for Council Agenda of CC:
May 11, 2004 -
o Urgent o For Review o Please Comment o Please Reply o Please Recycle
-Comments:
ADDITIONAL IN-CAMERA ITEMS:
In-Camera Report:
1) Director of Human Resources - Staffing Matter (verbal)
In-Camera Correspondence for Consideration. (Attached}
1) Hennessey, Bowsher, Gibson & Carrie re: lease at the Health Unit (Mark's previous report also
attached)
CORRESPONDENCE:
1) Nancy Naylor, Assistant Deputy Minister, Ministry of Finance, re: assessment of residential
trailers for the 2003 taxation year. (ATTACHED)
2) Brenda J. Hamilton, Township Clerk, Loyalist Township, re: requesting the Province for finance
relief for small municipalities facing increased costs for water and sewer services.
(ATTACHED)
THE INFORMATION IN THIS FACSIMILE IS INTENDED FOR THE NAMED RECIPIENT ONLY. IT MAY CONTAIN
INFORMATION THAT IS PRIVILEGED, CONFIDENTIAL AND EXEMPT FROM DISCLOSURE UNDER APPLICABLE
LAW. IF THE READER OF THIS MESSAGE IS NOT THE INTENDED RECIPIENT, OR RESPONSIBLE FOR
DELIVERING THE MESSAGE TO THE INTENDED RECIPIENT, ANY DISSEMINATION, DISTRIBUTION OR
COPYING OF THIS COMMUNICATION IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED. IF YOU HAVE RECEIVED THIS
CÖMMUNICATION'IN 'ERROR/OR THERE 'ARE'ANY''PROBEEMS'1N 9'RANSMISSION; 'PLEASE"MO'PIFY"8S'BY~:¡"::""'J/h"
TELEPHONE.