RED LAKE, Ontario The Municipality of Red Lake has received two major gifts for the Red Lake Heritage Centre Capital Campaign, one for $250,000 from GOLDCORP, and a matching personal donation of $250,000 from Rob McEwen, chairman and CEO of Goldcorp.
"I am very happy to support this project", said McEwen. "The Centre will create an invaluable cultural and educational legacy for the community. Red Lake has many stories of national significance to tellrecords of economic, artistic and social achievements and the Heritage Centre will provide an accessible, comfortable and attractive venue that will preserve and promote the heritage of the area for present and future generations. The project will also stimulate the development of cultural and heritage tourism both in Red Lake and in Aboriginal communities north of Red Lake."
"We are very appreciative of Mr. McEwen's leadership and his personal generosity," said Red Lake mayor Duncan Wilson. "This contribution reflects the incredible public support for the project, which is critical to realizing its full potential."
Michle Alderton, director/curator of the Red Lake Museum and project co-ordinator for the Heritage Centre, said she was thrilled when McEwen phoned her to announce the donations. She said that the donations would allow the project team to concentrate their efforts on designing the exhibits and in developing a comprehensive education program for school children. She added that the museum will continue to raise funds for expenses that were not budgeted for in the capital campaign, such as the professional restoration of certain artifacts and the acquisition of equipment for the archives and storage rooms.
The Red Lake Heritage Centre is a $3.1-million cultural facility and regional tourist attraction that will interpret all aspects of the area's natural and cultural heritage. It is a partnership between the Red Lake Museum, the Municipality of Red Lake, Ontario Parks, the Red Lake District Publicity Board, the Northern Chiefs Council, the Indian Friendship Centre and local educators. The building will be 8,000 sq ft with 4,000 sq ft of exhibit space. It will house a regional museum, interpretive exhibits on Woodland Caribou Park, a multi-purpose gallery, a tourist information centre, a regional archives room, and a gift shop.
To-date, confirmed funding includes $750,000 from the Department of Canadian Heritage, $230,000 from Ontario Parks, and in-kind contributions valued at $110,000 from PLACER DOME's Campbell mine and the Municipality of Red Lake. Grant applications have also been submitted to the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund and FedNor and are currently being reviewed.
Anyone wishing to make a donation may contact the museum at Box 64, Red Lake, Ont., P0V 2M0, tel. 807-727-3006 or rlmchin@nwconx.net. Or visit www.redlakemuseum.com.
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