McDougall Museum directors, volunteers and supporters addressed council last week in an effort to stop a proposed closure of the museum due to budget pressures. Standing in front of the 170-year old building are, from the left, Norm Bujold (museum supporter), Don Eady, Museum Director, Margaret Dubeau, president of the Renfrew and District Historical and Museum Society Inc., Dave Lemkay, Museum Secretary, Ron Sinclair (supporter) and Bill McGahern, former director. Missing from photo are Debbie Hill, Admin/Treasurer and museum directors Mike Boire and Brent Belanger.

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Renfrew – Most people attending a meeting last week concerning a proposed 15.71 percent tax increase told Renfrew council they do not want the McDougall Mill Museum closed as part of any cost-cutting measures.

Last Tuesday night’s meeting was to give ratepayers an opportunity to express their opinions on the local levy increase, but all of the attention was focused on the future of the museum and the potential it could be closed.

With the backdrop of the $18 million Ma-te-Way Expansion Project debt looming over their heads, council members, especially Councillor Kyle Cybulski, who some have nicknamed “line-by-line” for his promise to go through the budget line-by-line until an eight percent levy high is achieved, were ready to explain they were examining everything to avoid a potential double-figure increase.

However, it was a Notice of Motion introduced by Councillor Clint McWhirter during budget talks that brought most residents out last week when he suggested they consider closing the museum for two years to save money and reduce the financial burden on the ratepayers.

His motion called for an overall analysis of the museum, ranging from reduced hours, to renting out part of the facility for other uses, to a potential closure of two years, or maintaining the status quo.

It was that motion that brought together members of the museum board, a member of the chamber of commerce, two former mayors and a last-minute appearance by a local businessman who had just heard the news a few hours earlier and was determined to speak to the issue.

Don’t Discourage Volunteers

Prior to opening up the floor to speakers, Mayor Tom Sidney sent a message to those in the gallery he would repeat on at least four more occasions.

“I would like to invite any members of the public who would like to speak about the budget, and I would like to remind everyone that it is about the budget,” he said.

Laurie Wichers-Schreur, president of the Renfrew and Area Chamber of Commerce, explained the importance of tourist attractions like the museum to local businesses.

“Our chamber is a little different how other chambers operate in that we take on the responsibility for promoting tourism which is the lifeblood of our town,” she said. “The changes that the town is currently proposing breaks an agreement that was reached with the chamber in 1998.”

She said if the town closes the museum, it would result in the chamber losing $6,500 it receives from the town that is used for the museum, and several other programs the chamber offers. The loss of the museum would leave a huge gap in terms of promoting tourism for all Renfrew businesses, she said.
She submitted 21 letters supporting the museum from local business owners.

Margaret Dubeau, a 20-year volunteer and also president of The Renfrew & District Historical & Museum Society Inc., covered a wide area of topics including summer jobs for students, accessibility, funding formulas and items of misinformation she wanted to clarify.

She also told council the M. J. Murray and the M. J. O’Brien Company Limited, owners of the mill and surrounding lands, sold the property to the town in 1963 for $1 with the intent the town operate the museum and that “this land shall be used for, and in connection with a museum or similar community enterprise.”

“The descendants of the McDougall, O’Brien and Murray families would be upset to hear of the town’s intentions to cease operations as a museum as stated in the original indenture,” she said.

She addressed a rumour that the volunteers walked away from caring for the artifacts in the museum and said the volunteers are still active, but the number is decreasing because many of them are seniors or struggle with mobility and other health issues. She added the numbers may be declining, but they still produce results.

“In 2024, the museum board donated $24,000 towards the building…and last year our volunteers donated more than 2,400 volunteer hours and we employed two summer students and all together that is about $57,500 we save the town,” she said.

She reminded council the museum and the town entered a partnership last year which states the board will continue care and maintenance of the 10,000 artifacts and the town will maintain daily operations of the site.

“A formal agreement remains outstanding between the two parties,” she said.

When she spoke about the 20-year failure of this and all previous councils to address the province’s building requirements under the Ontarians With Disabilities Act, she said the board brought that legislation to the town in 2005.

She said the town is mandated to complete an annual compliance report identifying physical and non-physical barriers and what steps are being taken to address those concerns before the province begins enforcing compliance.

She did not say when the last report was completed by town staff and the legislation comes into effect later this year. As she concluded her address, she left council with one final thought.

“Once something is closed … it rarely ever re-opens,” she said.

Former Mayors Weigh In

Also speaking to the issue were former mayors Sandi Heins (1998-2010) and Don Eady (2014-2022). They spoke of the spirit and dedication of volunteers like the museum board and how these partnerships are vital for a town to be successful.

Debbie Hill, Sara Boyer and Kathy Lindsay recalled their experiences with the museum. Ms. Hill challenged the councillors to find a solution or their legacy may not be what they envisioned.

“Do you really want to be known as the town council that has killed the museum operation?” she asked. “Do you really want to be the ones who slaughtered Renfrew’s history and do you want this as your legacy?”

She also told council the museum cannot be closed for accessibility issues. She looked at all of council when she said the 20-year failure to provide annual accessibility reports falls squarely on the town.

“The museum is not going to be closed by the province because of accessibility issues,” she said. “It is the responsibility of the town to submit the annual compliance report in five accessibility areas and the report provides guidelines on how to fix these problems.”

Mill Is Our Legacy

Norm Bujold, a business owner and land developer, pointed to the monitors around the chamber used for a PowerPoint presentation and reminded council about their role as elected officials.

“I had no idea I would be here this evening as it was only this afternoon I heard about your budget and the fate of the mill,” he motioned council to look up at the screens.

“We are talking about this mill…look at the pictures of the town … it has the Swinging Bridge, a beautiful park and the mill and I just can’t see a sign on that building saying condemned or for sale.”

He referred to an earlier speaker who told the town the entire budget for the mill and all operations works out to be 0.58 percent of the entire budget.

“That little bit of the budget is what keeps that mill going and you have to keep that mill open,” he said. “That mill is our legacy and if we let that go, then what is next? We have to find a way to make it work. I know this is very short notice, but let’s do it and let’s save the mill.”

Town staff are in the process of preparing a report for council concerning the operations of the mill. A second draft of the budget will be reviewed at the April 22 meeting. Council wants the budget passed by May 13.