JANUARY 22, 2020
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Vegreville Regional Museum Facing Uncertain Future Michelle Pinon News Advertiser
The Town of Vegreville’s recent decision to cut $70,000 worth of funding to the Vegreville Regional Museum has created uncertainty around its current operation and its future in the community. Also contributing to the uncertainty
is the fact that the museum’s 10 year lease with the town is set to expire in May. The town owns the land and the buildings which currently house nearly 10,000 artifacts and 100 pieces of machinery. Ted Wilson, President of the Vegreville Regional Museum Society, said the town’s
decision came as a total shock. “We were totally blindsided.” Wilson, along with fellow board members were personally notified by Mayor Tim MacPhee of the decision during a Nov. 20 board meeting. Wilson said Councillor Dave Berry, council’s representative for the museum, phoned him and said the mayor wanted to meet with the board, but no reason for
the meeting was divulged at that time. “We had no warning whatsoever.” He called the message “blunt” and “harsh” in its delivery, and up until that point, the museum had always received “great support” from the town. “It’s a horrible way to treat volunteers,” added Wilson as they, (long-standing
board members) have contributed hundreds of volunteer hours as well as financial contributions to the museum. In a letter dated Dec. 2, that was written on behalf of board members, and addressed to the mayor and council, it stated: “His blunt tone and harsh message delivered to our board of longserving, dedicated volunteers and curator, was a shock. It indicates a stunning lack of comprehension and regard for the significant investments of time, work and donations of community people who have given in good faith to preserve the history of our community. Since 1968, when the idea of a community museum was first formally presented, the town has shown strong support. The sudden drastic measures, though, show a lack of comprehension of the serious public trust responsibilities which a museum has with the public and the government, and the time required to shift a museum’s operations, if necessary, in congruence with public trust responsibilities.” That letter also included: a request for grant funding of $35,000 for 2020, to have the museum site lease to be extended to December 31, 2020, and to have collaborative short-term and long-term planning in respect to operations and holdings, and if the town has other plans for the site to consider alternative locations including the former RCMP station and the library gymnasium. Wilson said he, along with the board
members, were told the decision for the town’s discontinuation of funding was due to cutbacks by the provincial government. Wilson does not believe that is the real reason for the town’s decision which he thinks is politically driven, and is because of the town’s desire to facilitate and house a cannabis operation. Mayor MacPhee flatly denied the accusation, and said the town had no intention of using the land or the buildings for that purpose. Wilson said the town wants to discuss “occupancy options” with the society dur-
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