Mayor,
City Councillors,
City of Greater Sudbury
Re: Letter of Support for City of Greater Sudbury’s Heritage Museums Curator
Dear Mayor and Councillors,
I am writing this letter on behalf of the Ontario Historical Society, and in support of the work of our affiliate society Anderson Farm Museum Heritage Society, opposing the city’s proposed cuts to the 2021 museum funding for the position of Curator; a position responsible for the Anderson Farm, Copper Cliff, Flour Mill, and Rayside-Balfour Museums.
The Ontario Historical Society (OHS), founded in 1888, is a not-for-profit corporation and registered charity. The OHS is a non-government group bringing together people of all ages, all walks of life, and all cultural backgrounds interested in preserving and promoting some aspect of Ontario’s history.
The OHS understands the pressures put on municipal budgets this year to attempt to balance the catastrophic impact of COVID-19 on our economies, but we are disturbed by the level of cuts being made against our province’s irreplaceable heritage assets. Without at least one Curator to oversee the protection and preservation of four separate museums, how does the City expect to retain those heritage sites, along with their artefacts and exhibits, and open their doors again once it is safe to do so? By eliminating the Curator’s position, Sudbury’s museums will be left vulnerable to vandalism, decay, and neglect, and eventually the city will lose the assets that help drive tourism dollars to your rural communities.
The OHS strongly encourages the Mayor and Council to oppose the proposed budget cuts to 2021 museum funding, and invest long-term in the value of your heritage.
If I can be of any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact our office at tel: (416) 226-9011 or by e-mail: rleverty@ontariohistoricalsociety.ca.
Yours sincerely,
Rob Leverty
Executive Director
Ontario Historical Society
Kristin Ives
Chair, Museums Committee
Ontario Historical Society
Original Document:
Letter of Support for City of Greater Sudbury’s Heritage Museums Curator (opens 1-page PDF)
