Community group, mining companies, save Museum of Northern History

The Museum of Northern History in Kirkland Lake is expected to reopen in February thanks to an injection of funds from some area mining companies.  The local town council voted to shutter the museum doors last year due to high maintenance costs.

The museum is housed in the Sir Harry Oakes Chateau, which was built in 1929, and became a headquarters for mining executives and geologists. It was also once a nursing home.

In 1981, the town transferred ownership of the Chateau to what is now known as the Ontario Heritage Trust, and signed a 60-year lease, which made the municipality responsible for all maintenance.

In the spring, the deferred maintenance costs on the building were estimated to be in excess of $1 million.

That proved too much for the municipality to take on.

"Unfortunately, it definitely came down to budgetary pressures and ongoing capital costs that a community of our size simply cannot justify to our taxpayers," said Kirkland Lake Mayor Stacy Wight at the time.

Now, four mining companies — Agnico Eagle Mines, Alamos Gold Inc, Franco Nevada Corporation and Triple Flag Precious Metals — are providing $300,000 in annual funding, over three years, to reopen the museum and cover day-to-day operations.

"We couldn't be happier to have received the money from four mining entities," said Ann Black, president of Oakes Project Heritage, Arts & Tourism, a community group formed to bring back the museum.

With the funding from the mining companies, Black said the museum will be able to retain its staff members, and is due to reopen in February.

Black said the Ontario Heritage Trust, which leases the building from the municipality, saved up enough money to cover the deferred maintenance costs.

She said it was important for her to save the museum because it's in an "iconic building" that should be open to the public, and she believes every community needs a tourist attraction.