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Phase I fundraising finish line in sight

The Rossland Museum & Discovery Centre (RMDC) embarked on a six-phase renewal project starting back in 2012.
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The Rossland Museum & Discovery Centre (RMDC) embarked on a six-phase renewal project starting back in 2012 with the help of major stakeholders, including Teck Metals Ltd., the City of Rossland, and the wonderful support of the citizens of Rossland and area. It has been a long road, but thanks to recent major funding announcements, RMDC has raised over 97 per cent or $389,500 towards Phase I, renovations of the entry gallery. That brings it to just $10,500 shy of the proposed Phase I budget of $400,000.

Teck Metals Ltd. got the fundraising started with a generous $20,000 contribution towards the engineering plans portion of the project. Tourism Rossland and the City of Rossland also secured $56,000 from the Resort Municipality Initiative from the Provincial Government. Through the museum’s recent fundraising events, including the 1st Annual Charity Golf Tournament and the Mackenzie River - Dehcho Expedition talk by Wayne Wilson, as well as personal donations, another $6,000 was raised.

Columbia Basin Trust then offered to match 50 per cent — or $87,500 — of the federal government’s announcement of the hard-earned $175,000 from the Canada 150 Infrastructure program through Western Economic Diversification Canada. Most recently, the City of Rossland has committed $45,000 in the 2016 budget cycle from the existing Visitor Centre reserves with the Visitor Centre being a major part of the Phase I renovations.

The RMDC board of directors is very excited to get going on Phase I and is working with Fairbank Architects Ltd. out of Nelson to complete the architectural plans. This phase includes a renovated archives, visitor centre, gift shop, visitor services areas, and a grand entry gallery for community and exhibition space.

In being so close to the $400,000 goal for Phase I and beginning the fundraising for Phase II: Mine Experience with a proposed budget of $700,000, the grant-writing and fundraising continues with a silent art auction at Rossland’s Nelson & District Credit Union through October and November and a very special evening at the Miner’s Hall in January in conjunction with Altitude Entertainment.

For more details go to www.rosslandmuseum.ca/renewal-project.