The Rossland Museum & Discovery Centre has tendered its renewal project and the lowest bid came back $44,000 over budget.
As it was, the museum’s fundraising was still $70,000 short of the original budget, but with the higher-than-expected tender, the museum is now looking at raising another $114,000 in total.
Libby Martin, president of the museum’s board, says they can’t accept the tender until they have secured funding. Fortunately the offer will be on the table until Jan. 15 and the museum expects to hear back about its application for a $100,000 Canada Cultural Spaces Fund grant any day now. If the grant application is accepted, then the museum can accept the tender. The museum also has a $50,000 BC Collaborative Spaces Program application pending, but probably won’t hear back either way until the new year.
In the meantime, the museum is raising money with the Lily May Heritage Raffle, which marks the 140th birthday of Rossland’s first mine. Tickets are $100 and the museum is only selling 140 tickets. The gold prize is a private cocktail reception and dinner party for 12 at the Old Fire Hall, catered by chef John Premier. The evening includes Okanagan wine pairings and custom entertainment.
The silver prize is a weekend stay for two at the Hume Hotel and Spa in Nelson, which includes dinner at the Hume’s Library with live jazz music and breakfast each morning. The copper prize is an overnight stay for two at Blaylock Mansion with an English breakfast in the morning.
Drawing will take place during Winter Carnival, on Saturday, Jan.28 at 6 p.m. Winner will be drawn by Lily May (Mayor Kathy Moore) and Olaus Jeldness (RolyWorsfold).
Tickets are available at the Rossland Museum and at designated events. For further details, visit the museum’s Facebook page.