By Thomas Smith

“We are here because we have abruptly found out early this spring that we no longer meet the requirements to receive the Federal Canada Summer Jobs grant,” opened Joan Barton, volunteer with the Wilberforce Heritage Guild.

Volunteers Barton and Linda Cameron visited Highlands East council on Tuesday, April 7 seeking financial support for the Red Cross Outpost Historical House Museum.

Without this grant, the heritage guild is short of funding to hire a local student to work as a museum guide for the months of July and August.

The amount requested was $4,000.

“It is important because it is the first Red Cross Outpost in Ontario. When the program was phased out in 1963 the building went into the hands of the municipality,” said Barton. “In 1992, the Wilberforce Heritage Guild was created, partnering with the municipality to open the building as a museum.”

The Heritage Guild is a not-for-profit organization that has funded the operating costs of the museum for the past 33 years. Hiring the local student is the largest cost of the museum, with some other expenses including insurance, furnishings and equipment, cleaning, and promotion of the museum.

The Red Cross Outpost is a crucial space for connection and community in Wilberforce. The museum is regularly opened for Scrabble gaming afternoons, hosts Canada Day celebrations, a high tea event, and geocaching events.

The space is also rentable for the community to use, which is regularly used by Central Food Network, Loop Troup, Wilberforce FUNraisers, and the Essonville Church Committee.

The museum is alight with seasonal delight, with events on Halloween and around Christmas. This year, the museum was host to a special Christmas carolling event that was hugely successful.

“We were surprised how well attended it was, that is something that is going to get bigger,” said Barton.

To earn funding, the museum sells souvenirs to visitors, collects donations throughout the year, and seeks grants from the government. Typically, the museum does not request funds from the municipality itself, with this year being the exception due to the unexpected denial of funds from the federal government.

Barton explained to the council that the Federal Canada Student Jobs Grant notified the organization that they would not receive funding late into the application process.

“This year, we’ve been told that we have to have a Revenue Canada payroll account number, which means we would have to process our own payroll.,” said Cameron. “We don’t have the wherewithal to do that, we would have to have a WSIB account, and employer health tax account. We just don’t have the resources to do that.”

When the organization learned of the denial, they sought help from M.P. Jamie Schmale, who corresponded with the government on behalf of the group. Despite much back-and-forth, they were ultimately denied.

“That means that our operating budget for this year is short funds,” said Barton.

“We don’t have the volunteers and we don’t have the resources to open the museum for the summer, without some help,” said Barton. “That is why we have come to you at this point.”

The $4,000 would give them valuable time to keep the museum open this season, while creating a plan to ensure the longevity of the museum.

The organization hopes to find alternative funding to apply for in the future.

Mayor Dave Burton said that council would receive the request and have a staff member report back to council, before funding could be approved.

“I can’t even begin to explain how much you are appreciated as a group and individuals for what you do,” said Deputy Mayor Cecil Ryall. “Not only for Wiberforce and this area, but as a whole municipality.”

In the past, the summer student has been paid by the municipality, with the organization reimbursing Highlands East after receiving the grant from the federal government.

Cameron told the council that it is not feasible to go through all those steps, for an employee that works for only nine weeks.

Mayor Dave Burton expressed a likeliness of support for the outpost, but a final decision for funding will be officially announced at a future meeting.