With the passionate debate about the fate of the Dionne Quints home raging on, one man says why not combine a number of attractions into one waterfront park?
"We have to start working together and using what we have, both to save money and to get things accomplished," said Jeff Fournier who initiated a petition to save the home, told BayToday. It has almost 900 signatures so far.
See: Petition launched to save Dionne Quints home
Fournier will be presenting the petition to council tonight.
His suggestion is that, at the site of the North Bay Museum, locate the Dionne Homestead, the 503 T&NO steam train (presently hidden behind the volleyball park) with a reproduction of a Bomarc missile.
In addition, he says perhaps move the CF100 to the park as well, along with the Gateway to the North arch.
"We could add items that honour our indigenous people here as well as the fur trade, mining etc. All of these things are a part of our heritage and history and the Dionne Homestead is a huge part of that. The possibilities are endless.
"Maybe some of our landmarks could go here to - like the one that sits down at Champlain Park in North Bay commemorating the early explorers and the one on Main West commemorating Jacques Carrtier. We could keep the memory of the Quints alive and pay tribute to the rest of our heritage as well. And we could all enjoy it.....North Bay and area folks as well as tourists to the area."
Fournier has photoshopped a version of his suggestion to give a general idea.
"We have to do more than just sign a petition. We need viable ideas like this."
Council meets tonight at 7 p.m.
What do you think?
