"We're optimistic, we think the tide has turned. Council is looking at what we're doing and noticing that this is important to the people of North Bay. It really is a national historic site," said Jeff Fournier Thursday morning.
According to Fournier, the approval by Heritage North Bay to allow the Dionne home to be relocated to the Community Waterfront Park area is a crucial milestone in the quest to have the home moved to North Bay's downtown core.
Approval by City Council and the move itself are among the final hurdles before the finish line. The home must be moved off of its current location at Seymour and the Bypass by June 1 after the land was recently sold to developers.
Fournier says he was approached by Deputy Mayor Sheldon Forgette following the Heritage North Bay board meeting Wednesday evening, and that it is clear that Forgette is in favour of the relocation. Heritage North Bay oversees the Discovery North Bay Museum, Heritage Gardeners and the Heritage Railway & Carousel groups.
"It is a big hurdle. I don't have a lot of details about the vote," said Fournier Thursday morning, "I do know that [Heritage North Bay] has endorsed the Dionne home being down there [in the vicinity of the Discovery North Bay Museum].
Fournier acknowledged the continued backing of Councillors Chris Mayne, George Maroosis and Derek Shogren as key to the successes the Friends have had. He also pointed to Director of Community Services John Severino as a key figure in the costing of repairing and moving the home.
Recently appointed CAO Keith Robicheau has also proved to be an important part of the process, said Fournier, while recognizing the CAO's knowledge of history and historical buildings from prior experiences.
In the infancy of the group now known as the Friends of the Dionne Quintuplet Home Museum, Fournier started a petition to stall the proposed move of the Dionne home to Strong Township by the City of North Bay.
The home was to be used as the centrepiece of a pioneer village in Strong that has taken years to add its second building since its opening in the 1990s. The staff report also suggested that the artifacts be portioned and moved to different museums.
The Friends have come a long way since Fournier's initial petition. The group has evolved into a fully-mobilized, dedicated army of volunteers who have put thousands of hours into saving and relocating the Dionne home and have raised thousands with their fundraising efforts.
"We have put our hearts and souls into this," said Fournier.
