Jeff Fournier, an aficionado of local history, has taken the proverbial ball when it comes to saving the often divisive Dionne Quintuplets homestead and run with it.
Over the course of two weeks, what started as a collection of signatures on paper has evolved into a full-fledged online and social media campaign, drawing interest from national news outlets.
Fournier, speaking before North Bay City Council Monday evening, said that he does not believe the City is in favour of bulldozing the Dionne museum, but a 2015 comment made by Coun. Daryl Vaillancourt during budget discussions, about the City "washing its hands of the museum by having it levelled," did give Fournier some pause.
"There is such value sitting there with that Quints home, the home itself and the artifacts inside," said Fournier in his presentation.
The petition calls for the Dionne home to be designated as a Heritage Property under the Ontario Heritage Act. Furthermore, a suitable location is to be found where the museum can continue to function as such, with all the artifacts intact.
The petition also requests that the City of North Bay operate, or act as a lessor when it comes to the future of the museum.
Coun. Mark King, acknowledged a personal connection to the home, as his late father, used to ride his bicycle to Corbeil to sell newspapers to visitors on its doorstep as a child.
"When this all started, my biggest concern was that it was going to be destroyed. I won't let that happen. There are other opportunities that we could do right now. There are private people standing in the wings that would take the building and physically move it themselves. But, the (currently) public portion of the building would no longer be available to the public," said King.
Shortly after Monday's meeting, a press release was issued indicating that the City would not be making any further statement on the matter at this time, citing its call for expressions of interest in the home, and the anticipated staff report and recommendations that are to follow.
"We often rail on staff, but they've been very good when it comes to this project. They get it," observed King.
From the City's release: "We continue to work with our partners toward an outcome that...will respect the historical significance of their legacy."
Asked about a rumoured move to the waterfront area, King said, "I am also on the museum committee. I understand the financial implications of what that whole process would be. We discussed it through the committee process. They just don't have the financial ability to assume that cost."
Fournier, cited the literature from the Ontario Heritage Act, declaring that "a strong vibrant community requires knowledge of the past and what we value in the present."
