There was lots to celebrate at the Bancroft North Hastings Heritage Museum on Friday, July 21.
Supporters packed the log-cabin building for a ribbon cutting and ceremonies to honour funding commitments from all three levels of government.
With money from the Town of Bancroft, the museum is also now home to Hastings North Tourism Services.
And funding programs from both the province and federal governments are allowing three students to work there this summer.
One student’s wages are made possible from Ontario’s Youth Job Connection program and two are the result of Canada’s Summer Jobs Program.
Bancroft Mayor Paul Jenkins noted these commitments allow for more tourism promotion, as the Tourism Centre is now staffed seven days a week, unlike centres of the past.
Hastings-Lennox & Addington MPP Ric Bresee applauded the collaboration, saying “this is the way things work best, with everyone working together.”
New Tourism Centre honours Lloyd Churchill’s vision
During the ceremonies, Museum Director and Bancroft Coun. Mary Kavanagh paid tribute to the late Bancroft Mayor Lloyd Churchill.
Churchill served several terms of Mayor, during a political career that spanned from 1988 to 2010.
Kavanagah said Churchill wanted a Tourism Centre, like the one Bancroft has now. When Churchill was involved with the Bancroft BIA late in his life, he continued to advocate for one with the current Mayor.
“He really did work tirelessly,” Kavanagah said, during a speech that ended with a spirited applause. “He approached Paul (Jenkins) and he approached council and he approached the businesses and he certainly talked to the museum board and worked very co-operatively with the museum board, as chair of the BIA”
Churchill died on June 7 at age 86.