Speaking up for a provincial museum

- published by The Guardian 24 January 2007
ELMON NICOLLE, White Sands

Editor:
The commentary in the Jan. 17 Guardian on a central museum, written by Yvette Doucette and Irene Novaczek of the Institute of Island Studies, should be a wake-up call to all Islanders concerned about the future of our historical artifacts.

The logic given should be clear to most. A building to store this material should be in a central location in P.E.I., accessible to users such as those mentioned — UPEI history students, museum professionals and interested citizens. It should also have the described full-time protection services available.

The opening line of the commentary is the key question. Do you know where your history is going and why? Apparently it is going to Murray River but we are not sure why. To date the facts seem to be that the province has purchased over $100,000 in land and turned the land over to the local development corporation for development. It can be seen that the existing buildings have been demolished. I have seen no public report as to tendering or cost for that work. Was it tax money? Rumour has it that construction will begin in the spring.

IIS goes on to state that the next logical step is for consultation to take place with museum professionals and citizens regarding how this project will fit in with existing museum and heritage needs. This has not been done. IIS also notes that there are no publicly available documents detailing architectural or environmental engineering plans.

Most letters to the editor and at least one editorial have questioned this proposal and one MLA has very reasonably asked for a financial plan.

Tens of thousands of items gathered by Islanders and others are to be stored in this building. Are Acadians from Prince County or Mi’kmaq from Lennox Island willing to travel to Murray River to borrow items for display in their local museums as can be done now from the existing building?

Since 1901, over 100 years ago, Islanders have been asking the province for a museum. If Islanders today do not agree with this proposal as a suitable step toward a well-planned museum system, I suggest that they make their opinions known to their MLA and premier before it is too late, if it is not already.