*Please note that donations made through the petition go towards promoting the petition, not to the museum. Unfortunately there was no option to remove this section. As mentioned at the end of my message please feel no obligation to donate, just a signature to show that the museum matters to the community is more than enough and so appreciated.

Last week during the ​Town of Renfrew 2025 budget meeting Councillor Clint McWhirter proposed a surprising motion, to close the doors of the McDougall Mill Museum for 2025 & 2026 season, possibly permanently. A motion was then brought forth that the town council direct staff to investigate the operational inpact and potential closure of the McDougall Mill Museum on the 2025 budget.

One of the councilors arguments for closing our Museum seems to be that, the town is paying a currator to look at artifacts in the museum that dont belong to the town, they're just donated. I'm not enitrely sure what he means by that, or why offical ownership of the artifacts matters. All museums large and small aquire some of their collection by donation. Community members who value the long and rich history of Renfrew and its surrounding townships choose to donate or share their items with the McDougall Mill Museum. They do so to ensure the care and preservation of the artifacts and documents which allows generations of people to see and lean about the history, culture and daily life of this community. 

The old Mill which houses all of these amazing items was constructed in 1855 by John Lorn McDougall. He built it as a grist mill on the north side of the Bonnechere and the mill was powered by the water cascading through the second chute of the Bonnechere River. 170 years later and the building is still standing strong and has 3 floors packed with local history. 

In 1963, M. J. Murray and the M. J. O’Brien Company Limited, owners of the mill and surrounding lands, sold them, for One Dollar, to the Town of Renfrew. The Town enacted By-Law No. 2202 on September 24, 1963, stating “That this land shall be used for, and in connection with a Museum or similar Community enterprise”.

For generations the Museum and its surrounding property has been the heart of the Town of Renfrew.

Each year the museum see visitors come from neighboring towns, other provinces and countries all over the world. They all fall in love with our charming museum. I'd invite town council to visit the museum and read through the guest book themselves and they'll see what I mean.

Every summer with the help of government grants the museum is able to hire summer students giving them an amazing opportunity to learn about our long and rich history. It provides the youth in our town valuable skills and job experience. 

The fact that the mere idea of shutting down our Museum is even up for debate at the council table is unacceptable. 

I do understand that Renfrew is under significant financial pressure, however, closing the museum isnt the solution to the problem. 

Does council really think that saving 1% is worth selling out our rich history? 

At the meeting councilor McWhirter said that "he's tired of talking about Ma-Ta-Way, let's talk about something else"

Well councilor, we're all tired of talking about Ma-Ta-Way, but taking aim at our town's historical museum isnt the solution to the problem. Unless there is an honest conversation within council about how we can improve and help our Museum grow into the future, I ask you to please go back to the table and find your 1% somewhere else.

The public budget meeting is taking place on April the 8th so theres not much time. Once the museum is closed it will be lost forever.

I ask you all to please take a minute to sign and share this petition so we can send a strong message to council that shutting the doors of the McDougall Mill Museum is not an option! 

I plan to present this petition in person at the meeting this Tuesday, April 8th. If you live in Renfrew and would like to attend as well, the meeting starts at 5:30 and is open to the public.

Thank you!

*Please do not feel any obligation to donate, or chip in with this petition. It's an automatic option that appears with all the petitions. *All that matters is interest and signatures!