By Adam Frisk Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
One of the County’s historical landmarks, the Red Cross Outpost, is seeking a financial lifeline after a sudden shift in federal funding policy.
Members of the Wilberforce Heritage Guild appeared before Highlands East council on April 7 to request an emergency grant after losing their long-standing student staffing subsidy from the federal government.
“We’re here because we have abruptly found out early this spring that we no longer meet the requirements to receive a federal Canada summer jobs grant,” guild vice chair Joan Barton told council. “This means that the guild this year is short of the funds we need to cover the cost of our local student whom we hire each summer as the museum guide for the months of July and August.”
Barton explained that the guild is facing a $4,000 shortfall as a result of the loss in funding. In previous years, the municipality processed the student guide’s payroll, and the guild would reimburse the township once federal funds arrived. However, guild member Linda Cameron told council that the federal government now requires the guild to manage its own payroll.
“We have been told that we have to have a Revenue Canada payroll account number, which means we would have to process our own payroll. We don’t have the wherewithal to do that,” she said. “It makes no sense for one employee for nine weeks.”
Cameron said that despite assistance from MP Jamie Schmale’s office, the guild was told the decision was final, effectively closing that funding stream permanently.
The Wilberforce Red Cross Outpost served as the only medical provider in the region from 1922 to 1963 and was the first outpost opened by the Red Cross in Ontario. For more than 30 years, the guild, a volunteer-run charity, has partnered with the municipality to operate the site as a museum. In 2003, the outpost was designated a national historic site of Canada.
Aside from the historical aspect of the site, Cameron and Barton told council the building acts as a community hub.
“We draw visitors to the town all summer. We had approximately 300 this year from as far away as Europe and New Zealand,” Barton said. “We run Scrabble afternoons because there should be fun for local people as well as the tourists”.
The museum also hosts groups in the offseason, such as the Central Food Network (CFN) Foodbank, local church committees, and the Loop Troupe.
Council members expressed appreciation for the guild’s work and while a final decision was deferred for a staff report, mayor Dave Burton indicated support.
“I believe in principle, I believe there’s support there, but that will be totally up to council,” he said.
