An historic homestead in Sault Ste. Marie is getting a $4-million boost, which will be used to build an interpretive centre on the site.
The money will be used to construct an interpretive centre at the Ermatinger Clergue NationalHistoric Site, an 1800s-era settlement built by early Sault Ste. Marie fur trader Charles Oakes Ermatinger. The new centre will allow for year-round educational programming and increased exhibition and interpretative space.
Funding for this project is provided by the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund, the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corp. (NOHFC), and the City of Sault Ste. Marie. The $4-million combined contribution constitutes the largest single investment in the site’s history since it opened its doors to the public in 1970.
“Our mandate is to protect, promote, interpret and recognize the importance of investing in our culture and heritage, so we require a facility that will attract tourists and students, and can accommodate various program demands,” said Kathy Yukich, chair of the Historic Sites board.
“The Heritage Discovery Centre will provide the community with a state-of-the-art, accessible facility that serves to interpret the rich heritage of the Ermatinger Clergue National Historic Site.”
The centre will include a new exhibition gallery, an 1812 gallery, a multimedia theatre, an expanded gift shop and an environmentally controlled storage space for its permanent collection. Improved administrative space and flexible learning spaces will be constructed to accommodate program growth. The installation of specialized equipment and renovations to the current site will enable the expansion of the existing summer kitchen.
