The spokesman for the surviving Dionne sisters, Carlo Tarini, says in an email to BayToday that the battle to save the Dionne Museum has become particularly stressful on the two.
"The ordeal with the current plan to dismantle the Dionne Museum and birth home is causing the surviving sisters, now 82, a great amount of stress. If their health was better I know they would have attended the Council meeting vote on Tuesday night. They are hoping citizens will turn out to voice their interest for saving the Museum. They are also hopeful that Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne will hear of their plight to save the museum from being dismantled, and will step in to save the day."
That response from Wynne has arrived., but it's not encouraging.
Dear Mr. Tarini:
Thank you for your email regarding the future of the Dionne Museum. I appreciate being made aware of your views on this matter.
As your request would best be addressed by my colleague the Honourable Eleanor McMahon, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport, I have forwarded a
copy of your email to her. Minister McMahon, or a member of her ministry staff, will provide you with a response.
Once again, thank you for raising this topic with me. Please accept my best wishes.
Kathleen Wynne
Premier of Ontario
Now, Tarini is asking Community Services Chair Mark King to consider alternatives.
"Has North Bay City Hall or City Council broached the topic of saving or financing the Dionne Museum with the Honorable Eleanor McMahon, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport? I think getting the issue in the news perhaps has begun to build awareness and a process with the provincial and federal governments whose intervention alongside local government could save the day," he writes in an email to the councillor.
The issue will come up for a vote at tonight's council meeting.
