THE KLEINBURG United Church is the latest site being considered for the Pierre Berton Discovery Centre.
Roughly five years since the family of late Canadian journalist and historian Pierre Berton first proposed building a museum to house his memorabilia in Kleinburg, the Pierre Berton Discovery Centre remains homeless.
Now a growing number of Kleinburg residents are voicing support for a new proposal to house the centre at the site of the United Church, a heritage building that’s seen decreasing attendance over the last few years.
“Locating the (discovery centre) at the United Church site will preserve the historic church building within our heritage conservation district streetscape, and the building can continue to provide much-needed community space for community groups and clubs,” said Kleinburg and Area Ratepayers Association president Ken Schwenger in a Nov. 20 letter to councillor Peter Meffe.
The letter stated KARA’s “strong support for the Pierre Berton Discovery Centre being located within Kleinburg at the Kleinburg United Church site” and encouraged further public consultation.
“I personally believe it’s a win-win situation not only for the business community but the residential community as well,” said Donna Guglielmi, head of the Kleinburg Business Improvement Association.
Some residents complained that the last proposed site, an old firehall at Islington Avenue. and Treelawn Boulevard., might introduce unwelcome bus traffic to residential streets.
“I think it (the church site) is well connected with the village core itself,” said Guglielmi. “The McMichael (Canadian art Collection) is just down the street and the public school is across the road. It’s more accessible not only to local residents, but to visitors.”
However, those close to the project stressed the site is simply being explored as an option at this point and no arrangement has been made for the city to purchase the land.
“There’s no deal,” said Peter Berton, chair of the Pierre Berton Artifacts and Memorabilia Steering Committee and son of the late icon. “We’re looking at options. The committee is for that option, but there are all kinds of variables.”
Berton said were the site to be acquired for the centre, the existing building — the very site where he and the other Berton children were christened — and its functions would remain intact. The bulk of the centre would be housed in a new structure added on to the site.
“It would be good from the point of view of bringing synergies to the village,” Berton said. “It could be a really great core to the town.
“But there would be a lot of steps to go through before we could say it’s the site for sure.”
Berton said the decision to pursue the site rests with the city, which had previously earmarked funds for the interactive, multimedia centre.
City officials said they are in the process of exploring the possibility.
“The city is seriously reviewing whether the (United church) site is a viable site to locate the discovery centre and we’ll be pursuing options once that’s evaluated,” Meffe said. “We’re hopeful of the opportunity and look forward to dealing with the matter as soon as possible.”
Meffe said there were no projections as to the economic benefits of the centre for Kleinburg, but he expected it would be “similar to the McMichael (Canadian Art Collection), but not on that scale.”
He also said the project would likely attract federal and provincial funding, as well as private donations.
“The city is … looking at all options to try and facilitate the Pierre Berton Discovery Centre locating in the core of Kleinburg,” he said. “Hopefully we will be in a position to make sure that happens and we don’t see those items moved elsewhere to another city or university.”
Pierre Berton died in 2004. He lived in Kleinburg for 50 years.
