THUNDER BAY -- The city isn't sure yet if it can work with a group looking to build a transportation museum.
The Thunder Bay Historical Transportation Committee is looking to build a 20,000 square foot museum on the city's waterfront that would restore and house several historic vehicles currently spread around the city, some exposed to the elements and sometimes vandalized.
That includes the two brill buses, James Whalen Tug, marina Caboose and Via Rail train.
Coordinator Charlie Brown said the group wants to be a non-profit organization, tentatively called the Lakehead Transportation Museum and that it would seek all of the funding for the project and cover operating costs. It wants the city's help to find suitable land and council to give administration permission to help in certain areas.
"The city won't have to run or worry about operating the facility in the future,” Brown said.
“If we don’t have city council's approval its going to be extremely difficult to move in any direction.”
But council decided first to ask administration for a report on whether it has the time to help the project. Acting city manager Norm Gale said the report will look at all aspects for the city including financial, operational and legal challenges along with how the museum would impact the city's recently approved waterfront master plan.
Brown described a waterfront facility that included a fully restored Via train complete with functioning dining car and sleeper car for students to have an overnight experience. Interactive displays could explain the area's contribution to transportation and space could be used for small conventions or meetings but wouldn't conflict with the proposed event centre and waterfront art gallery.
When Coun. Shelby Ch'ng asked who would volunteer at the museum given the fact that volunteerism is down at city facilities like community centres, Brown said there's a difference between the types of volunteering that would be done at the museum.
"Very simply, it's going to be fun," he said.
The report will come back in January.
