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It wont be built for many years, but city council confirmed Monday when the Timmins Arts and Heritage Centre project becomes a reality, its new home will be on the property adjacent to the McIntyre Arena.

With councillors Pat Bamford and John Curley again stating their opposition both believing the best site would be near the Whitney Arena in South Porcupine near Porcupine Lake the remainder of council again showed its strong support for the McIntyre site, as recommended by the arts and heritage centre advisory committee.

Coun. Michael Doody, the chairman of the advisory committee, reiterated the same thoughts he did one week ago when council discussed the issue for almost two hours, that the committees only goal was to recommend a site which would allow the arts centre to best succeed.

The $12-million project is still a long way away and wont move ahead until the provincial and federal government commit $6 million in funding.

Another $4 million would have to be raised through donations and fundraising, while the current council has shown a willingness to fund the remaining $2 million.

The committee studied 27 sites across the City of Timmins with the McIntyre site the clear favourite after months of studies and a final consultants report, Doody said.

On Monday, council also passed a resolution ensuring the Timmins Museum: National Exhibition Centre, will move into the Shania Twain/Gold Mine Tour facility in early 2009.

The Timmins Museum has been operating out of the Porcupine Mall since a flood caused numerous problems at its old location on Legion Drive in South Porcupine over two years ago.

Coun. Denis Saudino was under the impression the museum would share the majority of its space with the Shania Twain Centre, but a staff report indicates most of the space that will be used for exhibits and programming by the museum will take place in space currently occupied by the Gold Mine Tour.

Some exhibits will be set up in the main entrance of the Shania Twain Centre and some retail space will also be shared, but the majority of office and exhibition space will be located where the Gold Mine Tour office is currently located.

Estimates to complete renovations to accommodate the interim location for the museum at the Shania Twain Centre/Gold Mine Tour facilities has been reviewed by museum and building maintenance staff and its estimated it will cost $50,000, says a staff report.

All of this money will come from the Timmins Museum reserve fund and wont cost taxpayers any additional funds.

Museum curator Karen Bachmann and her small staff are expected to move into the Shania Twain Centre/Gold Mine Tour building in the first few weeks of 2009.

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