The Winkler Heritage Society last week updated city council on the precarious future it is facing.
As reported previously in the Voice, the organization finds itself in need not just of new members and volunteers but also a new home for both the Winkler Archives and the Winkler Heritage Museum, as its leases with the Winkler Centennial Library and the Southland Mall both expire at the end of the year.
Acting board chair John Epp told council the society also learned just this month that it must vacate the empty storefront across the hall from its space in mall that it had been using to store excess artifacts. Those items were moved last week.
Figuring out where to go and how to afford it are the chief concerns for the society, Epp said.
“Our membership is aging and dying out. In recent years, due to COVID, our fundraising efforts were curtailed and we were unable to raise much,” he said in his council presentation, flanked by a full gallery of supporters.
“We have always been frugal in our expenditures,” Epp continued, explaining their main expenses are the rent for the mall space and the wages for the part-time employee that mans the museum.
They’ve kept afloat in recent years thanks in large part to an anonymous donor who has gifted the society over $75,000 to keep the doors open.
Additional funding and a clear plan for the future is needed keep the society going, Epp said.
“The hope of many of our members is that the museum here could grow and become to the West Reserve what the Mennonite Heritage Museum in Steinbach has become to the East Reserve.”
Epp noted the society has applied for a grant from the City of Winkler. It is also exploring its options as far as to where the museum and archives artifacts could be housed. One location they’ve eyed is the old post office building on Mountain Ave., which is one of Winkler’s few heritage buildings. The building is not owned by the city.
Epp added they’ve also looked at the unrenovated space inside Winkler Arts and Culture on Park St., though “that would require significant alterations before it would be suitable for use,” Epp said. “We’re looking, but we’re certainly strapped for money.”
Siemens lamented the circumstances the organization finds itself in.
“I recognize that what you’re going through here today is a challenge … that can’t be easy,” he said. “We have received the [funding] application, and we’ll certainly want to take a look at that.
“[We’re] hoping that the society and each one of you members here are going to be able to find a way forward, because there is value in our history and remembering our history and seeing where we came from, because most often that helps guide where we’re going.”
Collection fee on the rise
Also at the Feb. 13 meeting, city council held a public hearing and gave first reading to a bylaw to establish a new rate for the collection of garbage, recycling, and compost.
Winkler has contracted MWM Environmental for curbside collection of solid waste, Green Opportunities Inc. for the collection and processing of compost materials, and Gateway Resources for curbside collection and processing of all recycling materials over the next four years.
The estimated annual cost for providing these services is $709,760 for 2024, potentially increasing to $1,109,000 in 2028.
As a result of rising costs, the special service proposal put forth by council to pay for it will see both single and multi-family residences pay $160 a year in 2024, up from $135 previously.
Between now and 2028, the annual fee could increase to a maximum of $250 per household.
City manager Jody Penner noted the annual total may not hit that amount—it depends on inflation. He also noted the rate has remained the same for many years now, and that this increase reflects the rising costs of these services.
Councillor Pete Froese, who previously headed up Winkler’s public works department, noted Winkler’s collection system is “probably have one of the best systems out there. We have the waste, the compost, the recycling—everything is there, from the kitchen to your lawn and right back to your plastic products … a lot of communities are very jealous of what we have.”
“[We’re] very, very proud of our services and the quality of service,” agreed Mayor Siemens.
There were no objections heard from the public at the hearing. The bylaw will come before council again for final approval.
