Huntsville Council approves $8,000 in funding to the Historical Society

The funds will help the society digitize old records

Huntsville Council approved $8,000 in funding to the Huntsville and Area Historical Society, in the May 26, 2025, meeting.

Staff advised that they worked with the society last fall regarding two potential grants so they could hire students to digitalize old records and review and evaluate designated properties or those on the list to be designated.

Staff said that since then the society received one grant, however, it was not enough to cover their costs.

Mayor, Nancy Alcock, said she was approached by a society member indicating they were in a difficult situation because they only had half of the funding they needed. They indicated the timing of the provincial election had an impact on applying for the second grant, and they were also denied once they did.

She added that the society already hired a student for 4 months, as a summer job, which wouldn’t be able to continue without additional funding, which is why they approached the Town.

Councillor, Scott Morrison, said “What we’re getting out of this is huge for the Town. They are our records.”

Councillor, Helena Renwick, said that as an advisor to the society on behalf of the Town “the work the society is doing includes work for the Town.” She referred to the records as “invaluable.”

The funding will be taken from a Heritage Reserve the Town has, which staff said contained $9,370.

Councillor, Cory Clarke, inquired about how long the funds in the reserve have been “carrying on without being allocated.”

Staff said it’s been 12 years since those funds were used. They clarified, “No funds have been in or out of the reserve since 2013.”

Councillor, Jason FitzGerald, recommended that Council receive a report about the reserves they are not using or contributing to.

Director of Financial Services/Treasurer, Julia McKenzie, told Council that she just completed a report on reserves, including “a balance at year end report” and encouraged Council to look at it.