The Gallant government has promised $50-million towards the construction of a new provincial museum in uptown Saint John, putting all the components under one roof, though exactly where the new museum will be located is currently unknown.
Premier Brian Gallant made the announcement at the New Brunswick Museum’s Collection Centre on Douglas Avenue and he tells CHSJ News they will be looking for further funding from the federal government along with the private sector.
“We’re very confident that we’ll have other partners at the table,” says Gallant. “It’s a complex project, there’s no doubt about it, but there’s a real willingness with everybody around the table to make sure this will be a success.”
The size and precise location of the project will be determined based on funding commitments from these other partners. The goal is to begin site work in spring of 2018.
Gallant says the museum attracts upwards of 100,000 people annually between its two facilities in Market Square and Douglas Avenue.
Huge announcement by @BrianGallantNB @JohnBAmes of a new museum for @NBMuseums in @cityofsaintjohn in partnership with @WayneLongSJ #growsj pic.twitter.com/8hotKNwr5f
— Don Darling (@dondarlingSJ) October 30, 2017
“I’m so excited about this next phase,” says Saint John mayor Don Darling. “I am confident as well that there are some private sector donors that are willing to step up…we’ve got tremendous momentum happening in the uptown and this is a project that is going to help us realize and move closer to our full potential.”
The government has also announced it is committed to help find a new purpose for the Douglas Avenue building and the department of Transportation and Infrastructure is doing repairs on the building. The situation at the museum’s Collection Centre had been described as extremely serious and urgent with leaks, inadequate heating, no fire suppression system along with other issues.
“We are working very hard…to make sure that this building, which has lots of heritage and culture, will also have a new purpose,” says Gallant.
“We’re going to be investing to ensure that we are able to do the repairs necessary for it to continue to play a role in the future here in the city of Saint John.
