The Niagara-on-the-Lake Museum is among 12 historical sites in Canada competing for a chance to win $65,000 in cash prizes to transform its founder’s house into an archival center. This opportunity is part of the fourth annual Next Great Save contest organized by the National Trust for Canada, a charity dedicated to preserving and showcasing historic landmarks.
As a finalist, the museum presented its proposal to convert the 1911 residence of founder Janet Carnochan into a state-of-the-art research and archival facility equipped with modern climate control, fire safety measures, accessibility enhancements, and security systems. The public can vote for their favorite project on the contest website once a day from April 7 to 24, with the winners set to be announced on the final day. The first-place winner will receive $50,000, followed by $10,000 for second place and $5,000 for third place.
Barbara Worthy, the museum’s community engagement coordinator, emphasized the importance of preserving the 40,000 historical documents stored in the Carnochan house, which was acquired by the museum two years ago. Worthy highlighted the urgency of safeguarding these valuable artifacts and integrating them into the museum’s collection.
Even if the museum does not secure the prize, Worthy emphasized that participating in the contest helps raise awareness about the significance of repurposing and conserving historic sites. Notably, the contest aims to prevent the destruction of historical landmarks, a trend observed globally.
Apart from the Niagara-on-the-Lake Museum, the other finalists in the Next Great Save contest include various locations across Canada, such as lighthouses, churches, and heritage sites. The funding for the cash prizes is made possible through sponsorship by Ecclesiastical Insurance.