After months of debate, the long awaited fate of the Dionne Quintuplets Home Museum has been decided.
On Tuesday evening, North Bay city council voted 7-3 in favour of keeping the museum in the city, instead of relocating it to Strong Township; about 45 minutes south of North Bay.
A proposal earlier this year to move the home to Strong Township was met by public outcry.
The two surviving quintuplets, Cecile and Annette Dionne, wrote a letter to council; saying it was a moral obligation to safeguard the home as a part of Canadian history.
“It's definitely a relief that portion is done,” said Jeff Fournier, from the Friends of the Dionne Home Museum. “We still have work to do with coming up with an operating agreement with the city and that type of thing, but we're very encouraged by the community support"
"It was a relief to see North Bay council support keeping the Dionne Quints home here in North Bay by a vote of 7-3, a vote we had lost 8-2 back in February and we kind of kept it alive and with community support it has really swung around the other way,” added Chris Mayne, City Councillor.
The friends of the Dionne Quintuplets Home Museum will now disband in order for a new operation group to be formed.
