13 new jobs. Bushplane Museum looks to double staff size

The addition of a micro brewery is far from the only major change happening these days at the Sault's biggest cultural attraction.

An ambitious business plan unveiled this week by Mike Delfre and Ron Common from the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre calls for the 28-year-old museum to add five full-time and eight part-time positions.

That would more than double the popular tourist destination's existing staff of five full-timers and five part-time employees.

Sault Ste. Marie City Council started cranking the propellor this week with a $100,000 grant from the city's economic diversification fund.

The municipal contribution is expected to taildrag an additional $150,000 from the Ontario Trillium Foundation and $900,000 from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund, providing a total of $1.15 million to undertake major renovations, retain the museum's existing jobs and support the creation of new positions.

"There will also be 15 construction and spin-off jobs as a result of this project," said a report received by city councillors.

The new full-time jobs will include a facilities manager, two digital video production techicians, a support staffer for a Nature Exchange/ Entomica (insectarium) exhibit and one fund development co-ordinator.

New part-time jobs consist of four lobby staff and four Nature Exchange employees.

The bushplane museum's new business plan calls for:

Creation of an exhibit development/ production studio.
Creation of digital touchscreen display units for each aircraft in the museum collection.
Creation of a Nature Exchange and a companion Entomica exhibit.
Creation of an archival research and community programs room.
Implemention of a marketing campaign in support of the above activities.
Conversion of the current volunteer room into a small preparation kitchen.
Purchase of event-related equipment including tables, chairs, a/v systems, lighting, public address, staging, etc.
Purchase of portable restroom facilities to support larger events.
Renovation of front lobby and gift shop areas.
Modernize merchandising equipment and displays.
Improve accessibility and renovate current washrooms.
Create an on-line store, compatible with new point-of-sale equipment, to reach customers beyond the local region.

The Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre is hoping to produce exhibit, marketing and video content for other cultural and heritage institutions in the area.

It has recently partnered with 23 culture and heritage sites from Prince Township to Espanola to form the North Shore Cultural Attractions Network (NSCAN).

Museum staff have already developed a marketing brochure for NSCAN and are now writing grants for the development of digital media products for several NSCAN partners.

"The centre has experienced unprecedented growth, particularly in our event business, in the last five years," Executive Director Mike Delfre told City Council this week.

"Unfortunately, there haven't been any major renovations or capital improvements made to the building in the last 15 years," Delfre said. "The facility is showing some sigificant signs of wear and tear."

"These funds will be used for capital improvements that are intended to increase our capacity to generate revenue," Delfre said.

Discussions have also been held about evolving the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre into a centre of excellence showcasing forestry and aviation research,

"Rest assured, the Bushplane has always been sustainable," said Board Chair Ron Common.

"We'll continue to be sustainable. We will make the hard decisions if we have to, to continue that."

The Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre exhibits 32 vintage aircraft and has three theatres, ancillary exhibits, a gift shop and event space for weddings and corporate events.