Waterloo Region staff asked to explore options for future of Fashion History Museum

Historic fashion pieces were displayed at the Fashion History Museum in Cambridge in this undated image. (CTV News/Heather Senoran)

Staff for the Region of Waterloo have been tasked with helping the Fashion History Museum find a new home.

The City of Cambridge ended the museum’s lease in March, citing thousands of dollars in unpaid rent.

Museum staff were initially given 14 days to move everything out of the building, however the city then extended the deadline. The operators now have until May 19 to remove their collection out of the space.

At a meeting on Tuesday, the region’s Administration and Finance Committee considered a motion from Councillor Doug Craig to help the Fashion History Museum find a new location.

“Therefore be it resolved that the appropriate regional staff be requested to report on options to help promote the collection by partnering with other museums in the region and/or securing space in an appropriate regional building or commenting on the possibility of a new stand-alone structure to service the whole regional community,” the motion read.

Craig said it was meant to help facilitate a dialogue between representatives for the Fashion History Museum and other community organizations that may be able to provide a helping hand or partnership.

“I think it would be a great loss if they leave the region. I think it’s something very unique. They are unique in Canada. They do have a national and international flavour,” Craig said.

Councillor Pam Wolf seconded the motion.

“I know they’re used for research purposes, if you’re doing a play or a movie or anything like that, to see their authentic collection is very valuable,” she explained.

However, some councillors and staff members worried about the burden the extra work would create.

“In a nutshell, we have a very busy program, and this work would definitely displace part of that. I think we’d have to look very carefully at it. There’s no doubt it’s a very impressive collection,” said Rod Regier, the commissioner of planning, development and legislative services.

“We have had some preliminary conversations with them. They had indicated that they’re, in an ideal situation, looking for 10,000 to 15,000 square feet. This is space we do not have available,” Regier added.

Councillor Colleen James worried the committee could be considering a move that would overstep regional council’s boundaries.

“I am also really concerned as well about us getting into the business of doing something we really shouldn’t be doing and facilitating something we really should not be doing and it’s not within our purview to do,” she said.

Craig pushed back, saying he only wanted staff to help start the conversations to preserve the museum.

Ultimately, the motion passed by a vote of 8 to 7, with one absence. Councillors Craig, Rodrigues, Williams, Foxton, Shantz, Wolf, Nowak and Vrbanovic voted in favour of the motion.