North Bay hoping Dionne Quints Museum will draw more visitors

The birth home of the quintuplets born in the North Bay area in 1934 attracts thousands of visitors a year and the museum is hoping to increase that number.

This summer, the Dionne Quints Heritage Board in North Bay wants to attract more American tourists to the century-old birth home of the five identical sisters who became a worldwide phenomenon.

Recently, the group told North Bay city council there seems to be more interest in the quintuplets’ story from Americans compared to Canadians.

“We’re going to try and reach out to them and actually have them come up here,” Valenti said.

“Come and experience the Quints Museum and all the story that is behind it.”

Enticing out-of-country visitors is a key goal for the board, as well as local, regional and national tourism officials.

“We’re still open. We’re still here to welcome the world and our experiences are unique,” said Amy Butcher, of the Tourism Industry Association of Canada.

“And our tourism operators, are working hard to welcome.”

The museum reopens for the season May 23.

“The whole goal is to is to define the history, you know,” Dionne Quints Heritage Board Chair Ed Valenti said.

The board will also host several school students for spring tours.

Thousands of visitors

Last summer, approximately 4,500 guests visited the museum even though the museum is only open Fridays and Saturdays.

Valenti notes bus tours brought visitors from Quebec and as far as B.C.

On Canada Day alone, there were close to 500 visitors.

“When it gets jammed in there, we have a hard time reminding people to sign in. And so those numbers are probably a lot bigger than that,” Valenti said.

“But that’s the count that we’ve come up with ... it’s about 50 per cent more over last year.”

The museum will also be a part of the city’s homecoming festival in early August.