A lifelong resident of Richmond Hill who has been advocating for many years for the town to establish its own museum may get his wish. Council recently unanimously voted to have Town of Richmond Hill staff investigate the feasibility of a museum to honour the town’s heritage after a petition with more than 400 signatures was presented at a council meeting last winter.

Bert Hunt, 87, has been working together with his daughter Karen Dance to communicate with council on the issue.

“It seems a shame that our history is under lock and key,” said Hunt, referring to a storage facility on Elgin Mills Road where more than 4,000 of the town’s artifacts are stored. “Young people don’t realize how our forefathers managed with no hydro, no indoor plumbing,” said Hunt. “This is the kind of thing people should look at.”

He brought the petition to council with the help of Dance.

“As my father got older, it became more of a passion for him,” said Dance, who told council that the museum would be a great way to commemorate the history of the town in light of its 140th anniversary.

“The town is changing,” said Hunt. “I’m very fortunate that council passed it.”