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Banting homestead still needs your help

February 29, 2008 21:02

This is to let you know that our battle to prevent the ongoing destruction of Sir Frederick Banting’s birthplace is over.

This most welcome end to an eight-year battle came quickly and unexpectedly at a Town of New Tecumseth (formerly Alliston) council meeting on the evening of Jan. 22, 2008.

The Town of New Tecumseth, led by Mayor Mike MacEachern, passed a bylaw to proceed with the purchase of the Banting Homestead. The town bought the 107-acre farm from the Ontario Historical Society (OHS) and their Foundation (OHSF), for the assessed value of $600,000. Lot 2 Concession 2, 5116 Sir Frederick Banting Road, now will be in safe hands.

The Town of New Tecumseth should be given full credit for adopting the Banting Homestead cause and, with the Banting family, persevering throughout many frustrating years of negotiations. Well done Mayor Mike, councillor Dennis Egan, town council and all our supporters in the Town of New Tecumseth and the surrounding area.

The Banting family was not alone in this quest because we had encouragement from all three levels of government and from many friends, helpers and supporters.

But battle is not over. The buildings at Sir Frederick Banting’s birthplace are badly in need of repairs.

For the last eight years the Ontario Historical Society, despite receiving $15,000 per year for the land rental has done little to repair or maintain the buildings. All the buildings are in sad shape and two are well beyond repair and must be rebuilt as historic replicas.

A condition on closing the deal is to raise $500,000 before June 2008, to expedite the repair and maintenance of the buildings. This will prevent further destruction of the buildings. We need your help.

If you know of anyone who is interested in helping please pass along the word: We need commitments to help financially, as well as other gifts in kind.

Payments can be spread over a three year period.

A commitment made in the next few months will push us closer to making our goal of raising $500,000 to repair the buildings.

Donations can be sent to:

Town of New Tecumseth
Administration Centre,
Attention - Banting Homestead
P.O. Box 910
10 Wellington Street E.
Alliston, Ontario
L9R 1A1
705-435-6219

or 905-729-0057

Or you can send your contribution to:
Sir Frederick Banting Legacy Foundation
2 John Ave.
Alliston, Ontario,
L9R 1J8
Charitable number 80740 6145 RR0001
www.discoveryofinsulin.com

In both cases a donor will receive a tax receipt.

In general, the Town will look after capital projects while the Sir Frederick Banting Legacy Foundation will look after operations. More details on this will be published as the story unfolds.

Bob Banting,
Doug Curwood,
Dr. Peter M. Banting

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