Business Case

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The Maison Fairbairn House Solidarity Cooperative has taken an innovative approach in preparing a business plan for its heritage centre, and in emphasing the creation of various products and services.

We intend to earn revenues for the heritage centre by charging admission (approximately $3 per visitor with special rates for members and special age groups), and also by organizing activities and developing partnerships. Our boutique, special events, programming, memberships, children's activities, classes, tours, venue fees, heritage training and seminars will also bring revenues.

The Maison Fairbairn House Heritage Centre needs help from local, regional, provincial and federal levels of government to get started, but with our own fundraising and with private support, our business study shows that the Centre will be sustainable at the end of year three. We anticipate a net profit margin of 16.4 percent once the heritage centre is established.

Business Plan

The business plan was prepared by Belleau Management and Planning in 2007, after a year of consultation with Steering Committee members and regional players in the Outaouais. The plan has been revised since then to take into account changes to reflect new ideas and opportunities that have occurred. It includes sections dealing with trends in the tourism industry, potential market analysis, marketing strategy, operations and communications planning, legal aspects, financial forecasts, description of concepts, themes, products and services, and impact on the community.

Project Cost

The cost of the project is currently estimated at $560,000.

Project Phases

There will be three phases:

Renovation of the exterior of the building, to be undertaken during the summer of 2010 at a projected cost of $130,000.
Renovation of the interior of the building, scheduled for 2011, to provide a full facility for displays and meetings.
Mounting of displays, exhibits and programs with the official completion and opening expected in 2012.

Funding

The forecasted funding of the project is based on research of funding opportunities as well as consultations with funding agencies.

The financial plan calls for the project to raise a total of $60,000 from community donations, private donations, memberships and sponsorships, as well as special events.

Other sources of major funding are:

La Pêche Municipality
CLD des Collines-de-l'Outaouais
Caisse Populaire Desjardins

Benefits

The implementation and operation of a heritage centre in the community of Wakefield, the Municipality of La Pêche, on the Gatineau River, in the Outaouais region of Quebec will have a major impact on residents and cultural tourism in the region. The Centre will be the only facility of its kind between the cities of Gatineau and Maniwaki.

The most significant impacts are:

Local and regional investment in a cultural tourism attraction that is a sector of activity prioritized by numerous organizations in the region.
Investments generated of approximately $560,000.
Supply residents of the Municipality of La Pêche and the MRC des Collines-de-l'Outaouais with a cultural hub.
Complement the tourism industry with a new cultural tourism attraction.
Inform and educate residents and tourists on local and regional heritage.
Contribute to community pride in the region's history and heritage.
Prolong the stay of tourists and increase tourist expenditures in the area.

Memberships

The Maison Fairbairn House is a member of:

CDROL (Coopérative de développement régional Outaouais-Laurentides)
Commerce Wakefield group and supports the aims of its members.
CRCO (Conseil régional de la culture de l'Outaouais)
Loisir sport Outaouais
Quebec Anglophone Heritage Association (QAHN) - a non-profit, non-partisan umbrella group formed to advance knowledge of the history and culture of the English-speaking society in Quebec.
Trans Canada Trail - the 17,000 kilometre multi-use trail which spans Canada from sea to sea to sea.
FSHQ (Fédération des sociétés d'histoire du Québec).