SELKIRK—A plea for County support to help sustain one of Haldimand’s best-known heritage sites ended in disappointment last week, as Council declined to provide funding to Cottonwood Mansion Museum.
Haldimand Council received a staff report on the request at its April 7, 2026 meeting, voting unanimously to follow staff recommendation to deny financial assistance for the museum’s operating costs.
The report was prepared after Cottonwood representatives made a delegation to Council on October 7, 2025 outlining the museum’s financial challenges and asking for assistance to help secure the site’s long-term future.
Cottonwood presented three possible funding approaches: having the County adopt the property as a municipal site at an estimated annual cost of $250,000; providing a yearly operational grant estimated at $185,000; or funding a permanent staff position at an estimated $75,000 per year.
Staff recommended against all three options.
Among the reasons cited were that museum operations at a privately owned site are not a municipal mandate; the County already subsidizes its own heritage and museum services; and providing ongoing operating support to one non-municipally owned organization could trigger similar requests from many others.
Staff also said some of the proposed funding arrangements could be considered prohibited “bonusing” under the Municipal Act.
The report noted that Haldimand currently operates three museum and cultural program sites and that the County’s direct tax levy subsidy for museum operations is about $450,000 in the 2026 budget, excluding capital costs and overhead.
It further noted that heritage properties can be especially expensive to maintain, with Haldimand spending just under $1 million in capital costs over the past five years on its two heritage-designated museum sites.
During discussion, Ward 2 Councillor John Metcalfe said he sympathized with Cottonwood’s situation, but could not support funding it.
“It’s difficult because there are lots of others, I would say private museums and private collections, and where does it stop?” he asked.
Metclfe also acknowledged the financial burden of maintaining an older heritage property: “These larger buildings have to be maintained,” he said. “And then, of course, to keep it authentic, to be able to get grants, the craftsmanship and the work have to be done to heritage standards of the house at that time.”
Mayor Shelley Ann Bentley addressed Cottonwood Manager and Curator Iona Whatford directly during the meeting.
“I know, Iona, we’ve received your letter and, believe me, if we thought we could fund Cottonwood and other museums, we would, but we can’t,” said Bentley, adding that Council had to consider the broader implications of approving the request.
“If we give it to you, we will have a lineup here, and we can’t afford to do this,” Bentley said. “I’m so sorry.”
Bentley encouraged Cottonwood to continue pursuing funding support elsewhere.
“I know you do fantastic work there,” she said. “Please continue to write for your grants and Trillium funds, and whatever you can find.”
Whatford provided a statement to The Press following the Council meeting.
“The Cottonwood Mansion Preservation Foundation is disappointed by Council’s decision regarding our funding request, but we respect their reasoning,” she said. “We are grateful for the time and consideration that staff and Council gave to our proposal.”
Whatford said the challenges facing Cottonwood are part of a wider, national problem.
“What we’re facing is not unique,” she said. “Heritage organizations and small non-profits everywhere are navigating a difficult shift: volunteer capacity is shrinking, people have less time and funds to give, and costs continue to rise.”
She said that has placed mounting pressure on a small group of volunteers and staff working to keep the museum going.
“That said, our mission has not changed,” said Whatford. “Cottonwood Mansion has stood for over 160 years because each generation made the choice to keep it going.”
She said the organization will now need to become “more creative” in how it funds and operates the site in the years ahead.
“The reality is that community support matters more than ever,” she said. “If the community wants to see Cottonwood Mansion continue to offer programs, events, and access to local history, we need that support to show up in tangible ways.”
Whatford said that includes donations, volunteering, supporting events, and making it clear to elected officials that the work is valued. She added that Cottonwood’s doors remain open and its events will continue, with the future of the mansion expected to be discussed further at the organization’s Annual General Meeting on May 30.
“Our goal remains simple,” she said, “to keep Cottonwood Mansion open, relevant, and contributing to the community for as long as we are able.”
