National Grain Industry Activity Centre

The vision of the Friends of Grain Elevators is for a new and unique attraction – the National Grain Industry Activity Centre – that will be a landmark on the Thunder Bay waterfront. The Centre will preserve all aspects of the story of grain and the rich history symbolized by the massive grain elevators that punctuate the landscape and lakescape of the City of Thunder Bay and will be the only museum or interpretive centre in Canada to interpret such large, iconic, concrete grain elevator structures while offering a full menu of exhibition and educational programming related to all aspects of the grain industry in Canada.

In 2006 the Friends in association with the City of Thunder Bay asked Lord Cultural Resources to lead a Feasibility Study to develop a concept for the new Centre and recommend programming strategies, facility size, staffing complement, and operational needs leading to three-year projections of attendance, operating revenues and expenses. Our study developed an exciting conceptual framework for the Centre and realistic attendance and financial estimates and in association with Scatliff + Murray + Miller of Winnipeg provided capital costs and architectural renderings.

Katherine Ball, Development Officer for Tourism Thunder Bay, and Nancy Perozzo, Chair of the Friends of Grain Elevators, had this to say about our Final Report:

“Working with you on the many components throughout the planning and delivery of the final report was a distinct pleasure. We thank you for your high level of proficiency and professionalism, and willingness to listen and provide honest advice...The entire committee feels strongly that the report is a document that will help move the project forward...thank you again for your dedication to a quality product.”