Quints Museum welcomed thousands last year

By Richard Coffin

2024 was a busy year for the Dionne Quints Museum.  

Ed Valenti, board president, provided an update to council this week, noting they had several bus tours again, were open Saturday evenings in November for the Winter Market and more. 

“In 2024 we had kind of a surprise year,” he says. “We had over 4,500 guests.  You have to remember we’re only open on Fridays and Saturdays from 10 am to 4 pm. Fridays tend to be quieter.  Saturday is our good day.”

Valenti says they’d like to open on Sundays but that would require the North Bay Museum being open too.   

He notes they had over 500 guests for their special opening on Canada Day alone.  

This year, education is one focus for the board with school tours taking place over a week this spring.  

Upwards of 75-100 students will be brought through the museum each day. “We’re trying to increase our educational profile because history tends to repeat itself,” says Valenti.  “We’d like to see that it’s remembered and understand the tragedy that’s involved.”  

He also says they usually get a lot of American visitors and one unknown this year is impact of the current Canada-U.S. relationship.  

Valenti says they’re working with Tanya Bédard, Executive Director of Tourism North Bay, on promoting the museum to new markets.  

“What’s probably going to be a positive to this whole Donald Trump thing is that we’re trying to bring more tourists from Quebec,” Valenti says.  “Because of the French component with the Dionnes we’re trying to work with Tanya on that and bring more and more tourism from Quebec especially because that’s an untapped market.” 

The Quints Museum opens for the season on May 23, with a birthday celebration for the five sisters the next day.  

Valenti says they’re also taking part in the city’s 100 anniversary homecoming celebration, Aug. 1-3.  

In terms of the museum’s website, he says they hope to continue to add to their 3D museum, which offers a 360-degree view of some of the Quints’ artifacts.  

Admission to the museum is free.