The Halton Hills Sports Museum and Hall of Fame is going digital.
The museum has been located in the Alcott Hall of the Mold-Masters SportsPlex since 2002, but as part of an agreement with the Town of Halton Hills, it will be moving to the SportsPlex foyer along the wall of the Fernbrook Arena, facing the Saputo and Trans Canada arenas.
“The current location is kind of hidden,” said HHSM vice-chair Steve Highfield. “We want to make it more accessible and bring the museum into the modern age.”
The new location will include a 55-inch video board that will allow people to scroll through bios of the members of the Hall of Fame, as well as 3D images of local sports artifacts, by using a touch screen.
By moving into a high-traffic area, it's hoped that it will raise the profile of the hall of fame, its inductees and the museum. Banners will be produced annually for that year’s Hall of Fame class with a picture, biography as well as a display of artifacts that will be positioned beside the video board.
The goal is to have the museum and hall of fame moved to its new location by December 2027. That will depend on the success of the group’s fundraising campaign. It's looking to raise $200,000 in order to establish the museum and hall of fame in its new location.
One of the first things that needs to be completed is buying photographic equipment to digitize the museum’s collection. HHSM members have met with representatives of the Milton Sports Hall of Fame, which has a similar set up in the Milton Sports Centre.
“When we met with Milton, they highly recommended 3D images,” Highfield said. “They said if you don’t do it now, you’ll just have to do it in three years.”
Highfield said once artifacts and memorabilia are digitally catalogued, they will be returned to the people who donated them.
The museum and hall of fame also wants to redo its website and is currently looking for a webmaster to host the site.
This year’s Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be held June 4 at the John Elliott Theatre.