Local teachers, who are out on strike, spent yesterday morning cleaning museum buildings and doing work in the park and around the pond. This was a great way to do some community work and we are so grateful for it all.
It was also an opportunity for the new teachers to spend some time at the museum and park and see what we have to offer. Hopefully we can make more connections in the future.
~ Lucille B.
2012 is Cut Knife’s 100th birthday as a town. There was a settlement before 1912 but this when it became a town.
Our museum is researching the businesses and residences along Broad Street and other older buildings in the town for a walking tour and publication to help celebrate the event.
The committee has spent some time in the old newspapers where it is sooooo easy to become sidetracked because the information is very interesting. We will need to focus and work more quickly because time may run out when we only go through several years of papers a day!
I have also done some research for individuals who want some genealogy information. This too is very time consuming. Would love to have the newspapers digitized. Sigh. Too much work, not enough time or hands to complete it. Anyone interested in helping?
The author spent a month on Vancouver Island where some of the best destinations of course were museums. The Royal BC Museum in Victoria, Comox Air Museum, Nanaimo Museum, Nanaimo Military Museum, Port Alberni Museum, Qualicum Beach Museum, Campbell River Museum, and Craigdarroch Castle in Victoria. And yes, there were some we missed! Next time.
As well we visited Milner Gardens at Qualicum Beach. This was a special treat. Don’t miss it if you are in the area. My favorite things – a bit of history, a garden, and a beautiful view.
So, I came home with some new ideas for displays as I usually do.
I really love museums. Haven’t been to one I that I didn’t learn something.
But then I am a little biased.
~ Lucille B.
It is a new look for our museum. The logo and lead statement “different cultures… prairie neighbours” encapsulates the stories our museum tells. Our area has such a diverse cultural background. First Nations, French, Ukrainian, Korean, English, Danish, Hutterian Brethren and so on.
Prairie life has produced a culture of its own – part of the Canadian immigrant landscape.
We are continuing to add to our exhibits so that they portray more of these diverse cultures.
Thanks to Stephanie Gilchrist who helped us design the logo.
~ Lucille B.
I have watched the History Channel show, Museum Secrets, with great interest. Of course, I’m a bit biased, but I think it is a fascinating show.
I bet that every museum has a ‘secret’ to tell of an interesting artifact or story from the area. It made me think about small museums and how we could use this premise in attracting visitors.
It’s all about making one stand out from the crowd.
At least that’s how I see it…
One of our ‘secrets’ is that there was a gold rush in the Cut Knife (Wardenville) area early in the 20th Century. Come and find out more.
~ Lucille B.
Clayton McLain Memorial Museum 