Category: Museum

Museum, Summer

Community Garden Plots

Clayton McLain Memorial Museum

2022: The Clayton McLain Memorial Museum’s Community Garden will be scaled back this spring due to lack of interest. It will shrink to approximately 1/3 of its current size with much of the soil going towards fill at the museum and elsewhere, as needed. This should be accomplished by the end of May.

The Community Garden is located to the east of the Cut Knife grid road in a large sunny field between the Museum’s Armstrong Building to the south and the R.M.’s shop on Dion Avenue to the north.

Guidelines are as follows:

  • Space is limited. Contact the museum, if interested.
  • Plant rows east / west.
  • No water is available onsite. Water must be hauled from home.
  • Plots are free but you must care for your plot throughout the season. This includes weeding and harvesting.

Plots will be available at the end of May.

Contact a CMMM Board member or email cmmmcutknife@gmail.com to arrange for garden space.

~ Debbie M.

Museum, Notes

Ovenstown Captured

Clayton McLain Memorial Museum

A beautiful capture of Ovenstown in the spring of 2020, especially poignant since it was demolished that fall. Aleksi Anseth grew up in Cut Knife and continues to live in the area. Take a look at her Facebook page (link below) for more wonderful examples of her talent.

This building has served many uses throughout its life, functioning as a church, one-room school, and eventually, a museum. I’ve spent a couple of my summers working at the museum, and got pretty cozy with Ovenstown specifically, as it was the museum office when I worked (that honour now belongs to the Duvall House!), so I’ve spent many hours in and around the building. Even with those hours logged with it, I still find the front of the building really visually striking. It has a presence that commands attention. Speaking purely on exterior design, Ovenstown is probably my favourite building at the museum! Acrylic on 11X14″ Canvas board

Aleksi Ann | Facebook May 7, 2020
By Aleksi Anseth

Board, Museum

Attention Students

Clayton McLain Memorial Museum

ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR SUMMER MUSEUM WORKER

We are hiring a summer student to fill the position of Museum Worker at the Clayton McLain Memorial Museum in Cut Knife. If you, or someone you know is interested, please follow the provided link for more information and for instructions on how to apply.

Young Canada Works Application Link

Questions about the position? Contact the museum for more info. Thanks for your interest!

Archives, Board, Museum

Melvin Sawatzky, RWD 2021 Volunteer Award

Clayton McLain Memorial Museum

From the Rivers West District website:

“Spanning over five decades, Mel Sawatzky has had a long and distinguished record of service to the community and district of Cut Knife, Saskatchewan.

Rivers West District for Sport, Culture and Recreation
Mayor Gwenn Kaye (left) presenting Mel Sawatzky (right) with the Over-All Volunteer of the Year Award

In 1971, Mel became the first Chairman of the newly created Clayton McLain Memorial Museum. For several years prior to this, in the late 1960s, Mel, in his capacity as Noble Grand of the local Oddfellows Chapter, actively sought to assist Elizabeth McLain in establishing a Museum which would house artifacts of great historical significance to Canada, associated with the settlement of the northwest and the events surrounding the 1885 Northwest Resistance. Melvin Sawatzky holds the distinction of Life Member of the Board of Trustees of Clayton McLain Memorial Museum.

Mel’s achievements also include:

  • Volunteer firefighter for 24 years;
  • Councilor for the Town of Cut Knife for 8 years;
  • Decades of participation with the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation, including the Hunter Safety Education program;
  • 20+ volunteer years with the Cut Knife Colts hockey team in a variety of roles, and
  • Assistance with coordinating the 2005 RCMP Musical Ride in the Town of Cut Knife.

Congratulations Mel! Thank you for everything you do for us!

~ Debbie M.

Museum, Summer

Community Garden 2020

Clayton McLain Memorial Museum

The museum will be moving forward with the planting of the Community Garden this year on Tuesday, June 2, 2020.

Recommendations of the Chief Medical Officer of Saskatchewan on Covid 19 social distancing protocols will be followed:

  • Families are invited to work within their quarantine group;
  • Individuals will be assigned work areas practicing two meter spacing.

The garden is located north of the Armstrong Building adjacent to the Cut Knife grid road. Planting will take place between 10:30am and 2:30pm. All volunteers are welcome.