Newsletter Volume 3, Issue 2 May 2010

Museum Expansion Feasibility Study Workshop

Whalebone Productions and Alchemy of Design have been contracted to produce a feasibility study and five-year business plan for the expansion of the museum site.

A three-day workshop was held at the end of March to which interested parties and stakeholders were invited.

Many topics were discussed, including the vision and mandate of the museum, importance of the visitor experience, community engagement and potential funding partners.

Possible design concepts for future exhibits were also explored.

Everyone came away feeling very positive about the future possibilities for the museum site.

Heritage Days Summer Program

In partnership with the Public Library, the school and the District of Hudson’s Hope, the museum is participating in a new community outreach “Heritage Days” summer program.

Events planned at the museum are:

June: National Aboriginal Day

July/August: Family photos archiving/digitizing workshop

Fossil road show

Dino track and historic trails tours

Aboriginal music and storytelling

A day on a Pioneer Ranch

Look for posters & PSA’s nearer the time for details

Museum Receives Another Award!

Museum Manager, Rosaleen Boardman, travelled to Vancouver recently to pick up the BC Historical Federation “Newsletter Award”.

She was presented with a certificate and a $250 cheque at the Federation’s annual banquet at the Plaza 500 Hotel.

Hurrahs! At the Heritage Fair

Thirty six students took part in the Northern Region Heritage Fair on April 29th. All participants were from the Hudson’s Hope School.

Students from grades 3 - 7 researched and presented projects on a wide array of cultural heritage subjects including their family tree, Ukrainian culture and the Alaska Highway.

Five students will represent the region at the Provincial Heritage Fair in Barkerville in July.

 Thank you to all the judges who came from across the region to assess the projects and to the teachers for their support.

Awards were presented to:

Jake Martin – Louis Riel

Tess Herrington – History of Hudson’s Hope Schools

Jade Rowe – W.A.C. Bennett Dam

Alexander MacDonald – Roots

 Co-Op Students Start at the Museum for Summer

The museum welcomes Heather Muir and Shawn-Elisa Lloyd as they start their summer work term. Heather will be cataloguing and digitizing the Bedaux material and

Shawn-Elisa will be completing the artifact inventory.

They are funded through the Young Canada Works Program and the District of Hudson’s Hope

New Directors Welcomed

Three new directors were elected to the society’s board at the AGM held on March 25th. Joining the team is Dan Bouillon, Carol Johnson and Debbie Beattie. Carol Johnson is the new Treasurer whilst Ross Peck and Kasper Michel remain President and Vice President respectively. Ross thanked retiring directors Fay Lavallee, Anita McWilliams and Margaret Kyllo for their years of service and looked forward to their continued support and attendance at meetings.

Community Memories Project 

Funding has been confirmed from the Canadian Heritage Community Memories grant program. This project will see the creation of a Virtual Museum of Canada exhibit entitled: “Our Hudson’s Hope Cowboys: Packers on the Trail with Charles Bedaux” .

Photos and archival material collected over the last year will be digitized and developed into a storyline to also produce a DVD with a narration highlighting the importance of the cowboys on Bedaux’s expeditions.

Museum Manager Moving On

At the end of March, Rosaleen Boardman submitted her resignation as manager of the museum. She will be moving back to Britain in August where she plans to continue working in the cultural heritage world.