Members of Saskatchewan Museum Association come together for yearly meeting
Earlier this week, members from 10 different communities discussed challenges and solutions for keeping their volunteer-based museums open, at a regional Museum Association of Saskatchewan (MAS) meeting in Yorkton.
Representatives from Preeceevile, Sturgis, Canora, Pelly, Kamsack, Melville, Esterhazy, Doukhobor, Regina, and Yorkton attended the event. Following the meeting, the group headed to the Yorkton Brick Mill Heritage Society for a tour of the new interpretive station that is currently being built.
"Without volunteers, nothing like this is going to happen. The mill itself was basically ready for the big brown ball to knock it down,” Vern Brown, volunteer of the Yorkton Brick Mill Heritage Society, said.
“It’s nice when you see it’s all being revived and going because without volunteers, it’s not going to happen.”
Every year, the Seneca Root Museum Association gets together in the spring and the fall to share issues, ideas, and ask questions regarding their small community museums.
Agnes Murrin, chair of the Preecevile & District Heritage Museum said everyone from the group seemed to be facing the same issues.
“We always give a written report, that way we bring up issues, different fundraisers that have worked and different activities that we’ve done,” Murrin explained.
“We also bring up some of the issues whether it’s getting more volunteers, getting more people on the board, getting enough money to keep running. Those are all issues we’re all facing so it’s good to get together.”
During the meeting, a spokesperson from MAS was present to answer any questions people had about provincial grant applications and funding opportunities.
“The community representative from MAS gave us some ideas to go back and tweak our purpose so that we (the museum) can become all things for all people,” explained Murrin.
“Because all museums have a purpose and values, we just have to tweak them because the world is always changing.”
Another member said the meeting was a great opportunity to network with other like-minded volunteers.
"We have a solid crew of volunteers, we've been together, I think I'm the newest one and I've been there for 15 years,” Jeniffer Stein, board member of the Melville Heritage Museum, laughed.
“Once you get in there, you get hooked because you get a passion for that museum and for what we have to offer to the community.”
Stein added that there are many challenges volunteers face with trying to stay afloat, finances being the main concern.
“It’s very difficult, it’s something we’re always going to have to be very proactive doing,” she expressed.
“We do utilize a lot of grants through municipal, provincial funding and even having our own little fundraisers, teas, raffles, things like that. There’s a lot of different aspects that come into making sure we have enough money to operate for the year.”
During the meeting, members decided on creating a video presentation to showcase what makes each of their museums unique.
“We’re going to have each of the museums record two to three minutes and it will be packaged into a 10 minute video,” Larry Pearen, president of the Yorkton Brick Mill Heritage Society, explained.
"That video will be used for marketing for through the whole region. All of the little museums will have a chance to say something about their museum so we're excited about that."
The video will be presented in the fall during the association’s next general meeting in October.
Yorkton Brick Mill builds new interpretive station
Currently Yorkton’s Brick Mill Heritage Society is building a new interpretive station next to the mill to recognize local family farms, as well as provide tours on the history behind agriculture settlements in the region that go as far back as 1898.
The station will also be available to the public for private meetings and local events.
Pearen said the committee has about $1 million left to fundraise before the project is finished.
“We’re really pleased with the individual and corporate support. With all of our fundraising, without that support, we wouldn’t be doing what we’re doing,” Pearen expressed.
“We want to thank everyone who’s involved as a volunteer and all those who stepped up with some funds. The small amounts become big amounts so no donation is too small.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Signs of Alzheimer’s were everywhere. Then his brain improved
Blood biomarkers of telltale signs of early Alzheimer’s disease in the brain of his patient, 55-year-old entrepreneur Simon Nicholls, had all but disappeared in a mere 14 months.
Box tree moths have infested Ontario and experts say more are coming. Here's what to do to protect your garden
An invasive moth species is on the rise in Canada and, if you've planted a certain shrub, it could stand to ruin your garden.
Lyon-bound Air Canada Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner from Montreal turns back midflight due to pressurization alert
Passengers heading from Montreal to Lyon, France on Friday were forced to return home and depart the next day after a pressurization indication was detected in flight.
Oilers dominate Canucks, win to force deciding Game 7
The Edmonton Oilers avoided elimination from the NHL playoffs Saturday night, beating the visiting Vancouver Canucks 5-1 in Game 6 of their second-round series.
The eight most expensive homes for sale in Ottawa this spring
Ottawa's ultra luxury housing market is blooming like the tulips this spring, with a significant increase in the number of homes sold worth more than $2 million.
B.C. pipeline company argues its 'haulers' are not trucks, for tax purposes
A contractor working on the Coastal GasLink pipeline has been denied more than $333,000 worth of tax rebates because pieces of machinery it purchased – and claimed were not trucks – were deemed sufficiently truck-like in B.C. Supreme Court.
$500K-worth of elvers seized at Toronto airport
Fishery and border service officers seized more than 100 kilograms of unauthorized elvers at the Toronto Pearson International Airport on Wednesday.
Usyk beats Fury by split decision, becomes undisputed heavyweight champion
Oleksandr Usyk defeated Tyson Fury by split decision to become the first undisputed heavyweight boxing champion in 24 years.
To plant or not to plant? Gardening tips for May long weekend
May long weekend is finally here, and with the extra time off you may be getting the itch to head out to your garden and plant. However, the old debate whether you should plant now, or wait, is still ever-present.