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2017 in Review at the Quesnel Museum

The Friends of the Museum work hard on projects and issues relating to the Quesnel Museum.
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Although the Friends of the Museum (FOM) is not always front and centre in the community, we really have been quite busy throughout the year.

We contributed to the reconstruction of the Cornish water wheel on Front Street, and installed two new interpretive signs. Other grants for this project were done under the auspices of the City of Quesnel, while City staff assisted in awarding the contracts and installing the signs.

The original metal components have been reused, but the wheel was built (for perhaps the third time), with new wood, ensuring that this iconic element of the Cariboo’s gold mining history and part of Quesnel’s first outdoor museum (now known as Heritage Corner) lasts well into the 21st century.

Not all projects are so visible upon their completion. A prime example is FOM paid for rental of a truck to bring donations from the Hoy family from Kelowna to Quesnel. A desk and chair; highchair; typewriter; embroidered silk paintings; and some smaller items made their way back to Quesnel, from whence they originally came.

Our annual fundraiser Used Book Sale in May, as well as the Antiques and Uniques Sale, provides funds to undertake heritage projects and helps us all declutter our homes and acquire fresh reading material.

And just for clarification, we are not selling off the museum collection without the donor’s permission. Most items in the sale are things offered to the museum in the past year or so, that were not accepted because we already had similar items with a local history.

The donors were happy to offer them for resale, to find a new home where they would be appreciated and also to raise some funds to offset expenses associated with acquiring artifacts (like the aforementioned truck rental) or to purchase conservation supplies to better care for the collection.

As the year progressed, the FOM rented a tent to facilitate the Storytellers’ Tent. This is an annual Canada Day event that is sponsored by the FOM to encourage people in the community to share their stories of living in, or coming to, Quesnel.

This year, highlights included Betsy Van Haldren talking about her time as a hostess for Expo 67; Kiran Puri singing songs from India and speaking about coming to Canada and his love of music; and another speaker told us of his personal experience of a “cattle stampede” on Knickerbocker Hill.

A volunteer attempted to record most of these stories to preserve them for posterity in the Quesnel Museum. The Storytellers’ Tent and the Oral History project are funded by the FOM.

Canada 150 was to be an excellent opportunity for Quesnel Museum to showcase our history. Sadly, the wildfires changed all that!

Judy Anderson, a director of the FOM Board, spearheaded the event, dubbed “Cariboo Pioneer Festival” and had great plans, which included having LeBourdais Park turned into 1867.

All sorts of displays were lined up – blacksmithing, hide tanning, moccasin-making and another visit from the Cascadians. This event was months in the making – and planning – but unfortunately it did not come to fruition. Luckily, all the contacts were made, which will aid in restaging it another year.

The Pioneer Festival was a recipient of a grant from the Cariboo Regional District and they have graciously allowed us to carry it over for 2018. Such occasions have costs associated and FOM appreciate all that we receive.

Not to be defeated by those fires, Judy then proceeded to put on a presentation, which she called “Dress the Lady.”

The public was invited to an evening at the Museum and treated to an eye-catching clothing display. Guests were allowed to try on the many articles of clothing available and experience just what it was like to be dressed 1867 style. Plenty of laughter and giggles accompanied this.

Our next event which the Friends of the Museum are participating in is the annual Christmas Gift Shop Sale.

Traditionally held the first weekend of December, the public is invited to come to the Museum and purchase all or any of the unique items in the Gift Shop. (20 per cent off almost everything in the shop) and you will have gifts that you are not likely to find anywhere else in town.

While you are there, avail yourself of the Christmas refreshments provided by the FOM.

Besides supporting projects and events in and around the Museum, the Friends of the Museum are advocates for the preservation of history in Quesnel and area. Through our efforts, the Big Truck Parking area by Heritage Corner has now become multiple parking spaces, after we brought this to the attention of City council.

We also have provided input to the City to assist in developing the Arts, Culture, and Heritage section of the Official Community Plan.

One of our current projects is to add a plaque to the Telegraph Trail cairn relating to the Collins Overland Telegraph Cairn.

I’m fairly certain that most, if not all, of you have seen the recent renovations to the outside display area of the Museum.

The glass enclosure will preserve the outdoor artifacts, reduce the dust and pigeon “debris,” and make that area look more appealing. Already it looks wonderful!

To add to the display, the FOM is contributing to the installation of photo murals within the exhibit. We have also applied to one of our major contributors for help with the cost of these murals.

We also sponsored the photo mural to be installed on the back wall of the Museum. Recreational activities, in the park throughout the years, will be “immortalized.” This is still a work in progress, but it should be completed some time in the spring of 2018.

At the recent FOM meeting, the executive was voted in and plans were made for the future. The FOM sees a need for a Heritage Strategic Plan and we are working on that.

Please feel free to become a member of the Friends of the Museum, volunteer, participate, and/or otherwise engage and immerse yourself in Quesnel history.

Don’t forget the Friends of the Museum have a special Agency Fund with the Quesnel Community Foundation, so anyone planning to make a donation to QCF this season, please consider targeting your donation to this fund. It is a great way to honour a deceased loved one and support your community’s heritage preservation.

Looking over the notes about our 2017 year, I think we can consider it a fairly successful year for the FOM.

Honey Affleck is chair of the Friends of the Museum with the Quesnel and District Museum and Archives.