NEWS

Saturday, July 8, 2017 at the North Peace Cultural Centre

Join South Peace Regional Archives on Tuesday July 4 for a guided walk through the Grande Prairie Cemetery and discover the rich and interesting history of Grande Prairie and area through the lives and stories of its people.  Our tour will highlight the lives of those who served in the two world wars.

 

Grande Prairie Cemetery (84 Avenue and 112 Street)

Tuesday, July 4 at 7:00 PM

 

Call the Archives at 780-830-5105 to register (limit of 25 participants)

 

Please note that this will be the same tour that was given last summer.

 

 

 

The Alaska Highway Road Show

Thursday, July 6, 2017 from 7:00 -8:30 p.m. at the Grande Prairie Museum

Featuring Alison Tubman, Bill Dolan and Kathy Jessup

Celebrating the Trail of ’42 in Story, Song and Images

Tickets are $10.00–Cash Only–in Advance or At the Door

Only 100 tickets available, so get yours early!

 

Friday, June 9, 2017 at 7 p.m. at the Fort St. John North Peace Museum

Farming and homesteading have been happening in the North Peace for over 100 years. Learn about many of the animals involved from horses to pigs and bulls to chickens. Hear hilarious tales of local farm animal mischief over the past century. Make farm animal related crafts and try some old fashioned farm activities. REGISTRATION IS MANDATORY AND LIMITED. Event tickets are $5/child or $10/family and must be purchased at the museum in advance. Children must be accompanied by an adult (free). Call 250-787-0430 for more information.

August 20 – November 30, 2017 at the Fort St. John North Peace Museum

Experience the construction of the Alaska Highway 75 years ago through the lens of photographer Rudy Schubert. Rudy was a photographer for the 341st Engineers and took photographs of the highway’s construction, camp life, wildlife, and more. Regular admission fees apply. This exhibit is free to members of the North Peace Historical Society. For more information, call 250-787-0430.

August 19-20, 2017 at the North Peace Fall Fair

Look for the Museum’s travelling trailer at the North Peace Fall Fair. It features an exhibit all about travelling the Alaska Highway called Road to the Last Frontier. After touring the free exhibit, try your hand at our fish pond. The numbered fish you catch corresponds to a trivia question about the highway and you can win a prize if you answer correctly! Call 250-787-0430 for more information.

Friday, July 28, 2017 at the Fort St. John North Peace Museum

Learn about travel and tourism along the Alaska Highway from the first tourists in 1948 to current and future tourism initiatives happening along the highway. Presentations will feature historic photographs as well as historic poems about travelling the highway. Call 250-787-0430 for more information.

Friday, July 21, 2017 at the Fort St. John North Peace Museum

The Western Command Convoy is coming back to the Fort St. John North Peace Museum to mark the 75th anniversary of the construction of the Alaska Highway. They’ll be driving their historic military vehicles (jeeps, trucks, motorcycles, etc.) up the highway for this anniversary. Come down to the museum grounds to see them on July 21. Call 250-787-0430 for more information.

Reverend Forbes Homestead Opens

An Open House at the Reverend Forbes Homestead and Pioneer Hospital is on Saturday, June 10 to celebrate the beginning of the 2017 summer season.

The event features guided tours of Grande Prairie’s first hospital. This is a family friendly event with light refreshments and lawn games from 1p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Rev. Forbes Homestead, located at 10424 96. St. behind the QEII hospital.

The provincial historic resource site officially opens on Monday, June 5 at 1 p.m.

Background

The first log structure built in Grande Prairie was the 24’ by 20’ hospital in 1911. The Forbes family, consisting of Rev. Alexander and Agnes, lived in the caboose that they travelled in until their two- storey house was built a year later.  The home is often referred to as “Montrose House” after Agnes Forbes hometown in Scotland.

More Information

Anyone interested in learning more about the history of the Rev. Forbes site can visit cityofgp.com/RevForbes

Members of the public can tour the Rev. Forbes Homestead and Pioneer Hospital Sunday through Saturday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., June 5 through Labour Day. Admission is free.

Information on upcoming events at Forbes are found on the City of Grande Prairie events calendar.

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Media Enquiries can be directed to:

Charles Taws
Curator / Collections Supervisor
Grande Prairie Museum
Phone: 780-830-7084
E-mail: ctaws@cityofgp.com