MEDIA RELEASE                                                                                                          August 25, 2017

Grande Prairie Museum Updates Features for 2017

The Grande Prairie Museum invites new and returning visitors to explore recent changes.

Collections and maintenance staff at the Grande Prairie Museum and Heritage Village have made updates to permanent galleries, created new exhibits and added features.

Main Gallery

A new funeral exhibit in the main gallery commemorates Grande Prairie’s longest running business, Oliver’s Funeral Home. The newest addition includes undertaker instruments, parlour furniture and highlights some historical funeral traditions practiced in different countries and cultures.

To celebrate 150 years of confederation, the Spirit of the Peace Museums created A History of the Peace Country in 150 Objects scavenger hunt. In partnership with the South Peace Regional Archives, nineteen of these original artifacts are on display in the Grande Prairie Museum with copies placed throughout the Heritage Village. Anyone wishing to complete the Peace Country wide scavenger hunt can pick up a brochure at Guest Services.

Freemasonry:  A History in Plain Sight, a travelling exhibit from the Bruce County Museum and Cultural Centre, remains on display until late October. This exhibit includes contributions from the Lake Saskatoon and Grande Prairie Masonic Lodges and has hosted a variety of talks and tours with local masons over the past few months.

To enhance the museum’s Military Section, a video presentation of the Tuffill Family Album is on display.  The presentation includes local photographs dated between 1910 and 1950.

Heritage Village

Recent changes extend into the Museum’s adjoining Heritage Village. To celebrate the 40^th Anniversary of the GP Stompede, a vintage Chuckwagon is on display in the machine shed and a mock chicken coop occupies the Village’s red barn; complete with a rooster, chickens and chicks. Just outside the barn and fire hall, guests find new custom photo boards, by local artist Robyn Termeer, waiting for visitors to capture new memories.

Rehabilitation on the Pipestone Creek Store, Campbell Cabin and Hudson Bay Outpost has created more visitor access, visibility and safety while also increasing the longevity of the buildings. Supplementary household artifacts further improve the atmosphere in the homesteader buildings.

Hours and Location

The Grande Prairie Museum and Heritage Village is open extended summer hours: Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Saturday to Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Please note that entry into the Heritage Village is weather dependent due to safety and preservation concerns.

Regular hours resume following Labour Day, Sept 4. Admission is always free and new scavenger hunts monthly keep all ages entertained and engaged.

The museum is located in Muskoseepi Park with parking available in the south lot by Mini-Links golf course. Park access is located on 102 Ave. at 102 St.

More History at the Rev. Forbes Homestead

New for 2017 at the Rev. Forbes Homestead and Pioneer Hospital is a temporary exhibit celebrating the 90^th Anniversary of the Grande Prairie Legion.

Forbes is a recognized provincial historic site located behind the QEII hospital at 10424 96 St. The site served as Grande Prairie’s First Hospital and is one of the oldest log structures in Grande Prairie.

Visitors are welcome to visit the homestead daily from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. until Labour Day, Sept 5. The site remains open Saturday and Sunday’s only in September from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. or by appointment. For more information, call the Grande Prairie Museum at 780-830-7090 or email culture@cityofgp.com

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Media Enquires may be directed to:

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

A plaque installation celebrating the Montrose site to be unveiled on Aug. 31 at 11 a.m.
The ceremony takes place just outside the Montrose Cultural Centre’s North entrance.
Special guest Charles Taws, Curator with the Culture and Heritage Department, will
give a brief speech about the historical and current importance of the Montrose Site and
the Forbes family.

Site Background

Located at 9839 103 Ave., Rev. and Agnes Forbes donated part of their homestead
land for the development of a school. The Montrose site, named after Agnes Forbes’
birthplace in Scotland, went on to become Grande Prairie’s first High School. The site is
now home to the Montrose Cultural Centre and Mamawe Concourse.
The west-end of the Montrose Cultural Centre features a preserved brick façade from
the Montrose School that is now home to the Art Gallery of Grande Prairie.

Join South Peace Regional Archives on Friday August 25 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)

Friday, August 25 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.

Pastimes of Past Times

Rev. Forbes Homestead hosts old-fashioned children’s games on July 19.

Outdoor games include croquet and horseshoes with indoor games such as checkers, tin toys and jacks available in the homestead.  “This is a great opportunity for children to experience what kids of the past played with, long before modern video games and social media”, says Robin White, Marketing Coordinator with the Grande Prairie Museum. “The games aim to entertain visitors of all ages.”

This unique drop-in program is on Wednesday July 19 from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Reverend Forbes Homestead and Pioneer Hospital, located at 10424 96 St (behind the QE2 hospital)

Light refreshments will be served.

Background

From 1936 to 1947 the Nelson Family lived in the Forbes Homestead.  They raised five boys in this house during a difficult time of change in our local history; from the Great Depression to the World Wars.  This past times program helps to demonstrate what life was like for children in those times by allowing the public to get hands on with toys and games from the Museum’s collection.

Children did not have as many toys as most do today and the majority of household favourites were homemade, often from wood.  Store bought toys included tin toys, board games, dolls and teddy bears.

More Information

Anyone looking for more information on this afternoon program, or to schedule a larger group for another day are asked to contact Charles Taws at 780-830-7084 or Daniel Randell at 780-532-4586 with the Grande Prairie Museum.

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Media Inquiries may be directed to:

Charles Taws
Curator / Collections Supervisor
Grande Prairie Museum

City Museums offer Free Summer Programs

Family friendly afternoon programs at the Heritage Discovery Centre and Grande Prairie Museum are now open for registration.

The Culture and Heritage Department is pleased to offer free interactive programs nearly every weekday this summer.  Programs are held on their designated days from 1 to 3 p.m. at both the Grande Prairie Museum and Heritage Discovery Centre. Sessions change weekly and include a variety of topics to suit many interests. Activities may include art, crafts, education, history, hands-on demonstrations and more.

Programs are categorized by ages 5 and up or ages 8 and up. An adult guardian must accompany all children.

How to Register

Participants must register for their desired program to avoid disappointment, as space is limited. Participants can register in person, by email to culture@cityofgp.com or by calling the Grande Prairie Museum at 780-830-7090 or Heritage Discovery Centre at 780-532-5790.

The Grande Prairie Museum is open Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends.

The Heritage Discovery Centre is open 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday to Friday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends.

More Information

Full summer program schedules and programs descriptions are at cityofgp.com/CulturePrograms

Anyone with questions can contact the Grande Prairie Museum or Heritage Discovery Centre by phone, in person, by email or on the GP Museum Facebook page.

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Media Inquiries can be directed to:

Robyn Termeer
Programming and Events Coordinator

Lunch and Learn at the Museum

Local contributors to the Grande Prairie Museum’s latest exhibit to speak at lunch and learn event on Thurs. July 20.

Guests are invited to bring their lunch for a short lecture on Freemasonry at 12 noon in the Community Room at the Grande Prairie Museum, located in Muskoseepi Park. The focus of the talk is to elaborate on the Freemasonry: A History in Plain Sight exhibit on display now at the Museum.  Members of the Lake Saskatoon and Grande Prairie Masonic Lodges will be on site to talk about the history of Freemasonry in the Grande Prairie area and the education bursary available through the Masonic Lodges. Members can also answer any questions visitors have about the masons of the past and present.

The lecture starts at 12 noon and guests are welcome to tour the exhibit and other galleries afterwards. Coffee and tea also free of charge.

Background

The feature exhibit is on display in the Museum’s main gallery until Oct 30. The travelling feature is a loan from the Bruce County Museum and Cultural Centre in Ontario and has been enhanced with contributions from the Lake Saskatoon and Grande Prairie Masonic Lodges.

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Media Inquiries may be directed to:

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

Wednesday, August 9

Join us as we celebrate the life of Mrs. Agnes Forbes, one of Grande Prairie’s most prominent pioneers. Mrs. Forbes was one of very few settlers to bring fine china along with her to the Grande Prairie; and as a result, in those days it was considered a great honour to be invited to the Forbes’ homestead for tea.
Sittings at both 1 p.m. and 2 p.m.
Tea and scones will be served on the lawn. Car-pooling is encouraged.

Please register by calling the Grande Prairie Museum at 780-830-7090 as space is limited.

This event is FREE to attend.

Friday, July 7, 2017 at the Fort St. John Cemetery (100 Ave)

Join us for a guided cemetery tour of the Fort St. John Cemetery on 100 Ave. Learn about the connection of many of the people buried there to the Alaska Highway. From construction workers to entrepreneurs to ambulance drivers, the cemetery is full of people who worked and lived along the highway. Tour is $10 and can be paid at the gate of the cemetery prior to the tour. Call 250-787-0430 for more information. (Please note this is the same tour as June 2)

Saturday, September 9, 2017 at Moose FM’s Block Party

Celebrate Canada’s 150^th birthday through artifacts, photographs, fun facts, and interactive activities at the Fort St. John North Peace Museum’s booth at Moose FM’s Block Party.  Free admission. For more information, call 250-787-0430.

Wed. July 12

Join us for an Afternoon Tea at the Reverend Forbes Homestead and Pioneer Hospital to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Grande Prairie Legion.

Sittings at both 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.

Located at the Rev. Forbes Homestead, 10424 96 St (behind the QE2 hospital)

Tea and scones will be serves on the lawn. Car pooling is encouraged.

Please register by calling the Grande Prairie Museum at 780-830-7090 as space is limited.

This event is FREE to attend.