Siding for Duvall House

Lightning chased away a volunteer worker yesterday, but he was back on the job today!
The new siding makes the house look great!

Tale of Two Battles

The Young Friends kids visited Cut Knife Hill today. They are climbing the old monument of the 1885 Battle that was put up on the wrong hill.





Also we visited real site of the 1885 Battle of Cut Knife Creek where Poundmaker is buried.


After returning to the museum, we made bannock. The raspberry jam that was made on Tuesday was a perfect complement to the bannock. (Some people like a little bannock with their jam!)

Plant Scavenger Hunt on Wednesday

Young Friends kids on the Plant Identification Scavenger Hunt held on Wednesday. The day started out nice and sunny, but soon the rain clouds rolled in. Lightning and thunder didn't dampen the spirits of the kids. We just moved inside and played some inside games.

Young Friends of the Museum Day 1& 2

Day 1 was spent learning about our museum, having a scavenger hunt, playing traditional games such as jacks and marbles, and making a personal "Who I Am" poster for the museum archives.




















Day 2 involved a rope making demonstration, examining examples of beadwork in the museum, making a simple beaded project, learning hopscotch, making raspberry jam, and learning the game of horseshoes.

Atton's Lake Book Launch

Tuesday evening, Atton's Lake Golf Club was an appropriate place to hold the launch of our newest publication, Atton's Lake, A Summer Meeting Place .

Over 40 people came to be the first to see and purchase the new book .

Once they had a book to look at, it was hard to pry their eyes away - even for the slideshow!

The many contributors of stories, photos, videos, research and editing were acknowledged as well as the Elk's many years of working to promote the park. The book can also be purchased at the museum.

What's New at Tomahawk Park?

• We have new speedbumps on our road through the park. Now the vehicles have to slow down. It had been a concern for pedestrians before.
  
• Our new walking path leads from the pond, past the museum buildings and to the Tomahawk. There will be park benches along the way and signage as well. This all took place because of the cooperation between the local Seniors and CMMM to attain a New Horizons Grant. G&C Asphalt Services Ltd. of North Battleford very promptly finished the paving after Stapley Trucking helped prepare the ground. G&C Asphalt Services were very generous in their support of this endeavor. Thank you so much! The paving had hardly time to cool off before people were using it!
  
• The tree and shrub planter has been finished with new shrubs and a topping of bark mulch.
• Trees have been trimmed. The large poplar behind Ovenstown and lower branches of others.
  
• Power and water are trenched into the Duvall House and Ovenstown (water).
• Power has been trenched to Pond area for new light post to light up the pond area (Wildlife Federation).
• Upgrades to security system installed.
• Maintenance volunteers have installed gates behind the buildings to limit vehicle traffic.
• Volunteer mowers are keeping the grass in the park looking great! Employees do the trim work.

• Volunteers are building shelving in the Armstrong building for storage/display.

Great work everyone!

Student Grants This Summer

We are so grateful for the student grants that we received from Young Canada Works in Heritage Organizations and the Student Employment Experience Program. This is how we are able to provide employment for young people. These jobs are often their first job experience. We would never be able to accomplish as much at our museum and park without these energetic young adults.
Filling out grant applications is not a favorite job, but the museum benefits from a successful application. And the MGP Grant looms in the near future.... our very favorite one....not!

Happy Birthday Canada!

Great day today in the Park! Check out the slideshow!

The tent proved to be a good thing for our event. The cool breeze blew through all day keeping everyone very comfortable.

From the pancake breakfast by the Parks board in the morning, BBQ lunch at noon by the Firefighters/Ambulance group, the Museum supper, to the fireworks at dark, it was a lovely day.

Youngsters of the community decorated their bikes and paraded through town behind Glen Brebner's horse drawn wagon. The wagon then gave rides for the rest of the afternoon. Thanks Glen and helpers!
An outdoor carnival of fun games and treats was a hit - especially the dunk tank!
There was a bingo for the older folks in the bright red and white tent.
There was a Show 'n Shine that displayed some vehicles proudly shown off by their owners and appreciated by those who looked them over.
The museum was open in the afternoon for all to wander though at their leisure.
Roger Emberley provided music under the tent in the afternoon and the Emberley Family (also including Linda and daughter, Karen Rutley) in the evening before the fireworks.
Two huge cakes were served - one for Canada Day and one to celebrate Oventown's 100 birthday.
And after supper the Miller Family entertained the crowd.


Thanks to everyone who made the day a success. Especially the many volunteers helping our community to celebrate our country's birthday.