Coalition of I885

On Saturday, June 7th, Noreen and Lucille travelled to Duck Lake Museum where an announcement was made regarding funding for tourism opportunities associated with the 125th Anniversary of the 1885 Resistance/Rebellion in 2010.
The event was begun with the toe tapping music of the musicians on the left and a clog dancer. (Sorry, I didn't write down their names.)
The announcement was made by the Honourable Christine Tell, Minister of Saskatchewan Tourism, Parks, Culture and Sports, Maurice Vellacott, MP for Saskatoon-Wanuskewin, and Ian McGilp, Industry Development Manager for Tourism Saskatchewan. Each party is contributing $75,000 toward the comprehensive marketing plan.
The Duck Lake Museum hosted the event and it was a fitting place to hold it as the first skirmish back in 1885 took place near by.
This is an opportunity for all the parks, museums, sites, and other associated groups to plan a celebration to mark the historic milestone and make a plan for tourism to the sites for the future.
CMMM has artifacts pertaining to the 1885 Rebellion.

Work Experience Help

The CKHS Work Experience group helped us with some painting in the cook house. They painted the inside of the sliding covers for the windows. Also they cleaned and washed throughout the museum. Thanks to everyone, Supervisors and students, for the work accomplished.
We appreciate these groups of young people who are willing to help CMMM do some of the work that needs to be done each year.

Repairs Finished on Exterior

Our maintenance crew completed the repairs to the exterior of Ovenstown this week and Sean, Student Team Leader, has primed the walls. Soon the damage from the fire will not be visible. Inside needs a little more work. The smoky smell has dissipated quite a bit and we are optimistic that soon it will be just a bad memory.
Increased security measures have been implemented to help protect the museum.
It is extremely disheartening to think that someone would want to set fire to such a valuable asset to our community.

We Are So Lucky!

Sometime during the night of May 29th, a fire started in a garbage can at the northeast corner of our Ovenstown building. A resident who lives across the pond to the east happened to be up and notice flames in the park. She phoned 911 and the prompt Cut Knife Volunteer Fire Department came and put out the blaze averting a terrible catastrophe. Although there was some smoke inside the building, none of the artifacts were damaged.
If the fire had been able to get really started in the building, the whole museum could have gone up in flames.
A gigantic hug and thanks goes out to Natalie (your late night headache saved our precious museum) and to the prompt CK fire department(you guys are awesome!).
This building is 100 years old this year - it very nearly missed it's birthday!

Virtual Collections Discussion Group Meets

The MAS special interest group discussing Virtual Collections met on Friday, May 23, at the MAC in Cut Knife. Eight museum representatives from around the province gathered, under the leadership of Debbie Massett of the Western Development Museum, to discuss and share issues surrounding the use of the museum software. Thanks to Noreen for providing the delicious noon lunch. The group had a brief tour of the museum after lunch before continuing with the meeting.