Museum committee underway

Times Reporter 

 

In June, Lynn Fair, Josie Peters and Rhonda Stockwell spoke to Strathmore Town council about the museum committee and their plans and vision. The women were there to represent a grassroots stand-alone committee of citizens with a vision and a passion for establishing a museum to enhance this community. 

“We are very fortunate to be sharing in a vision that the Klaiber family had 30 years ago when they developed a comprehensive concept for Strathmore Heritage Park,” said Fair. 

It was in 1984 that the Klaiber family created the plans for Strathmore Park. The plan was to build upon the town’s rich heritage of the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) demonstration and supply farm, which put Strathmore on the map from 1908 to 1943.

“We feel that to establish a museum as part of a larger tourism concept which portrays the extent of Strathmore’s history would be of great benefit,” said Fair.

The committee discussed the possibility of a replicated main street that would become home to any remaining local heritage buildings, and perhaps appropriate commercial enterprises, a farmers market and other attractions that would supplement the heritage theme. 

The town’s future expansion plans for east of the industrial district are plans that the committee hopes to coordinate with. They would to get public input on the vision process and plan to create marketing strategies that help spread public awareness throughout the wider community. A Needs Assessment is vital to setting the direction. 

“We realize this is a large and expensive undertaking, and that the Klaiber property and the CPR barn are not presently serviced by the town’s utilities. Also the rerouting of the number 1 highway will impact access to that property,” said Fair. 

Grant Klaiber has donated a Sea-Can for the committee to be able to store artifacts as they begin the processes planned to become a society.

“When we start public awareness we want people to know that should someone in your family in the near future perhaps want to donate things, we have a secure storage that we can start inventorying and letting people know that they can start donating if they choose,” said Fair. 

“On the premise that if something doesn’t happen with the museum committee the articles are returned right back to the family. I know there are probably a lot of things sitting out that people wish they could just do something with them,” said Stockwell. 

Councillor Bob Sobol said he is little skeptical about museums because he has been in a lot of towns where they aren’t successful. 

“But you guys are going about this differently and your plans are really solid, and I love the enthusiasm, but more so I love the direction you’re taking on this, I completely, completely support you in this,” said Sobol. 

The committee’s plan is to become set up as a society and foundation, obtain a charitable number to be able to give out tax receipts, and set up a board of directors. 

Fair said the committee has excellent guidelines from Museum Alberta about setting up a museum in the community, and they have wonderful resources and a workbook that will help guide them on what they need to do. 

As artifacts are donated they will be cataloged and placed into storage until such time as the actual physical museum is ready to open its doors.