Issue link: http://publications.winnipegfreepress.com/i/913144
WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, SATURDAY DECEMBER 2, 2017 3 N O R T H E R N M A N I T O B A McDONALD LAW OFFICE PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE www.mcdonaldlaw.ca FAMILY LAW FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION 204-927-3900 TOLL FREE: 1-800-393-1110 EMAIL: mcdonaldlaw@shaw.ca 258 Tache Avenue, Wpg, MB R2H 1Z9 BOARDMAN / NORTHLAND FUNERAL SERVICE Serving Northern Manitoba JAMES C. BOARDMAN Funeral Director 28 Nelson Road Chapel 778-7982 Thompson, Manitoba R8N 0B4 Res. 677-4636 www.boardmanfh.com Toll Free 1-800-461-6876 Tim Johnston MANAGER P.O. Box 1208, 3 Station Road, Thompson, Manitoba R8N 1P1 TEL 204 677 1492 TEL 1 888 303 2232 FAX 204 778 5672 EMAIL tdj@northcentraldevelopment.ca WEB northcentraldevelopment.ca North Central Development Growing Communities one idea at a time MP Niki Ashton— Churchill Keewatinook Aski would like to thank all the entrepreneurs for their contributions to Manitoba and the North Thompson Office 305-83 Churchill Dr. 1-866-669-7770 The Pas Office 1416 Gordon Ave. 1-866-785-0522 www.nikiashton.ndp.ca — niki.ashton@parl.gc.ca Highway 10 North Opaskwayak, MB p. 204-627-7230 f. 204-623-2770 www.otinekamall.ca otineka mall The largest mall in the North Three Levels, 225,000 sq. ft. indoor shopping mall & recreation & office complex We now have a grocery tenant The Pas Family Foods SPACE NOW AVAILABLE FOR LEASING INQUIRIES Contact General Manager @ otinekamall@gmail.com • Two anchor tenants: Red Apple (reopened in a new 16,000 sq ft location) and the Sports Traders • 13 retail stores • 30 machine Video Lotto Centre • Administration offices on the 3rd level. P.O. Box 1103, 15 Nelson Road, Thompson, MB R8N 1N9 T 204.677.4328 • F 204.778.4628 dbarenzcga@mts.net Accounting, Taxation and Financial Management Services MPI COLLISION & GLASS ACCREDITION P: (204) 421-1300 F: (204) 421-1301 E: info@townautobody.ca w w w . t o w n a u t o b o d y . c a FREE COURTESY CAR 64 Salter Street, Winnipeg MB R2W 4J6 B ut along with the ancient collections and enlightening exhibits, the mu- seum also houses the unique story of its founder, Sam Waller, who was known as a collector, naturalist and teacher. After retiring from teaching in 1958, Wal- ler acquired a pair of small bunkhouses from The Pas Lumber Company and joined them to form the Little Northern Museum, where he could house all the unusual items he had stored over the years. Jones adds that one of the most prominent and unusual items in the museum is a two-headed calf. Eager to share his discoveries and know- ledge with the community, Waller lived on-site and often kept the museum open seven days a week, 12 hours a day, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. In 1970, the local Rotary Club built a larger building to house the expanding collection as a provincial centennial project. Waller passed away in 1978, but his legacy remains today as visitors — and museum staff — are constantly uncovering hidden gems in his collection. "We have five pairs of dressed fleas in our mu- seum, something Sam had in his own original collection," says museum director Sharain Jones. "Someone had a lot of time on his or her hands and put outfits on all of them. We have a magnifying glass so people can get a better look. When we're bringing younger children on a tour, we tell them to change the fleas into their little pyjamas before we leave for the night." Jones adds that one of the most prominent and unusual items in the museum is a two- headed calf. "We have the original specimen that Sam collected after it died in 1951. A number of years ago, a couple of our summer staff made a papier-maché of the two-headed calf so we could use it in Canada Day parades." The museum is now administered by the Town of The Pas. Jones notes that it has con- tinued to grow and evolve over the years, thanks to dedicated staff members such as Paul Thistle, a long-time curator who oversaw the renova- tion of The Pas Court House and Community Building into a climate-controlled museum. "It's a fantastic facility. We change our exhib- its every two to four months so local citizens can see something new all the time," Jones says. "The museum is also a great draw for visitors to the area. We get a lot of individuals coming up here for contract work, so if they're in between meetings or waiting for a flight, they can come visit us for an afternoon and get an idea of the local history." Permanent exhibits in the Main Gallery pro- vide interpretation on the history of the area, showcasing everything from the geological formations of the region to First Nations his- tory to the industrial age of the last century. Sam's Gallery pays tribute to the original Little Northern Museum by showcasing highlights from Waller's unique collection. The Susan MacCharles Gallery, dedicated to the memory of a long-time museum volun- teer and employee who passed away in 1999, is used as a temporary exhibit space. The mu- seum partners with The Pas Arts Council to bring in local and travelling visual arts exhibits. The current temporary exhibit is Terry Fox – Running to the Heart of Canada. Developed by the Canadian Museum of History in part- nership with Terry Fox's family, it showcases the impact of Terry Fox on modern Canadian life through maps, contemporary photographs and newspaper imagery. The museum also engages the public through interactive tours and events. For example, it of- fers historical walking tours that include stops at the town's oldest standing building (Christ Church, 1896), and "Millionaire's Row" on LaRose Avenue and Devon Park, which pro- vides a panoramic view across the Saskatch- ewan River. The museum encourages children to explore its Discovery Centre, a room where they can touch everything, exploring natural history items and activities in a boreal forest setting. The room contains a boreal forest mural activ- ity wall, a canoe station complete with voyageur sternsman, a cozy reading tent with a library of nature books, and an assortment of animal and other costumes for children to wear. "This museum plays an important role in our children's education because a lot of our material relates to the provincial curriculum," Jones says. "We were fortunate to receive funding from the Heritage Grants Program to develop edu- kits based on the different industries in town, which can be lent out to schools or we can present to visitors." Keep tabs on current exhibit and event information at www.samwallermuseum.ca. Portal to the Past There's always something new (and old) at the Sam Waller Museum BY PAT REDIGER The staff of the Sam Waller Museum refer to the building as a "portal to the past" that showcases the history of The Pas and the surrounding area. Its col- lection focuses on artifacts and archival materials that are significant to the local region. Photos courtesy of Sam Waller Museum We change our exhibits every two to four months so local citizens can see something new all the time,"