Kenneth Brown
of The Clarion

The Kindersley and District Plains Museum (KDPM) had a busy 2017 season.

Members of the KDPM board met at the museum on Nov. 14 for their 2017 annual general meeting.

Bill Warrington, chairperson of the KDPM board, also served as chairperson for the meeting. Board member Heather Wall served as recording secretary.

In his report, Warrington thanked all of the museum’s dedicated volunteers and board members.

The museum is owned by a group of six area municipalities, including the Town of Kindersley, and the rural municipalities of Kindersley, Antelope Park, Milton, Oakdale and Prairiedale. Warrington thanked the municipalities in his report.

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He said the Kindersley Antique Threshing Club seeded and harvested another crop, and the 365 Lloyd “Sparky” Ament Air Cadet Squadron has helped to maintain people traffic at the museum.

The museum hosted events on Canada Day and Warrington said he believes people had a good time on Canada’s 150th birthday. A dedication ceremony was held in recognition of the donors to the Brock Station project, and to recognize an important piece of history.

“The grand opening of the Brock Station helped to recognize the part played by the CNR in the development of Saskatchewan,” he said in his report. “We are proud to have that station in our museum.”

In an interview, he said there was a light crowd on hand at the meeting and not all board members could attend.

Eugene Heit, the head volunteer at the museum, gave a report on the grounds and buildings. He noted that the museum hosted a successful pancake breakfast during the rodeo weekend. He also highlighted the Brock Station project.

Renovations to the station included work inside and outside the building. Heit said renovations inside the station have been completed. He said it looks good and it would be worthwhile for people to check it out.

Heit reported that the museum’s 1915 threshing bunk house has been restored and renovations have been completed to both the Eaton House and the school building. New storm windows have been installed at the house and school. The house and school entrances will get new ramps in 2018, Heit said.

Another building to receive work was the old fire hall building. A group of volunteers organized by the Kindersley Fire and Rescue Brigade helped to paint the fire hall in 2017, and the work will continue in the spring.

Heit said the volunteers will return to work on the fire hall’s roof, and he wanted to thank the fire department for helping. He added that the museum could use more volunteers and people could contact him for more information.

Glen Sitter, vice-chairperson of the KDPM board, said events on Canada Day started later in the afternoon and it worked out for the museum. He said the crowds on Canada Day and for the threshing club’s harvest demonstration were as large as ever.

He attributed the success on Canada Day to the range of events and attractions. The museum had a large crane at the event as part of a fundraiser. People bought balls that were dropped from the crane, and the person whose ball landed closest to a target won half of a $1,500 pot while the other half was donated to the aquatic centre project.

“A lot of people came out just to see that and stayed for the day,” Sitter said of the ball drop. The attractions on Canada Day included live music on the platform of the Brock Station.

He said about 400 more visitors signed the museum’s guest book in 2017 than in 2016. He said nearly 2,000 people signed the guest book and he believes up to twice as many people visited the museum.

Officials added that the museum was recently used for wedding photos and they would like to see more of that in the future.

Ongoing revenue streams include renting office space to the Kindersley Chamber of Commerce and storage space to Great Plains College.

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