The Boundary Museum and Interpretive Centre has fallen graciously into the change of seasons, with glorious colours of maples, aspens and willows shimmering in the breeze. We had several Hutton Elementary grade one and two classes visit, who participated in a dried marigold seed collecting from our many beds, and hopefully this gathering will be re-planted in another change of seasons, springtime after a winter’s sleep.
Acting manager Shannon Profili provided story and commentary about Bob DeMaertelaer’s prolific work at the museum before he passed on in 2015, and marigolds and marigold beds were some of his joys. To this day his wife Bev takes the seeds and replants them in honour of his memory. Now the children can enjoy this cheerful task too.
Further to a change in the seasons, the classes participated in year two of the museum/school program on our Indigenous exhibit, the Sinixt peoples. After consultation with an elder, Marilyn James, we focused on diet-changing plants that would aid in the transition to winter food. Also, the museum presented an important story to the schoolchildren regarding a change of seasons long ago that was difficult for the Sinixt, and what they did, what happened. I’ll tell you about it when you visit the museum! It’s as interesting as your own ancestors and what they did to prepare for a change of seasons – otherwise you wouldn’t be here in Grand Forks!
Bob McTavish, one of our superlative board of directors, is working on milling flour from the flour mill nearby, doing repairs around the museum, putting up a projector screen thanks to a grant from the Phoenix Foundation for a new projector, leaf gathering and burning, and now acting as the coordinator of the blacksmith’s shop. He and his wife Pat provide cheer and home baked goodies to us on a regular basis.
Grant writing for our future projects, especially the extension and upgrade to our 40 by 40 building to build a 40 by 60 addition in order to house house beautifully restored antique fire engines, is proceeding well. Museum president Lee Derhouseff soldiers on with this enormous task. Further projects are pending, because of the love people have for preserving their past.
The annual Harvest Festival, a testament to our change of seasons, was held on the museum grounds with bread baking from the Doukhobor oven, and the Kettle Valley Food Coop presenting their many booths, exhibits and harvest produce as well as a variety of entertainment. The public loved it. The event attracted over 700 people.
Our Halloween project was back. This year the event was co-ordinated and developed by Kalayna Tubrett, assisted by Shannon Profili with the help of Kalayna’s school buddies. Word is the glow stick candy hunt was a big hit, with families delighting in the experience. Sadly the haunted house from last year was not on site this year. The Museum had all sorts of ghosts and goblins. Some scary creatures were involved, disguised as high school students!
We are now looking forward to the next season and what it brings as we leave the fall behind.