Powell River Historical Museum and Archives Association has received $11,300 from the federal government to provide safekeeping for some of the museum’s collection.
The project will consist of the purchase and installation of new map cabinets and acid-free folders to house the collections. Funding will help the museum consolidate its oversized map, blueprint, poster and image collections to improve safety, accessibility and functionality.
The project will provide safe storage of valuable historical items, increasing access by staff and the public.
John Weston, MP, West Vancouver – Sunshine Coast – Sea to Sky Country, said something exciting for him is that many British Columbians, especially urbanites, don’t understand that the history of BC started in the rural areas.
“When you scratch the surface in Powell River, Squamish or other communities, you find incredibly rich history that is worthy of the kind of monument you see on every corner in Paris or London,” Weston said. “We are only beginning to venerate them.”
Speaking to museum representatives at the announcement of the federal funding, Weston said they are at the forefront of bringing about what could be a real metamorphosis in Powell River.
“I see a day, not too far in the future, when the world is going to come to this doorstep to appreciate art, and culture, and music,” he said. “The history is going to be a big part of it.”
Weston congratulated them on being part of bringing all that alive.
Bert Finnamore, the museum’s heritage manager, said this is the first time in the history of the museum that will be getting something new for storage of items. In past, the museum has “cobbled things together or made use of used items.
“We’ve always had second-hand stuff,” he said. “These [cabinets] are state of the art. They are going to be for our large, oversized, flat storage.”
Finnamore said the museum has more than 800 maps, some of them dating to the 1890s. There are also surveys and mining claims. Now, they will have proper storage. The artifacts are currently stored in wood or metal cabinets dating back to the 1950s or ‘60s, historical relics of their own.
“This is wonderful,” Finnamore said.
He added that Powell River is an incredibly rich area, both historically and culturally, so it will be good to properly archive valuable material.
Weston said the money for the cabinets comes from the Department of Canadian Heritage and he said it is fortuitous that he sits on the parliamentary committee.
“This is quite new for me,” he said. “I moved from immigration to culture and heritage.”
Weston said he was initially skeptical about his relevance on the committee. He wondered how he could represent the people of his riding on this committee.
“The more I’m on it, the more I’m excited,” he said.
Delivery of the cabinets is expected in November.
