Achi news desk-
Yorkton, Sask. –
In celebration of the Western Development Museum (WDM) nurturing Saskatchewan’s history for 75 years, a new historic day has been announced for April 2 – Western Development Museum Day.
“It was on April 2, 1949 that legislation was passed for the provincial government to establish the Museum of Western Development,” said Carla Madsen, WDM Yorkton branch manager.
Four WDM exhibits – located in Yorkton, North Battleford, Saskatoon and Moose Jaw – showcase different elements of prairie life with more than 75,000 objects, each telling the stories of Saskatchewan and its people.
“Each of the branch locations has a theme that will help tell the stories of Saskatchewan in a comprehensive way,” Madsen explained.
“Here in Yorkton, our story is the story of people. We have a number of exhibits on some of the cultures that settled Saskatchewan. We also present a 100-year timeline of Saskatchewan history from 1905 to 2005.”
In addition to Yorkton’s theme being stories of migration, the WDM in Moose Jaw focuses on transportation, an emphasis on farm and village life exists in North Battleford, and Saskatoon explores innovation.
When she visited the Yorkton branch, one resident said she couldn’t believe the variety of items on display.
“When we heard it was their anniversary I said, ‘Oh, I’ve got to see what displays they’ve chosen over the 75 years,’ and they did a great job, holy cow,” Florence Slivka expressed.
“It’s well documented, and I’m really proud of what they’ve done in the short time they’ve been open.”
As the museums continue to capture the memories of Saskatchewan people, the collection of artifacts and artefacts are on display year-round to help keep the province’s history alive.
