Fort St. John North Peace Museum update: Preparations begin for 2024

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — As 2023 comes to an end, the North Peace Historical Society is beginning to prepare for 2024.

Our strategic plan committee sat down at the end of November to review what we had accomplished in 2023. We’ve met or accomplished something towards almost all our goals for year two of our three-year plan.

As a society with only one full-time staff member, we rely heavily on our volunteers to help us carry out these goals, from events to archives to the gift shop and maintenance. Our volunteers are amazing, and I am very thankful for them.

We have a new and improved archaeology exhibit up in the museum entitled Ancient Tool Technologies: Discovering the Lifeways of the Early Peoples of the North.

This exhibit is thanks to the hard work of Jennie Glennie, an archaeology student and museum volunteer, over the last half a year. Jennie put a lot of time this summer and fall into researching archaeological artifacts and creating a detailed exhibit that explains what these artifacts are and how they were used. It’s been wonderful having someone with the right expertise take on this dated exhibit, which previously had no interpretive signs.

A selection of newly donated artifacts are also on display, along with some of the more notable pieces from the old exhibit. We are putting the final touches on the second part of this exhibit, which will allow visitors to find out more about each artifact on a nearby iPad.

One hundred fifty-four people attended our Christmas Tea on December 6th. Thanks to all our volunteer bakers and event volunteers who helped make this long-time event a success!

We’re pleased to once again host the North Peace Spinners and Weavers for their St. Distaff’s Day celebration on Saturday, December 6th, from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.

St. Distaff’s Day marked the end of the 12 Days of Christmas and the return to work in the Middle Ages. Come learn more about this day, as well as spinning and weaving. Admission is free!

On Friday, January 19th, at 7 p.m., we will be hosting a documentary night on the Bedaux Expedition.

The Champagne Safari looks at eccentric millionaire Charles Bedaux’s life with original film clips of the 1934 Bedaux Expedition through Fort St. John. Admission is free, and donations are welcome.

Written by Heather Sjoblom, Fort St. John North Peace Museum Curator