Fort St. John North Peace Museum Update: 40th anniversary of current museum location

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — 2024 marks the 40th anniversary of the opening of the Fort St. John North Peace Museum in its current location.

After just over twenty years and temporary museums at the curling rink, Peace Island Park, and the old Co-op (where Whole Wheat and Honey is now), the North Peace Historical Society opened the doors to a brand-new permanent museum on February 16, 1984. Over the past 40 years, the museum has undergone many changes.

Yes, the bare bones of certain exhibits (school house, pioneer house and trapper’s cabin) still remain, but with new signs and different artefacts. Every exhibit in the museum has been updated with new signs or given a complete overhaul in the last thirteen years.

Over the years, four historic and one replica building (trapper’s cabin) have been moved to our property, restored (or built), and set up with exhibits. We’ve also added a pole shed to shelter some of our large historic vehicles and equipment.

The museum underwent significant expansions in 2009-2010 (to expand collections storage and exhibit space, as well as build a new receiving room, offices, stock room, and kitchen) and 2015 (accessibility expansion with new washrooms, flooring, and entrance). We’ve recently finished updating our siding with Hardie Board.

2024 marks our next expansion into the world of solar energy.

We’ve been busy writing grants the past three years. Thanks to support from Shell, Western Financial, TC Energy/Coast Gas Link, Alliance Pipeline, and Pembina, as well as a BC Capital Gaming Grant, we are working with Peace Energy Co-operative to install our solar panels this year. This project will make the museum net-zero, with the funds saved channelled back into the museum to increase our preservation and education services.

Winter may be winding down (though you never know what’s in store over the next month), so now is a great time to learn about the challenges and joys of winter in the North Peace through early photographs, memories, artefacts, and stories on March 22 at 7 p.m. at the Fort St. John North Peace Museum.

From stories of winter transportation to newcomers adjusting to the cold to Larry Evans’ memories of winters as a child, there are lots of great stories to discover. Admission is free. Donations are appreciated.

Looking for something to do over the Easter Weekend? On Saturday, March 30 (11 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and Monday, April 1 (9 a.m. to 5 pm.), come on down for our second annual April Fools Search and Find. Enjoy free admission to the museum while looking for modern day items hidden in our exhibits.

Can you find them all? Sticker prizes are available for our younger participants! Donations (or purchases in the gift shop) are welcome as these help the North Peace Historical Society continue to provide free events.

Lastly, we have a new free exhibit on display in the hospital lobby in partnership with the Fort St. John Hospital Arts Committee.

A Day at the Cecil Lake Red Cross Outpost Hospital follows the duties and responsibilities of Nurse Vi (Garrish) Woodward in 1937. Vi Woodward’s memories, photographs, and artefacts from the outpost hospital give the visitor an inside look at what it was like to work at a rural hospital. Look for it near Cool Beans café.

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