The Western Development Museum’s Virtual Coffee Club returns with another great lineup of educational topics, while a volunteer blitz occurs in early September.
The Western Development Museum is gearing up for a busy fall season, from the return of its Virtual Coffee Club gatherings to a volunteer blitz in early September.
Celebrating seniors
The organization is celebrating seniors all September by holding numerous activities to honour older adults in the community. Museum attendees can pick up an activity booklet, participate in a time-hopping scavenger hunt and watch films from the National Film Board (NFB) about seniors and intergenerational learning.
Films from the NFB will be screened on a repeating loop throughout the month in the 100 Years of Saskatchewan History Theatre. Some films include “Granny and Mia,” “With Grandma,” “Ludovic – Visiting Grandpa,” and several Aboriginal-themed films.
Cabinet of curiosities
Meanwhile, the WDM will host a Cabinet of Curiosities workshop on Sunday, Sept. 11, from 1 to 4 p.m. Attendees can learn about the oddities in cabinets and how they spark wonder about the world while making connections to modern-day museums.
Participants will hear about the importance of everyday objects and their connection to human knowledge and history. They will also learn about what’s involved in artifact collecting, why the WDM collects and how it categorizes, rearranges and classifies objects within the museum.
Attendees can also study their own “artifacts” and learn how to create a portable museum.
Volunteer recruitment
The WDM is hosting a Volunteer Blitz recruitment day on Saturday, Sept. 17, starting at 2 p.m. Residents are encouraged to become volunteers and share their knowledge and experience in roles such as artifact preservation/restoration, special events and heritage demonstrations, gallery ambassadors, the Steam program and office assistant.
Benefits of volunteering at the WDM include meeting new people, learning and developing skills, helping keep history alive, receiving free admission to all WDM locations — with volunteer ID, and receiving discounts on full-priced items at WDM gift shops and the Saskatoon Boomtown Café.
Anyone interested should contact Karla Rasmussen, education/public programs co-ordinator, at 306-693-5989 or email krasmussen@wdm.ca.
Refreshments will be provided after the meeting.
Virtual Coffee Club
The WDM’s Virtual Coffee Club returns with another educational lineup of topics and speakers. The agenda for the fall and early winter includes:
- Tuesday, Sept. 20: Prairie Co-operation
- Thursday, Oct. 13: The Great Depression
- Tuesday, Oct. 25: Spirit and Intent of Treaties 1 Through 7, with guest speaker Dr. Sheldon Krasowski, director of research and archives, Office of the Treaty Commissioner
- Tuesday, Nov. 15: Wapaha Sk̄a Oyate: Living Our Culture, Sharing our Community at Pion-Era, 1955–69, with guest speaker Dr. Elizabeth Scott, WDM curator
- Tuesday, Dec. 20: Holiday Traditions
Visit wdm.ca/coffeeclub for more information about these topics and to register; Coffee Club gatherings are held on Zoom.
