Almanac Winter 2013

Almanac The

Museum: 45820 Spadina Ave Chilliwack, BC, V2P 1T3 604.795.5210

Archives: 9291 Corbould Street Chilliwack, BC V2P 4A6 604.795.9255

www.chilliwackmuseum.ca info@chilliwackmuseum.ca

MUSEUM ACQUIRES COOTE MEDALS

CONTENTS Museum Acquires Coote Medals Exhibit Opening March 15 Newspaper Digitization Project Gift Shop Renewed Korina Charpentier Elder College Visits Archives Call for Entry 2014 Annual General Meeting Hello, Goodbye!

CMS 100 Years

In early December, museum staff received a tip that Chilliwackrelated war medals were being auctioned in Britain on December 19. The medals (12 in total) were awarded to Chilliwack’s Andrew Leslie Coote and Ian Vernon Coote. Included in the medal groups were two Officers of the STAFF British Empire medals, one for Leslie and one for Ian, his eldest son. Ron Denman, Director Paul Ferguson, With short notice, staff arranged Heritage Collections Manager for funding in order to purchase Brenda Paterson, Education Coordinator the medals. In addition, they Alison Adamson, contacted a medals expert in London who could authenticate the Administrative Assistant provenance of the medals and bid for us at the auction. The bid Shannon Bettles, was successful and the medals are now part of the Museum’s per- Heritage Records Manager manent collection.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS The medals represent a unique award to the Pacific Coast Militia Rangers, a unit based on the British home guard of the Second Fred Feistmann, President World War. A.L. Coote was a long serving soldier, having served in Charlie Fortin, Director the first World War and with over 20 years commissioned service in Tia Halstad, Director the Canadian militia.

Esther Harder, Director Pauline Heppner, Vice President Museum staff are particularly indebted to the Department of Cana- Robin Lister, Treasurer dian Heritage for their fast action processing the funding applica- Jason Lum, Ex-officio tion and to Mark Strahl for shepherding the application through Bea Mazurenko, Director the Heritage Minister James Moore’s office.

Trevor McDonald, Director

WINTER 2013

EXHIBIT OPENING MARCH 15 Opening reception 1pm - 3pm Our new exhibit is soon to open! May Health, Peace and Contentment be Yours has been created with you, the visitor, in mind. Having a fine collection representative of a diverse number of topics within the field of medicine, we have assembled the material based upon the wheel of life - one we can all reflect upon.

Visitors will discover objects of curiosity and interest with a particular emphasis on the stages of life from childhood, adolescents, adults and old age.

We wish to thank the many people who have assisted with this challenge in preparing an exhibit based on such a diverse subject. The collections on view, both from our collections and on loan, are representative of all the stages of life and include examples based upon medicine and personal milestones. Walking through the exhibit the visitor will also learn something of Chilliwack’s lengthy medical history. Make sure you see our video as its content provides a wealth of information on Chilliwack’s health practitioners and health history.

The exhibit was a challenge to write and prepare especially once we decided to take such a personal view of the collection and prepared the material in such a way that you, the visitor, will be able to relate exhibit topics to your own experiences. From germ theory, to stitches, Mercurochrome to snares there is certainly something in this exhibit that will surprise you or at least make you say Ouch or Oooo!

CHILLIWACK PROGRESS NEWSPAPER GOING ONLINE Later this year, the Chilliwack Archives will be embarking on its largest digitization project yet. The goal is to digitize and make freely available and searchable almost 100 years (1891-1981) of the Chilliwack Progress newspapers, online.

Funding has been confirmed from the Chilliwack Foundation, the City of Chilliwack, and the Irving K. Barber Foundation Community Digitization Fund, totalling $25,000.

Further to money raised, in-kind corporate partners are contributing in a big way in order to make the project happen. Black Press Media/Chilliwack Progress will be hosting the online search engine and the digitization will be completed by Commonwealth Imaging, nation-wide leaders in the field.

The website will prove to be of immense value to researchers. The Chilliwack Progress is British Columbia’s oldest community newspaper published continuously with the same name. The newspaper dates to 1891.

MUSEUM GIFT SHOP RENEWED

2010 - 2011 School Brochure is now online.

Over the winter, the Museum Gift Shop has been undergoing some renovations to create Visit www.chilliwackmuseum.com

a more welcoming and comforable shop experience. Over the next few months, the store will be stocked with books and unique history, culture and art products. Pop by to see what we’ve got!

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT KORINA CHARPENTIER We met Korina Charpentier last August when she began volunteering at the Chilliwack Archives. Since then she has been overseeing an inventory and re-housing project for the framed art and photograph collections. Her work has improved the organization and storage conditions of these items. Korina also helps out with our education programs – last fall with our ‘Mysteries of the Mask’ program as well as our popular Christmas program.

Korina comes to us with a BA in art history from UFV and she is currently working on her postgraduate diploma in Critical Curatorial Studies from the University of Victoria. Even with a full course load and two young children, Korina volunteers for one full day per week. The Archives is very fortunate to be able to draw on Korina’s talents and interests and we look forward to her smile and humor each when she volunteers.

UFV’S ELDER COLLEGE TO VISIT ARCHIVES

CHAMBERS GALLERY EXHIBITS 2014 CALL FOR ENTRY

UFV’s Elder College has arranged a visit to the Chilliwack Archives on Friday, March 15th from 9:30 2:00pm. Spaces are still open to register for this program which consists of a workshop, followed by lunch at the Preserved Seed and a tour of the new Museum exhibit May Health, Peace, Contentment be Yours. Learn how a professional archives cares for its collections and gain some tips on how to care for the photos and papers in your own attic. Archives staff will also show you the storage facilities and answer questions you may have about how to access the archives and start your own research projects.

CALL FOR ENTRY - The Chilliwack Museum curates art exhibitions for the Chambers Art Gallery located on the Museum’s second floor. We are calling artists of all mediums to submit the application form with 5”x7” photos or a DVD (Powerpoint or Word) of recent art works for the 2014 exhibition year. Solo artist, partnered or group exhibitions are welcome. If you have any questions, please contact Brenda Paterson at 604-795-5210. The deadline to apply is May 30, 2013.

To sign up for “Class without a Bus: Chilliwack Archives and Museum” please contact Elder College at UFV: 604-702-2611 or elder.college@ufv.ca. Also visit their website to learn more: www.ufv.ca/eldercollege.

CURATORIAL CORNER Can you guess what these objects are?

COMING UP: Langley artist Aaron Moran will showcase his sculptural pieces starting with an exhibit opening on Saturday March 2. This exhibit will run until April 11.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING The annual general meeting of the Chilliwack Museum and Historical Society will take place on Saturday, March 23 beginning at 1:00 pm. The meeting will be in the museum. The business of the Society will include the presentation of the audited financial statement. Heritage awards will be presented and honorary life memberships will also be part of the afternoon’s agenda. We hope that all current and potential members will attend. Refreshments will be served.

HELLO, GOODBYE! - CSS

CMS CELEBRATES 100 YEARS

On March 1 and 2, thousands of Chilliwack Senior Secondary students and alumni will gather in Chilliwack to say goodbye to the current CSS school building and celebrate the opening of a new modern building on the same property. The old CSS school, built in 1950 will be demolished once the new school is completed.

On the other side of the street, Chilliwack Middle School is celebrating 100 years on their property. Although Chilliwack High opened in 1903 (first in a home on Mill Street, then where Central Elementary is today), a new building was opened in 1912 on the property where the current Chilliwack Middle School is located. Over its lifespan, the school was a high school, a juniorsenior school and now a middle school. The existing school building replaced the original structure in 1996.

Organizers of Hello, Goodbye! are expecting up to 3,000 people for the two day event. Events include reunions at the Coast Hotel, the Echo Room and Corky’s Museum staff are workPub, school tours, bus ing with teacher Janet tours (hosted by the Crawford, principal 2009.053.028 Donny Harford and students work on the Tatler Student newspaper, 1951.

Museum), and a wrap up Aaron Parker and their party/dance at the Chilliwack Landing Leisure Cen- team to commemorate the school’s history in a souvetre. Music will be a focus for Saturday afternoon and nir booklet. CMS is celebrating the important role the evening events as former musicians gather to play school has played in Chilliwack, highlighting the fact and remind us of the strength of music programs at that many of Chilliwack’s role models and leaders are the school. Visit the website: www.hellogoodbye.ca. graduates from Chilliwack Middle/High School.

THEY’RE SYRINGES! (Answer to Curatorial Corner) These high quality syringes were originally owned by Dr. Joseph Derby Moore who practiced medicine in Chilliwack from ca.1920 to 1968. The syringes date from ca. 1920-30. [1987.062.012 a-e]

Published by the Chilliwack Museum and Archives (c) 2013

The Chilliwack Museum and Archives are operated by the Chilliwack Museum and Historical Society.