Saturday Point Duty and Visitor Questionairre

On a gorgeously sunny Saturday morning, we helped kick off the 44^th annual Sea Cavalcade with a new tradition: SCMA Point Duty!

Every Saturday for the rest of the summer, we will be setting up an information booth next to the Persephone in Gibsons Landing from 11am – 1230pm to speak with folks about the heritage of the Sunshine Coast. We will also be signing up new members, handing out  SCMA newsletters and giving people directions to our location just down the block. The idea is to put a smiling face to the great work that we do here at the museum and to help others get as excited about local heritage as we are. This particular Saturday, the street was lined with spectators for the Sea Cav parade which was making it's way down from Upper Gibsons.

I spoke with many folks about the museum and about the history of the coast and was pleased to meet a great reception from residents and visitors alike.  The SCMA was represented in the parade by Ian Thomson, Larry Westlake and the Driftwood Theatre group who were dressed in old-time clothing.

In conjunction with Point Duty, we are excited to be launching a new Visitor Survey questionnaire which will be distributed at the museum as well as at the booth. Asking questions such as: “How can we improve upon the services we provide?” and “What types of events would you like to see at the museum?”  we hope to gain valuable information about community’s  perception of the museum. Each participant will be entered into a draw for a $50 SCMA giftshop prize pack. 

Have you been to our giftshop? Have you seen all the crafty/wonderful items that we have down here? Enough said: Come down and fill out the survey :)

Our very own Wooden Boat Festival!

One of the fine modern craft shown at last year's Wooden Boat Festival, Joe Maynard's "Sarah" skiff.

 

Heritage Small Wooden Boat Festival

Sunday, July 24th

10:00 am to 4:30 pm

Holland Park, Gibsons

 

The Sunshine Coast Museum And Archive's Heritage Small Wooden Boat Festival started in 2003. In 2010 it was included with Gibsons Sea Cavalcade events for the first time. This proved a great success, and the Festival will be part of Sea Cavalcade again this year. 

 

On Sunday July 24th only, from 10am to 4:30pm, a large selection of wooden rowing boats, daysailers, canoes, kayaks, and runabouts will be on view on the grass in Holland Park in Gibsons, and their owners and builders will be on hand to share their enthusiasm and experience. 

 

The display will include vintage examples from the Museum's collection, replicas, classic oldies, new amateur-built craft, boats by professional builders and restorers, and modern recreational designs. Visitors will enjoy the variety and quality of the craft on display, and get to vote on their favourite for the "People's Choice" award. This event is a great opportunity for those who have been thinking about building or buying a small wooden boat, have one that they would like to proudly show, or just love looking at wooden boats. 

 

If you have one you would like to show, contact the organiser, Larry Westlake info@westlakeboats.com (885-0744), or pick up registration forms at the Museum (716 Winn Road in Gibsons, 886-8232).

 

Summer Hours

We’ve got new hours for the Summer! We’re now open on Sunday, so come on down.

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 10:30 – 4:30
Wednesday: 10:30 – 4:30
Thursday: 10:30 – 4:30
Friday: 10:30 – 4:30
Saturday: 10:30 – 4:30
Sunday: 10:30 – 4:30

Climate Change Presentation- Thursday July 21st at SCMA

Are you a resident of the Sunshine Coast, BC?

Are you concerned about environmental change in your community?

On Thursday July 21^st the SCMA will be hosting a free public presentation by University of British Columbia researchers on the effects of climate change. From 7pm-8pm, researchers will speak of their work linking coastal communities in Canada and the Caribbean and will discuss the effects of a warming climate.  They will also facilitate a dialogue about the effects of climate change on the audiences' lives.

From the UBC press release:

"This study assesses people’s attitudes and beliefs about environmental risks, including those potentially associated with climate change. The results of this project will be used to improve understanding of how people view risks to provide elected officials and community leaders with a “snapshot” of how people in their community think about risks. We are interested in learning about what kinds of risks your community faces, what you think about these risks, and how prepared you and your community are to deal with potential hazards. The goal is to work with the Town of Gibson’s and the Sunshine Coast Regional District to better enable them to work with citizen’s groups, NGOs, the business community and First Nations groups to address current and potential future risks."

In conjunction with this study, the researchers are encouraging participants to take part in an online survey. After completing the survey, participants will be given the option to enter your name into a draw to win one of ten prizes of $100. In order to be entered into the draw, you MUST have an address within Gibsons or the Sunshine Coast Regional District
.

Come on down to the Museum on the night of Thursday July 21^st from 7pm – 8pm to learn more about climate change and how it will effect our waterways, forests and subsequently, our ways of life.

For information and the online survey, visit:

  

http://envirochange.ca/UBC/Home.html

My First Parade Ever

Canada Day has just passed and although the weather was not stellar the show must go on! The Sunshine Coast Museum and Archives was once again in the Sechelt Parade and had a booth at Hackett Park. The float was Larry Westlake’s replica Handliner which was decorated with little Canadian flags. I walked with Larry Westlake, his daughter Hannah Westlake, and Board Member Ian Thomson. We waved, smiled, and talked to the onlookers. Despite the clouds, the sidewalks were packed with people who were showing their support for all the floats.

After the Parade we headed over to our booth in Hackett Park where I oversaw our display of First Nations stone tools - a preview for our upcoming collaborative exhibit with the Squamish Nation. Our booth included a display from the Sechelt Archives, and archivist Ann Watson was there to answer questions. Despite the lower turnout than last year, we had a lot of people drop by. Some just browsed while others stopped and talked to us to share their own histories or stories of the Sunshine Coast community. Overall it was a fun day.

By Kelly MacKay