Bernadette Leslie cuts the cake to commemorate the 40th anniversary of her career with the Fred Light Museum, Wednesday. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff) 

By Angela Brown

Four decades of dedication

Celebrating 40 years of preserving history

May 22, 2019 | 6:56 PM

For Bernadette Leslie, close to half a century of her career with the Fred Light Museum started with a good story worth telling.

That is part of the reason she was drawn to the museum, first as a student in 1979. Eventually, around 1985, she became the museum’s manager and curator. Her career has spanned 40 illustrious years.

Wednesday, she was feted in a celebratory tea, as friends, family, colleagues and visitors came together at the old fire brigade building on the museum’s grounds.

“I’m excited, and a little overwhelmed,” said Leslie, who is 63.

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She relived many happy memories of the early beginnings of the popular attraction in Battleford.

Leslie has seen many changes to the museum since she started, working alongside the museum’s founder Fred Light many years ago.

As Light’s granddaughter Donna Laycock said, Leslie and Light both shared a passion for Battleford’s history. And, as Light eventually began to stand back from running the museum, Leslie became more capable to fill his shoes, and soon took over as curator and manager. Laycock said Leslie’s dedication has been a great contribution to the town.

A passion shared

As to why she stuck with the museum for four decades, Leslie simply credits Mr. Light himself.

“It was through his passion of history that was passed down to me, and I became more interested every year,” she said.

Leslie became more fascinated with history each year at the museum, too, while adding that her interest “really bloomed” the longer she dedicated her time to her work.

Asked what she likes best about the museum, Leslie said it always comes back to the stories – what the forefathers had to go through to make Battleford what it is now.

“There is a lot of history, and stories behind each of the artifacts,” she said, noting some of the earliest pieces in the collection include a Japanese matchlock firearm that dates back to 1645.

The historical artifacts she discovered and admired resonated for her like touchstones to the past.

Just as Leslie’s passion grew, the museum saw a great deal of growth, as more heritage buildings were added. The museum’s main building is the former St. Vital School building. There are also a number of replica buildings on the grounds, such as the 1905 Battleford Fire Brigade, Lighthouse Service and Andersen Woodworking.

“We think we have a world-class museum here for the Battleford people to enjoy and for visitors all over the world to come and stop in,” said Leslie, adding the museum sees visitors from as far as Saudi Arabia, China and Japan.

Another part of her work she enjoys immensely is how she is always learning something new and interesting.

Will she ever retire after devoting the greater part of her life to the museum?

“Maybe in a few years,” she said with a smile. “Everybody says I should stay until I’m 70, so I will probably do that.”

The benefit for Leslie being at the museum to meet the many visitors who walk through its doors is that she holds a part of the history herself.

“I probably know every little story about every little artifact there is in the museum,” she said. “And, if there is something misplaced I can tell you where it’s gone.”

Mayor Ames Leslie, her son, related during the celebration much of his pride for Battleford stems from his mother’s time preserving local history, and putting “the best of this museum first and foremost in this community.”

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW