Western Development Museum North Battleford Manager Sharain Jones, right, at today's anniversary celebration. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

A historic look back

Western Development Museum celebrates 75 years

Apr 2, 2024 | 5:00 PM

The Western Development Museum in North Battleford that celebrates history in the North West region, today celebrated 75 years of it’s own history across the province.

Visitors to the site enjoyed free cupcakes, 75 cent admission, and looked back on the past 75 years with a slide presentation and a display showing some of the highlights of the past three-quarters of a century.

The museum has sites in North Battleford, Saskatoon, Yorkton and Moose Jaw. The corporate offices are also in Saskatoon.

North Battleford Branch Manager Sharain Jones said the North Battleford site was the first location at the museum’s start, noting it’s spectacular to see the museum reaching close to a century in age.

“It’s a large milestone for this organization,” Jones said.

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Among the highlights of the last 75 years, include a three-day Threshermen’s Reunion held in North Battleford in 1956.

“I think with really embracing the Heritage Village, and the constant improvements over the years; then, partnering with some of our local organizations, particularly with Kanaweyimik Child & Family Services, when they host their Teepee Villages during the summer in our Heritage Village, it has been quite a milestone,” Jones said.

Another highlight has been the restoration project for Locomotive 1158 in 2019, for the train that dates back to 1913, the same year North Battleford became a city.

“That’s a large milestone as well because it’s been restored,” Jones said. “So, when we have the [Heritage] Village open, people can go up to the train and climb up the steps and have a look inside. That’s pretty huge as well.”

She noted last summer’s powwow on the museum grounds in North Battleford was also “pretty impressive,” as an undertaking that brought the community together during National Indigenous Peoples Day in the Battlefords.

Then, last summer in August, the museum offered the History in Motion event, previously called Those Were The Days, which Jones said was quite “astounding” for the number of people it attracted.

Coming up soon, the museum plans to hold its Spring Tea on April 13, and then in May the Giddy Up and Whoa event, for pre-school children to learn about horses and how to care for them.

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angela.brown@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @battlefordsNOW