The 2013 season has come and gone for Dickson Store Museum. This has been another successful season, thanks to the hard work of board members, staff, and volunteers.
The museum once again decorated a float and participated in the Canada Day Parade, held their annual Thrilling Thursday, the beary-loved Teddy Bear Picnic sponsored by Central Alberta Co-op, Innisfail Dairy Queen, Innisfail A & W and Innisfail Subway, and our Julestue in November.
There were two highlights. One was the 4th Annual Sunday Afternoon at the Museum. We had all three levels of government attending, Earl Dreeshen MP, Kerry Towle MLA and Rick Lorenz. Red Deer County Councillor for division 5. It was a wonderful afternoon with musical entertainment, a one-act play, poetry readings with goodies and refreshments to follow.
In November we were back by popular demand to put on the play ‘The Poplar Grove Ladies Club’ written by local playwright Laurie Hodges-Humble once more. It was presented as a dinner theatre on Nov. 29th and a dessert theatre on Nov. 30th. Both performances were very well received and people are already asking what we are going to do next year because they want to come.
We received government funding from Alberta Museums Association in the form of the operational staffing grant and the exhibit on telephones. We also received us funding from the Museums Assistance Program for upgrading our computers and museum collection software.
As 2013 has come to a close we are planning for 2014 when we will be installing a new exhibit called ‘Communication Comes To Dickson’. We are looking for stories, memorabilia, photographs - anything that has to do with telephones. So if you worked at a mutual exchange, AGT, Telus etc. or if you had a party line or have anything you could share with us that would enhance the exhibit we would appreciate hearing from you.
In 2016 the museum will be celebrating its 25th anniversary and we want to do something special. What would you like to see happen on this milestone occasion? We would appreciate hearing all of your ideas.
The annual general meeting for the museum will be held at Dickson church hall on Feb. 8. Everyone is welcome to attend. Please call the museum at 403-728-3355 to confirm your attendance.