With all the talk this past week throughout the province quite rightly focusing on the not-so-shocking departure of the now former premier Alison Redford, I'm going to provide you all with a brief respite from the provincial political scene to talk about a local issue that deserves more attention than it gets, and that's the current state of the Bonnyville and District Historical Society.
Don't get me wrong, this isn't me saying the society is poorly run or filled with the wrong people, this is me simply trying to spread the word on the depleting condition of an organization that represents the history of this great town.
If you make it past this column, you will notice that there is a story in this week's edition of the Nouvelle focusing on the historical society's most recent annual general meeting. In that story, the organization's secretary Sue Phillips said the society was in a definite “transitional” period and that fresh blood was desperately needed and wanted to help move the group forward.
The Bonnyville Historical Society is responsible for the upkeep of the Bonnyville Museum. In partaking in a tour of the museum's grounds and many local artifacts last summer, I noticed just how much history this town has and as such how important the museum is to educate new Bonnyvillians, such as myself.
They also put on an annual Canada Day fair, where local residents can head over to the museum for some food and entertainment prior to the big bash at Little Leap Park.
At the group's AGM last week, the eight local residents that made up the board last year were all re-elected to their positions.
With the group holding so much importance to a rural, small-town community such as Bonnyville, I have to admit it's a shocker to hear that they are struggling to gain the interest of the local people they need to keep the wheels turning. Maybe it's a lack awareness, maybe people don't know or realize that the local historical society needs a bit of a boost, which is the reason I'm writing this column.
This column calls on you – whether you're a born and bred native of the town or a migrant worker that has finally found a place to call home, come out and get involved in an organization that could use an extra pair of hands or two.
Go and check out their website at bonnyvillemuseum.ca
