Canmore Museum and Geoscience Centre

“Never before did I behold so just, so perfect a resemblance to the Waves of the Ocean in a wintry Storm.”

So wrote fur trader/ cartographer, David Thompson on a blustery day, end of November 1800. From a rocky prominence on what is now known as Loder Peak (Exshaw AB), Thompson peered westward into the valley into a broken jumble of stone that would later become the town of Canmore and further west, Banff National Park. Though he thought the landscape a scene of ruin and desolation, he was the first to record an important observation that has been made by many visitors since. The mountains look like huge waves on an ocean of stone.

This short trip - by way of the lower reaches of the Bow River – marked Thompson’s first foray into the Rocky Mountains: a treacherous unpredictable barrier only crossed further north at Howse Pass in 1807. In celebration of the David Thompson Bicentennials (2007-2011), the Canmore Museum and Geoscience Centre is organizing a traveling exhibition entitled: David Thompson: 200 Years Later. Designed to create not only awareness of how his efforts gave shape and definition to the northwest half of the continent, the environment and aboriginal world inhabited by Thompson and what we have today will be explored.

Opening in July of 2008, this exhibition will feature interpretative panels authored by Robert Sandford, paintings by Joseph Cross, traveling trunks by Larry Meriam, video sequences by Joseph Potts, maps by Andy Korsos and dramatic vignettes of Charlotte Small by Leanne Playter. A folding replica of the Great Map is also being made for display on the floor. An exhibition catalogue with contributions from Jack Nesbit, Jennifer Brown, Andy Korsos and Robert Sandford is in the works. Helping to make all of this possible is a Museums Assistance Program grant from Canadian Heritage.

David Thompson: 200 Years Later is scheduled to travel to other museums and historic sites beginning in 2009. For more information, contact Mary-Beth Laviolette, Project Manager, Canmore Museum and Geoscience Centre, info@cmags.org or (403) 678-2462.

Canmore Museum & Geoscience Centre Earns Recognized Museum Status

The Canmore Museum & Geoscience Centre is one of the latest museums in the province to receive the Recognized Museum designation from the Alberta Museums Association. The museum earned this designation after participating in the Museum Affirmation Program, a new initiative designed to strengthen the Association’s accountability toward the public funds it distributes through grants and programming to the province’s museums.

“The Alberta Museums Association is pleased to present the Recognized Museum standing to the Canmore Museum & Geoscience Centre. The Museum worked very hard to reach this goal. They showed dedication in taking part in a program which will undoubtedly raise the standards for Alberta museums,” said Executive Director, Gerry Osmond.

The Canmore Museum & Geoscience Centre has been provided with the Recognized Museum logo to display at their museum. To earn this designation, the museum provided a panel of museum professionals with evidence demonstrating how they are meeting the internationally recognized definition of a museum.

Miners Day celebrates Canmore 125

Events

The committee planning this years miners day wants to open the door to all families who were a part of Canmore's fabric at any time between 1883 and the closing of the mines on Black Friday, July 13, 1979.
This years celebrations mark a special occasion: The miner bronze statue will be unveiled at the Canmore Hotel on Saturday, July 12, following the Main Street parade of mining families. After that the families will be feted at a community barbecue.
"We'd like to see it more multi-generational, more inclusive. We're not restricted to only miners. It's open to anyone who was part of the community up to 1979 when the mine closed. If you know of somebody who should be invited we want to know."
The event has its own website at www.canmoreminersreunion2008.ca.
with excerpts from Rockymountain Outlook

Upcoming Events at the Canmore Museum and Geoscience

Posted April 27th, 2008 by admin

Sunday, May 18 2008
Ben Gadd   2pm - 4pm
Meet one of Canada’s most celebrated nature guides as he gives an illustrated talk about his new book “The Canadian Hiker’s & Backpacker’s Handbook: Your How-to-Guide for Hitting the Trails Coast to Coast to Coast”. Book signing by the Jasper-based author of seven books will follow the talk.
Link to Ben Gadd's Home page

Thursday, May 22 2008
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 7pm - 7:45pm
Get involved in one of the true cultural gems of the Bow Valley!
Meet the board and hear about the different activities that took place in the past year.

AGM Guest Speaker: Stephen Bown   8pm – 9pm
An illustrated talk by the acclaimed Canmore author about the tragic story of Captain Vancouver, one the greatest explorers of the Age of Discovery and how his maps made it possible for British Columbia to be British instead of American.
Talk followed by book-signing for Bown’s new book: “Madness, Betrayal and the Lash – The Epic Voyage of Captain George Vancouver”
Link to Stephen Bown's Homepage

Saturday, June 21
Robert Smith: Alpine Wildflowers   2pm-4pm
What a perfect way to greet the first day summer with an illustrated talk by Bow Valley veteran, Robert Smith, a photographer of alpine wildflowers from this very place.
After Bob’s talk, the Museum will have a selection of flower books and guides for sale.

All events take place in the Council Chambers of the Canmore Civic Centre
902 – 7 Avenue
For more information: call 678-2462

Online Exhibits: We added 2 online exhibits as extensions to the '100 Views-Then and Now' exhibit. Click this link for the online exhibits.

www.cmags.org

Come Visit Us

Everyday, many people visit our museum. Some are local, some are regional and some are international visitors.

We pride ourselfs in the fact, that most visitors come because they want to experience a quality museum.

When will you come for a visit?

Contact Us

To ensure a quick reply, please direct your questions or comments to the following staff:
Questions about the gift shop, marketing/ advertising and other administrative queries:
Mary-Beth Laviolette at info@cmags.org
Questions pertaining to school programs, collections/ archives donations, exhibitions or research:
Edward van Vliet at curator@cmags.org