Member of Parliament Mark Strahl Announces Support for Pemberton and District Museum and Archives Society

PEMBERTON, British Columbia, May 27, 2013 - Mark Strahl, Member of Parliament (Chilliwack–Fraser Canyon), on behalf of the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, today announced support for the Pemberton and District Museum and Archives Society (PDMAS) for a new collections management initiative.

“Thanks to the ongoing efforts of the Pemberton and District Museum and Archives, residents and visitors will have greater access to artifacts from the Pemberton Valley,” said Mr. Strahl. “This project provides an opportunity to reimagine the region’s history and commemorate our heritage.”

Funding will allow the PDMAS to undertake a collections management project to preserve and protect historically significant artifacts from the Pemberton Valley region. The PDMAS will move more than half of its equipment collection into a new display building and integrate artifact records into the Museum’s digital collections management system. The Museum cares for collections focusing on the rich history of the region and its people, including a large number of pieces from the gold rush era, the post-gold rush settlement, and the Stl’atl’imx First Nation.

“Museums contribute to the preservation of rich legacies and provide future generations with access to priceless treasures. That is why our Government is proud to support museums across Canada like the Pemberton and District Museum and Archives,” said Minister Moore. “Because of this investment, the Museum and its valuable collection will be accessible to visitors, historians, and educators for years to come.”

“We are grateful for the support from the Government of Canada for our small community museum with a regionally important collection. The funding will enable the museum to improve its collection management standards and practices, ensuring preservation of the collection for future generations,” said George Henry, President of PDMAS. “The project will allow the museum to greatly improve public access via the Web and greatly improves exhibit and storage space. This project ensures the museum’s success over the long term and represents a great leap into the future for this small rural museum.”

The PDMAS operates the Pemberton Museum, the only pioneer museum and archives in the Sea to Sky Corridor. It collects, preserves, and displays artifacts that illustrate themes connected with the human history of Pemberton and its surrounding district. The Society also supports research and archival reproductions on a year-round basis.

The Government of Canada has provided funding of $17,126 through the Museums Assistance Program of the Department of Canadian Heritage. This program provides funding to Canadian museums and related institutions for projects that foster excellence in museum activities and that facilitate access to the treasures of our collective heritage. Last year, the PDMAS received $66,375 in support through the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund to equip a new 2,500-square-foot archives building with flooring, wiring, lighting, insulation, and plumbing.

Follow us on Twitter: @CdnHeritage

For more information (media only), please contact:

Sébastien Gariépy
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of
Canadian Heritage and
Official Languages819-997-7788

Anna Gravelle
A/Regional Manager
Communications
Western Region
Canadian Heritage
604-666-6504

Media Relations
Canadian Heritage
819-994-9101
1-866-569-6155
media@pch.gc.ca