Cranbrook History Centre

Ed Talks Panel: Building Community in Heritage Buildings
2021-04-28 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Edmonton) | Online Event, Zoom Meeting Platform, Cranbrook, British Columbia, V1C 4H9, Canada
Join our panelists for an evening of reflection on what heritage buildings mean for Cranbrook and our many diverse communities in the present day. They will share their thoughts on the difficult decisions that accompany the restoration of historic buildings, the benefits of operating out of a heritage building, why it is important for them to house their organization in a heritage building and more.
Our Featured Panelists:
Ferdy Belland is a long-time contributor to Cranbrook’s arts and culture communities, with a multifaceted and colorful career combining music, theatre, carpentry, journalism, and events promotion spanning over 30 years. In January 2020 he and his partners purchased the venerable Armond Theatre building in Downtown Cranbrook; their ongoing renovation and restoration will see the Armond reopen post-pandemic as a sustainable multipurpose performing-arts facility and community hub, boosting downtown revitalization, nightlife resurgence, cultural reinvigoration, regional tourism, and civic pride.

Huyas, hu qakⱡik Janice Alpine. Early in my career I wanted to ensure I would make a difference on people’s outlook on life. I was a key individual in conducting many research surveys, policy development in education, housing and safety regulations that have assisted with the current agreements my nation has in place today. I then moved on to enhance my education and took an intensive course in Tourism and Hospitality Management – Hotel and Motel Management a two-year program that was condensed into nine months and successfully passed with a 4.0 average. Utilizing my newfound knowledge took me from project development manager of our current prestigious St. Eugene Mission Resort to Band management, to becoming my own consulting business for over twelve years assisting my communities in developing policies and procedures in all aspects of band administration and governance. Currently I am a Business Development Officer and most recently added Tourism Engagement to my duties with the Kootenay Aboriginal Business Development Agency. In my tenure with KABDA I work with entrepreneurs to reach their goals by offering business support. In 2011 I challenged the Technical Level of Aboriginal Economic Development and received my certification though Nicola Valley Institute of Technology. As I advanced in my position I was able to acquire my certification in Later Violence and offered the workshops through the Ktunaxa Communities and at the Ktunaxa Nation Council level and organization staff and Nazko First Nation in Quesnel BC. I worked with Small Business BC to become a Taking the Stage facilitator for women in business. In 2015 I was awarded the Volunteer of the Year Awarded through Community Future’s BC. I was also nominated for the Kootenay Business Magazine Inspirational Business Woman of the year in 2012. In 2018 I received my Ombuds certification through York University. I have been involved in many volunteer efforts since 1999 that include Manager for Ktunaxa Nation Dance Troupe, and sit on many boards and committees: Community Futures East Kootenay, Ministers Tourism Engagement Council, Kootenay Rockies Tourism, Cranbrook Tourism, College of the Rockies Business Management Program Advisory, ʔakisq̓nuk Housing Authority, Qat̓muk Steering Committee, Crown of the Continent Executive and Columbia River Treaty Heritage Project Steering Committee. In my free time I assist my community with their governance structure which is proving to be favorable. Taxas!

Peter Schalk. Having resided in Cranbrook for the last 55 years, I have been in, and shopped at, the historic buildings in Cranbrook. The history and architecture of those buildings are ingrained in my mind and when they are torn down and replaced, I feel we all lose a piece of our past.
I have been part of the Cranbrook Community Theatre Society (CCT) for almost 35 years in many capacities: Actor, builder, Board member and preservationist.
Since 2013 I have participated with others in writing grants to renovate our building “the Studio/Stage Door”. We are proud that we have been successful in achieving our goal: to preserve a historic building which was an integral part of Cranbrook’s past.

Fred Williams. Five-years-ago, my partners and I decided to invest in a heritage building as the location for a craft beer gastropub. We wanted to create a space where people like us could get together and have meaningful conversations while enjoying the best food and beer BC has to offer. A ninety-year-old red brick building was the perfect spot for this social hub. I have a background in business and construction, but I wanted my next project to contribute to the culture and vibrancy of Cranbrook and allow me to enjoy the Kootenay lifestyle with my family. Like all heritage buildings, ours had its peculiarities and required creative solutions. My Kootenay life, depending on the day, requires me to be a dad, husband, housekeeper, plumber, electrician, heritage building restorer, and bartender. I am grateful for them all.

Due to recent public health measures, the panel will be conducted on zoom for the safety of participants and attendees.

Thank you to the East Kootenay Community Credit Union, without whose funding Ed Talks would not be possible.

Annual General Meeting
2021-04-30 18:30 - 19:00 | Online Event, Zoom Meeting Platform, Cranbrook, British Columbia, V1C 4H9, Canada
It’s that time of year again.
The Cranbrook Archives, Museum and Landmark Foundation would like to invite its members to register for our Annual General Meeting. Once again we will be holding our meeting virtually via Zoom. This year we will be using the Meeting format rather than Webinar so that we can see all our lovely members. Once you register and we check your membership status we will email you the meeting documents to review. These will include the Agenda, 2019 AGM Minutes and the Updated CAMAL Constitution and Bylaws to be reviewed and confirmed by the Membership (you may also view the documents below).

For our tracking for Societies BC it is important that each member register individually.

AGM Documents
CAMAL Annual General Meeting Agenda, April 30, 2021
CAMAL Annual General Meeting 2019 Minutes
Updated CAMAL Constitution & Bylaws – to be reviewed and confirmed at the AGM
Amendments to the Constitution:

Re-formatted to conform with Societies Act: Articles moved into Bylaws
Change of name from Cranbrook Archives Museum and Landmark Foundation to Cranbrook Archives Museum and Landmark Society
Refined statements of purpose

Amendments to the Bylaws:

Extensive re-write incorporating provisions from the Provincial Gov’t Model Bylaw, as well as current Constitution and Policies while maintaining general intent.
Part 3 – membership: provision for Group was removed, Single Parent and Benefactor added.
Part 6 – references to staff positions amended to reflect current organizational structure.
Part 8 – Board Positions – limitation of 3 consecutive terms or officers, requirement for anyone elected as Chair to have served as an officer for a minimum of 1 year. (Change from no Director shall serve more than 3 consecutive terms).
Part 11 – provision requiring a Special Resolution for borrowing greater than $50K.

Become an advocate for Cranbrook’s heritage & culture
Join the Board of Directors!
What would you do if elected?

Actively participate in a Board Meeting once per month.
Prepare a monthly report if you hold a portfolio, or submit items of interest for discussion. Contribute your expertise and insights on ongoing projects.
Participate in the business of the Cranbrook Archives, Museum and Landmark Foundation focusing on program development, membership engagement, fundraising and many other unique opportunities.

For more information email: board@cranbrookhistorycentre.com

May Speaker Series Part 1: Traditional Relationship With This Land
2021-05-12 19:00 - 20:00 | Cranbrook History Centre, 57 Van Horne Street South, Cranbrook, British Columbia, V1C 4H9, Canada
RESTORING OUR HISTORIC RELATIONSHIP WITH NATURE
UPDATE 12/05/2021 4:00pm:
We have reached capacity to register for the May 12th talk with Sophie Pierre. We are currently working on setting up a livestream so that those who cannot join the Zoom call can still watch the Talk live. Thank you for understanding. Please check back here for the livestream link which will be posted later tonight.
UPDATE 5:00pm :
We will be livestreaming Sophie Pierre’s Talk on our Youtube page at 7pm MST. Please CLICK HERE to go to the livestream. We will have a moderator in the livestream to monitor questions and share them with Sophie during the Q&A.

A Three-Part Speakers Series
The Cranbrook History Centre and Wildsight Kimberley Cranbrook are excited to present ‘Restoring Our Historic Relationship with Nature’, a three-part lecture series designed to educate and inspire the community to bring an element of traditional wilderness back to urban yards.
This series looks to contextualize environmental stewardship work being done by individuals and environmental activism groups such as Wildsight in within a much longer history of Indigenous relationships with nature. It will highlight the way the Ktunaxa used this land before colonial settlers arrived, and make connections to how these traditions and history influence current environmental practices.
Attend this series to gain the knowledge and tools help us and our communities move closer to a more sustainable, equitable, regenerative and resilient future, starting with our own backyards.
LECTURES
May 12th – TRADITIONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THIS LAND
Our opening lecture will bring renowned speaker, Sophie Pierre from the Ktunaxa Nation to talk attendees through the traditional relationship between people and this region’s land. This lecture will also encourage attendees to consider the relationship between Ktunaxa and the land as well as incorporate some of those traditional practices into their outdoor spaces.
May 19th – RE-WILDING YOUR SPACE
Backyard wilderness enthusiasts Caroline Gregg and Rob Woods will take attendees through the process of creating backyard spaces that attract and support healthy pollinators and fauna. From plant selection to planning and design, this lecture is informative, fun and practical.
May 26th – ELIZABETH LAKE: PROTECTING OUR COMMUNITY’S BACKYARD
Elizabeth Lake is an essential ecosystem within Cranbrook city limits. This lecture titled sees expert Stewart Wilson from the Elizabeth Lake Committee walk attendees through the importance of this ecosystem, noting local wildlife, including what each of us can do to ensure that special areas like this can be preserved for not only ourselves but for future generations.
**Note attendees can register for ONE, TWO or all THREE lectures.
PANELISTS
SOPHIE MAE PIERRE, granddaughter of Chief Eustace, was born in Cranbrook, BC and has lived all her life at ‘Aqam, the St. Mary’s Indian Reserve. She attended the Kootenay Indian Residential School and the Mt. Baker Secondary School in Cranbrook. Sophie served her community of ‘Aqam 30 years, 26 as elected Chief, and was the administrator of the Ktunaxa/Kinbasket Tribal Council for 25 years. She also served as the tribal chair of the Ktunaxa Nation Council. Sophie was recognized as an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2016. She also received the Order of British Columbia in 2002. Sophie retired in 2015 and now spends her time as an elder advisor to her community and to the Ktunaxa Nation.
CAROLINE GREGG AND ROB WOODS moved from Nova Scotia to Kimberley in January 2016, leaving behind their farm and vast vegetable and flower gardens along with a productive greenhouse. Rob is an avid birdwatcher who records 200 species each year throughout the East Kootenays. Caroline loves to get her hands dirty in the soil growing flowering plants, veggies and herbs, stemming from her horticultural education and farm experience. Pairing these passions was a natural starting point to renovate the back yard, incorporating both of our interests. We invite you to join us on our journey to create a private sanctuary for both wildlife and humans.
STEWART WILSON is a former elementary teacher who regularly took his classes from Gordon Terrace Elementary to Elizabeth Lake throughout the school year to foster and develop their awareness and sense of environmental stewardship. Each year his classes would publish A Kid’s Guide to Elizabeth Lake highlighting some of the interesting flora and fauna they learned about during their field trips. Stewart is also an active member of the Rocky Mountain Naturalists, and is Chair of the Elizabeth Lake Committee. He looks forward to sharing his knowledge and passion for this wildlife sanctuary which he continues to visit regularly throughout the year, what it has to offer, and how we can all play our part in ensuring that special areas like this can be preserved for ourselves and future generations.

Thank you to the East Kootenay Community Credit Union, without whose funding Ed Talks would not be possible.

Love Local Customer Appreciation Event
2021-06-01 - 2021-06-05 | Cranbrook History Centre, 57 Van Horne Street South, Cranbrook, British Columbia, V1C 4H9, Canada
Cranbrook’s Downtown Businesses are showing their appreciation for all the local support they have received during these unprecedented times.
Over 45 restaurants, cafes, barbers, hair salons, and retailers will have deals, draws, and more. Check out your favourite downtown businesses for more details.
At the Cranbrook History Centre we’re saying a huge THANK YOU to our customers with FREE Admission to the museum all week long. Come explore our exhibits, meet our new historical interpreters, get a peak behind the scenes or take part in our scavenger hunt and i spy game in the model trains!
Enter our door prize draw to win a Family Grand Tour of the Historic Railcars

'New Roots' Online Premiere and Q&A with Director Mark Locki
2021-06-02 19:00 - 20:00 | Online Event, Zoom Meeting Platform, Cranbrook, British Columbia, V1C 4H9, Canada
New Roots is a short documentary film that tells the story of Michael and Marie-Eve, two local farmers as they explore how farming connects them to the past, present, and future.
Join Director Mark Locki with Wildsight Kimberley Cranbrook and the Cranbrook History Centre to learn all about the story behind the documentary and for a Q&A with the films stars afterwards.

More About The Film:
This short documentary follows Michael Albert, Marie-Eve Fradette and their 2 young daughters through a growing season on their farm in Wycliffe, BC. Through the film, Michael and Marie-Eve describe their personal journeys, from their youth growing up around farms to their passion for food, and their desire to pass down their knowledge to their children. Michael talks about his transformation from being an artist/photographer in his past life to his current art – growing food, and what it means to him personally to be connected to his past. While they know they may not be able to make a significant change in how society currently views food, they know they can provide that change in their own community, and it starts in their household.
Interviews with Chad Kile and Meredith Funston, two local food experts, provide insight into the reasons we need to build knowledge of our food systems to ensure a more food secure future for our local communities.
More About the Filmmaker:
Mark Locki is an award-winning photographer, writer and emerging filmmaker based in Kimberley, BC. His stories of peoples, places and cultures aim to inspire others to explore the world, chase their dreams, and work towards making the world a better place. Topics that are the focus of his work include environmental and social causes, sustainable tourism and outdoor recreation.
An avid traveller, Mark has been privileged to explore much of North America, Europe and Latin America, with Mexico holding a special place in his heart. When not behind the camera, Mark enjoys spending time in the mountains on foot and ski, or in front of the BBQ cooking up a storm.

Ed Talk: Memories of Japanese Migrant Sex Workers in Transpacific Kootenays
2021-06-23 19:00 - 20:00 | Online Event, Zoom Meeting Platform, Cranbrook, British Columbia, V1C 4H9, Canada
Join the Cranbrook History Centre on June 23rd, 2021, to welcome Professor Ayaka Yoshimizu as our monthly Ed Talk speaker. She will give a presentation on the research that she conducted on the transpacific underground in Cranbrook and the East and Central Kootenays in 2018.
Please note: This presentation will contain discussions of sex work and may not be suitable for young audiences.
In her talk, Ayaka Yoshimizu will share part of her research on memories of Japanese women who were involved in the transnational sex trade in Japan and North American between 1850-1941. Her research identifies available traces of this elusive and repressed history and examines the ways in which the lives of those who survived the underground economy and their losses have been memorialized in art, literature, material objects and memorial places. This talk specifically highlights findings from her archival and fieldwork research in East and Central Kootenays and explores an ethical way to engage with this history.
More About Our Presenter:
Ayaka Yoshimizu is Assistant Professor of Teaching in the Department of Asian Studies at the University of British Columbia. Her research interests include transpacific migration and cultures, memories and senses, and performative methodology. Her recent publications include “Unsettling memories of Japanese migrant sex workers: Carceral mobilities of the Transpacific Underground at the turn of the 20th century” (Topia, forthcoming) and “Doing Performance Ethnography among the Dead, Remembering Lives of Japanese Migrants in Transpacific Sex Trade” (Performance Matters, 2018). She is currently working on a monograph tentatively entitled, Doing Ethnography in the Wake of the Displacement of Transnational Sex Workers in Yokohama: Sensuous Remembering.

Historic House Walking Tour
2021-07-03 10:30 - 11:30, 2021-07-10 10:30 - 11:30, 2021-07-17 10:30 - 11:30, 2021-07-24 10:30 - 11:30, 2021-07-31 10:30 - 11:30, 2021-08-07 10:30 - 11:30, 2021-08-14 10:30 - 11:30, 2021-08-21 10:30 - 11:30 | Rotary Park (10th Ave and 2nd Street South)
Our Historic House Walking Tour takes place Saturday mornings from 10:30 – 11:30. It will run every Saturday in July and August.
The tour will depart from the farmer’s market at 10th Avenue on the South end of Rotary Park, and from there embark on a path through Cranbrook’s historic house district. The tour focuses early settlers in Cranbrook, why they came to Cranbrook, and how they made this town their home. The tour finishes at Baker Park, outside Colonel Baker’s house, the longest standing settler home in Cranbrook, and home to the man who founded the city.
Tickets are $7.50 and can be purchased online, below, or in person at the museum.
Thank you to Soulfood for their partnership in this year’s Summer Walking Tours. Soulfood is offering attendees of both our Downtown and Historic House Walking tour a free drink with the purchase of an entrée when they dine at the locally owned restaurant.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Junior Paleontology Summer Camp - Geology Day 1
2021-07-05 09:30 - 15:30 | Cranbrook History Centre, 57 Van Horne Street South, Cranbrook, British Columbia, V1C 4H9, Canada
Junior Paleontology is a kid’s summer program hosted by the Cranbrook History Centre, made possible by funding from the East Kootenay Chamber of Mines and Canada Summer Jobs. Each camp day, we will explore the unique paleontology and geology of the East Kootenays. Through fun, hands-on projects, fossil enthusiasts will learn about evolution, the environment, geology, and paleontology!
*Due to concerns surrounding COVID-19, spaces will be limited to 12 children per class. Social distancing measures will be in place, as well as frequent hand washing and tool sanitization. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us.
To learn more visit: https://www.cranbrookhistorycentre.com/program/summer-camps/

Downtown Historic Walking Tour
2021-07-08 19:00 - 20:00, 2021-07-15 19:00 - 20:00, 2021-07-22 19:00 - 20:00, 2021-07-29 19:00 - 20:00, 2021-08-05 19:00 - 20:00, 2021-08-12 19:00 - 20:00, 2021-08-19 19:00 - 20:00, 2021-08-26 19:00 - 20:00 | Outside Cranbrook Photo
Our Historic Downtown Walking Tour takes place Thursday nights from 7-8pm. It runs every Thursday in July and August. The tour will depart on Bake Street outside of Cranbrook Photo and visitors will walk throughout the downtown core. You will learn about the many historic buildings that once populated Cranbrook’s historic downtown, some that are not longer present today. The tour concludes outside the Mount Baker Hotel, a restored 1923 building that now houses a local restaurant and our 2021 walking tour partner, Soulfood, and the renovated hotel. Tickets are $7.50 and can be purchased online, below, or in person at the museum.
Thank you to Soulfood for their partnership in this year’s Summer Walking Tours. Soulfood is offering attendees of both our Downtown and Historic House Walking tour a free drink with the purchase of an entrée when they dine at the locally owned restaurant.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Junior Paleontology Summer Camp - Evolution and Extinction - Day 2
2021-07-12 09:30 - 15:30 | Cranbrook History Centre, 57 Van Horne Street South, Cranbrook, British Columbia, V1C 4H9, Canada

Junior Paleontology Summer Camp – Fossils - Day 3
2021-07-19 09:30 - 16:30 | Cranbrook History Centre, 57 Van Horne Street South, Cranbrook, British Columbia, V1C 4H9, Canada

Junior Paleontology Summer Camp – Paleontology - Day 4
2021-07-26 09:30 - 15:30 | Cranbrook History Centre, 57 Van Horne Street South, Cranbrook, British Columbia, V1C 4H9, Canada

Ed Talk - Lost Cranbrook: Memories of the Post Office 50 Years After its Demolition
2021-08-04 19:00 - 20:00 | Cranbrook History Centre, 57 Van Horne Street South, Cranbrook, British Columbia, V1C 4H9, Canada
POSTPONED EVENT:
Please note that this event is no longer taking place on July 21st. It has been postponed due to unforeseen circumstances. It will now take place on Wednesday August 4th, 2021 from 7:00-8:00PM MT.

On July 6th, 1971 Cranbrook’s historic post office was demolished after 58 years standing as an architectural highlight on Baker Street. This July, 50 years later, we invite local historian and Cranbrookian, Jim Cameron, to share the history of the 1913 post office and how its demolition came to be. Jim Cameron will be presenting his talk in our historic Royal Alexandra Hall, the first in-person public program that we will be hosting following the province’s reopening.
An Introduction to the Post Office History: In 1908, the dominion government announced the purchase of three vacant city lots on the corner of Baker Street and Hanson Avenue, to serve as the site of a Dominion Post Office and Customs building. The plans for the structure gained immediate approval among the people Cranbrook, not least for its handsome appearance but also for its importance in the establishment of the city as a district centre. The Post Office, perhaps the most admired and photographed building in Cranbrook over the years, opened in 1913, and served the city well until a warm July day in 1971, when, in a great cloud of dust and disbelief, it completely disappeared.
More About Our Presenter:
Jim Cameron was born and raised in Cranbrook, B.C., where his family roots go back well over a century. A professional musician, artist and author, he has dedicated a great deal of time and research to local Cranbrook history. Writer of the popular and long-running newspaper column “Janus – Cranbrook Then and Now,” he has more recently authored two very successful history books: Cranbrook Then and Now – Volumes One and Two.

Please note:
This event will be taking place in person at the Royal Alexandra Hall. For this reason, we are limiting our capacity to 50 registrations. If you register for the event and can no longer make it, please notify us so that we can make the seat available to a different attendee.
For those who are not comfortable attending the event in person, we will livestream the presentation on youtube. It will also be kept on our youtube page for those who want to re-visit or who are not available to attend the event.

Junior Paleontology Summer Camp – Geology- Day 1
2021-08-09 09:30 - 15:30 | Cranbrook History Centre, 57 Van Horne Street South, Cranbrook, British Columbia, V1C 4H9, Canada
Junior Paleontology is a kid’s summer program hosted by the Cranbrook History Centre, made possible by funding from the East Kootenay Chamber of Mines and Canada Summer Jobs. Each camp day, we will explore the unique paleontology and geology of the East Kootenays. Through fun, hands-on projects, fossil enthusiasts will learn about evolution, the environment, geology, and paleontology!
*Due to concerns surrounding COVID-19, spaces will be limited to 12 children per class. Social distancing measures will be in place, as well as frequent hand washing and tool sanitization. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us.
To learn more visit: https://www.cranbrookhistorycentre.com/program/summer-camps/
Or Click Here to register now.

Junior Paleontology Summer Camp – Evolution and Extinction - Day 2
2021-08-16 09:30 - 15:30 | Cranbrook History Centre, 57 Van Horne Street South, Cranbrook, British Columbia, V1C 4H9, Canada

Junior Paleontology Summer Camp – Fossils - Day 3
2021-08-23 09:30 - 15:30 | Cranbrook History Centre, 57 Van Horne Street South, Cranbrook, British Columbia, V1C 4H9, Canada
Junior Paleontology is a kid’s summer program hosted by the Cranbrook History Centre, made possible by funding from the East Kootenay Chamber of Mines and Canada Summer Jobs. Each camp day, we will explore the unique paleontology and geology of the East Kootenay. Through fun, hands-on projects, fossil enthusiasts will learn about evolution, the environment, geology, and paleontology!
*Due to concerns surrounding COVID-19, spaces will be limited to 12 children per class. Social distancing measures will be in place, as well as frequent hand washing and tool sanitization. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us.
To learn more visit: https://www.cranbrookhistorycentre.com/program/summer-camps/ or Click Here to register now.
