New Year 2020

73 Magnificent Museum Nestled in the heart of the Canadian Rocky Mountains, surrounded by the snowy mountain splendor, a small museum in a quiet town has a big tale to tell. The Jasper Yellowhead Museum & Archives offers a very personal take on a constantly evolving history. Here at LUXlife, we took a closer look to see what we could learn from this rich history, and the people who share it with the world. To those passing by, the unassuming wooden-clad walls of Jasper Yellowhead’s Museum belie the intrigue that lies within. Go beyond the glass doors, and you’re invited into a delightful world of wonder, with the rich tapestry of a small town’s history just waiting to be explored. Volunteer-run for the most part, Jasper’s Museum is a community concern. The brainchild of Jasper-Yellowhead Historical Society, the museum was finally completed in 2001, after 11 years of development. It was built to preserve as much information as possible about the town and Jasper National Park in its earlier days, to encourage the study of the history of Alberta and Canada, to save from oblivion the memories of Jasper-Yellowhead’s earliest inhabitants including missionaries, fur traders, explorers and settlers. Borne of a community’s desire to preserve its memory, this small building has a lot to commend it. That the museum is a local concern lends a homely charm to the various exhibitions and events that are run. Perhaps not interactive or flashy, what you can be guaranteed of when you come to visit the Museum is a friendly welcome and knowledgeable guide through the 10,000-year-old story that is woven into the fabric of this small town. By presenting history as it was, visitors are allowed to engage at whatever level they wish. Based on exploring the history of Jasper, and the surrounding area, the museum has run art exhibitions from local artists, walking tours and a celebration of 100 Years of the Canadian National Railway. These Oct19320 evolving displays are the result of a passion for history, and a passion for sharing that history with visitors from all over the world. Looking forward, the Museum has a number of exciting plans for the future. If you visit Jasper in 2020, be sure to check out ‘Hiding in Plain Sight’, the story of the Metis people of Canada, and an exhibit that will consume both gallery spaces during its run. For May, local artists from Lake Edith will display their beautiful watercolours and other paintings, followed by the exquisite display ‘100 Hands from around the World’, an exhibit from a local Japanese artist. Keeping current with new artefact discovery, the permanent exhibit will update the Metis portion of its gallery, along with another redesign to tell the legend of the Silver Ice Axe. As a not-for-profit, Jasper’s Museum certainly punches above its weight, with an extraordinary range of exhibits and demonstrations on display at any given. It’s a credit to the staff and volunteers who help run it that this Museum is a constantly evolving community space, dedicated to sharing the truth behind this small town’s story. The love and generosity of those involved shines through to make this a wonderful experience for all concerned. Jasper’s Museum is well worth a visit, and we can’t recommend this delightful museum highly enough. Contact: Robert Hubick Web Address: www.jaspermuseum.org/index.html Telephone: 001 780 852 3013