Didsbury Museum

"We want to be, and we have to be, part of the community. There has to be a reason for people to want to come to the museum."

For Frankie Kelly, president of the Didsbury and District Historical Society, her work with the society's board and volunteers is about more than just preserving artifacts and restoring the Red Brick School that houses the Didsbury Museum. It's about reclaiming a sense of pride and purpose.

The school has been the museum's home since 1989. Built in 1907, it is a monument to Didsbury's past and, Frankie says, a cornerstone of the community's future.

"Most of our seniors went to school here. They remember it as their gathering place, their community centre." These former students now dominate the museum's board. "We're all single-minded in our purpose and in what we believe this museum means to the community."

The Community Spirit Program has played a part in ensuring that this cherished heritage site remains an important part of Didsbury life and that the museum enjoys long-term sustainability.

"The Community Spirit grant, to us, has just been a blessing," Frankie says, noting that the flexibility of the funding allows the museum to purchase those "little extras" like office supplies and housekeeping products or even a much needed vacuum cleaner. With a volunteer base mainly composed of seniors, not having to pack a vacuum cleaner up three flights of stairs is a significant improvement.

Community Spirit Program donation grant dollars have allowed the museum to improve displays showcasing an impressive collection and to tell better the story of a town established before the turn of the twentieth century. The museum also purchased equipment to host meetings of local organizations. Doing so, Frankie says, creates greater awareness, provides additional revenue and helps to make the Didsbury Museum more of a community focal point.

Physical improvements to the museum have been matched by a new sense of engagement. "We've started reaching out to the community. Last year we started the Coffee and Conversation program." Coffee and Conversation is a monthly get-together that gives aspiring musical and visual artists a chance to shine. The museum also brings in guest speakers on a variety of topics ranging from beekeeping to cowboy poetry. These efforts help to make the museum a cultural hub.

Another successful effort has been to build relationships with regional organizations. For example, the museum has joined forces with the Mountain View Arts Festival to host Alberta Arts Days events. "It's something we'd like to continue doing," says Frankie. "By being involved in the community, people know what we're doing and they'll bring others in to see our museum."

The Community Spirit Program has proven to be a "win-win" grant for the museum and for those who contribute to the cause. "I've told people, 'if you donate, your cheque is almost doubled. You are supporting the organization and you are doubling your donation.' With our last grant, we got almost 90 per cent (in Community Spirit funds) of what we raised."

"When people give money, they want to see it going into projects. It's nice to have Community Spirit funds so we don't have to use (donations) for day-to-day expenses. Everything we receive from the public goes into improving the museum."

The society has embraced the opportunity of the Community Spirit program to increase their focus on donations. Coin boxes crafted in an art therapy program by residents of the Aspen Seniors Lodge are now collecting donations in local businesses. Admission to the museum is now donation-based, so it can be used to apply for the donation grant.

With the help of committed volunteers, community support and initiatives like the Community Spirit Program, Frankie is confident that the Didsbury and District Historical Society will meet their objectives of a successful, sustainable museum.

"Didsbury has survived as a community since 1894 and has faced and overcome a lot of challenges," Frankie said. "We exist as a museum to tell those stories. Maybe someday there will be a display here in this museum that will tell our story in the same way."

Learn more about the Didsbury Museum by calling 403-335-9295 or online at
http://www.didsburymuseum.com