P.E.I.’s Bedeque Area Historical Museum to open this winter, following hiring of its first manager

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CENTRAL BEDEQUE, P.E.I. — As she walked and talked by way of the rows of artifacts and shows it was simple to see the fervour Caeley Currie has for her work.

Perhaps it was her depth of information, or maybe it was the early Twentieth-century Edwardian costume she wore for the interview.

It was in all probability a little bit of each.

Currie was lately employed as The Bedeque Space Historic Museum’s first full-time operations supervisor.

Due to the devoted work of many volunteers the museum has grown to the purpose the place it’s experimenting with staying open all 12 months, although solely in the future (Fridays) per week through the low season. Historically, it closed through the winter months however its development necessitated the creation of Currie’s place.

She is initially from New Brunswick and studied for her grasp’s diploma in Scotland.

Although she had by no means had the chance to go to the Bedeque museum earlier than being employed, she shortly fell in love with the power.

“After I got here in and actually noticed the scope of what they’ve, all of the totally different reveals, all of the totally different themes, all of the totally different artifacts I used to be actually blown away,” stated Currie. “Though I didn’t find out about it earlier than, I definitely find out about it now, and I actually need different individuals to find out about it, as effectively.”

Attending to work

Beforehand, the museum had been operated by volunteers, a board of administrators and a few annual summer season college students.

Everybody concerned put in quite a lot of onerous work through the years, however there may be solely a lot a company can accomplish with out paid workers.

“A board of administrators can solely achieve this a lot, particularly as a result of it’s largely volunteer-oriented,” stated Currie. “I believe it’s turning into a full-time job for some individuals, over the winter. I believe the place was as a result of we’re getting sufficiently big that we’re wanted.”

Currie will probably be engaged on somewhat little bit of every part, from social media to behind-the-scenes analysis and planning winter occasions.

“There’s no scarcity of issues to do,” she stated.

After having labored just a few Friday shifts now, Currie stated that each day, just a few individuals stopped in to see what the museum had in retailer. For her, it feels good to have a job in a small neighborhood museum that individuals care about.

“Even when they’ll’t personally make it in themselves, they’re actually optimistic about what this implies for the museum,” stated Currie. “The truth that we’re in a position to do that now simply signifies that we’re rising and evolving.”

A rising museum

Sharon Leighton, a board member of the Bedeque Space Historic Society, which operates the museum, stated the board has wished to rent a supervisor for some time, but it surely was deemed extra mandatory lately after one of many board members resigned.

“At the exact same time that these items are occurring, we have now the museum increasing,” stated Leighton. “We now have gotten, yearly, extra guests, yearly, extra reveals.”

Leighton is glad to have Currie step into the position and stated she thinks “it could be pretty” if individuals visited the museum whereas it’s open this winter.

“It’s a step (towards) being thought-about a longtime museum,” Leighton laughs, “as a result of the massive ones are open all 12 months.”

In Currie’s opinion, opening through the winter will give Islanders an opportunity to cease in, the place they may be too busy in the summertime.

Even other than the in the future every week the museum will probably be open, Currie is worked up to plan occasions and get the entire neighborhood concerned.

“I really like that, I believe it’s a very optimistic factor,” stated Currie. “We don’t wish to simply cater to summer season vacationers. It is a neighborhood museum, and it’s displaying the historical past of the neighborhood, so we wish the neighborhood to really be capable of come, take pleasure in it, go to, attend programming we’re gonna have.”

The museum will probably be open this winter each Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Kristin Gardiner is a reporter with SaltWire in Prince Edward Island. She will be reached by e mail at [email protected] and adopted on X @KristinGardiner.