MOOSE JAW — Moose Jaw’s branch of the Western Development Museum (WDM) has announced the event lineup for October and into the winter months as part of its ongoing programming that offers something for everyone.
Upcoming events
- Truth and Reconciliation: To help honour the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the museum has partnered with the Wakamow Aboriginal Community Association (WACA) and will provide volunteers to help celebrate at the amphitheatre in Crescent Park from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 30.
- RCAF centennial: To celebrate a century of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), the WDM has partnered with Tourism Moose Jaw and the Tunnels of Moose Jaw for an RCAF 100th anniversary combo tour package including a 45-minute guided tour of the aircraft galleries at the museum and then a 45-minute guided trolley tour and a 50-minute guided tour of Bunker 24 at the Tunnels of Moose Jaw. Tours will be offered exclusively on Saturday, Sept. 28 and Sunday, Sept. 29 starting at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. For more information visit TourismMooseJaw.com/RCAF-Tours.
- World Polio Day: The museum is partnering with the Moose Jaw Rotary Club and the Moose Jaw Wakamow Rotary Club to deliver a free information session about the history of polio and the work done by the Rotary Club. The information session is free, but with regular museum admission you’re invited to a guided tour of the museum’s iron lung device. This event is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 24 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the museum.
- Halloween Hurrah: The much anticipated annual Halloween event will return for an afternoon of spooky fun. The day will include crafts and activities throughout the museum’s galleries and everyone’s encouraged to come dressed in their best Halloween costume. The event runs from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 26.
- Night market: The Fedora Bloom Emporium will hold a night market throughout the museum with vendors ranging from potters to woodworkers available with regular museum admission. The market will be held on Saturday, Nov. 9, from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. For more information visit Emporium.FedoraBloomEvents.ca/Event-Page.
- A Christmas Long Ago: A Christmas Long Ago will return to the museum where guests can learn how early settlers in the province celebrated Christmas circa 1910. There’s a guided school tour and a public program portion, with events running on Saturday, Dec. 7 and Sunday, Dec. 8, starting at 10 a.m. and again at 2 p.m. on each respective date.
Seek and find
The museum regularly holds seek and find events to encourage interactive learning. The program includes an activity sheet and visitors search through the galleries for clues that can be found on interpretation signs or display cases. Check the museum’s website for updates.
Courses and workshops
Several educational courses are offered seasonally and teach skills ranging from blacksmithing to steam traction engine operation, with certificates typically earned on completion.
- Upcoming courses: There are no further courses for 2024.
K+S Short Line 101
To showcase the raw power of steam energy, the WDM showcases its fully operational K+S Potash Canada Short Line 101 steam train each summer and guests can catch a ride on a piece of Saskatchewan’s history. Operating since 1978, this is Saskatchewan’s only operational steam locomotive.
- Upcoming train schedule: The Short Line 101 will continue to run — weather permitting — until late October. It’s always best practice to call in advance to confirm the train is running.
Reminiscence Kits
The museum’s Reminiscence Kits are meant to bring generations together and ignite new friendships through the sharing of memories. Containing day-to-day artifacts from the ‘50s to the ‘70s, these kits can be rented by care homes and other organizations over two weeks for $75. Visit WDM.ca/Reminiscence to book your kit.
Teacher resources
Several resources are available to teachers from information packages to field trip arrangements at the WDM. Visit WDM.ca/Moose-Jaw/Learn/For-Teachers for more information.
History album
The museum’s history album tells the story of Saskatchewan’s past though the stories of families, small towns, and community organizations across the province. To view the album, visit SaskHistory.ca.
Birthday parties
The museum may just be the perfect venue for your child’s upcoming birthday party. For a fee of only $200, children ages five to eight can experience a two-hour transportation-themed party and up to seven friends are included in the price. You can book by calling the museum.
Volunteering
The WDM is always looking for volunteers to help make programming, summer events, and numerous specialized roles at the museum possible. At the museum’s regular volunteer intakes, volunteer co-ordinator Alexis Jones will provide a tour of the facility, review safety protocols, and find suitable opportunities for everyone’s training and interests.
- Next volunteer orientation: Sunday, Oct. 27 at 2 p.m.
The WDM is the largest human history museum in Saskatchewan and features a collection of over 75,000 artifacts across four locations. The Moose Jaw branch specializes in the history of transportation.
The museum is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the summer. This excludes statutory holidays and the museum’s winter hours will commence in January 2025.
For more information, visit WDM.ca/Moose-Jaw or reach out to Alexis Jones, the museum's program and volunteer co-ordinator at 306-693-5989 or by email at [email protected].
The Western Development Museum in Moose Jaw is located at 50 Diefenbaker Drive.
