Fuchsia Dragon | [email protected]
Jasper museum is at the bottom line due to COVID closures and funding cuts.
The museum is down on income almost 50 per cent from last year and the Jasper Yellowhead Historical Society is applying for an emergency loan to help cover costs.
Herb Robinson, president of the society, said: 鈥淲e are in the same situation as a lot of organizations these days.
鈥淲e are experiencing expenses with very little revenue and struggling with applying to programs to keep staff on hand.鈥�
The loan the society is applying for is the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) loan, a $40,000 interest-free loan for businesses and not-for-profits.
It will help cover staff wages as they continue to work behind the scenes to preserve Jasper鈥檚 history.
The closure gives an opportunity for painting and reflooring the museum, a project that was in the pipeline before the pandemic thanks to a donation, and is a chance for staff to think of new ways to engage with the community and general public.
They have been working away at the museum鈥檚 extensive backlog in the archives and collections and have launched a Youtube page telling historical Jasper stories through video. Their first one on explorer Curly Phillips who built Maligne Lake boathouse is online now.
Robinson said:聽 鈥淲e are hoping this is not going to be long term and maybe during this time we can focus on that and come out with some really high quality products like the Curly video.聽
鈥淚 don鈥檛 see us as failing and hope there is a silver lining around all of this.
鈥淚 think it is a recognised asset for the community and it would be a shame to lose it.We are going to have to get a little creative.鈥�
If the museum closed the Municipality of Jasper would become the curator of the historical materials.
鈥淩ight now we are surviving,鈥� said Robinson, 鈥渂ut our main focus is we don't want to give the keys to the town - and I don鈥檛 think they want the keys.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a passion for many of our members and we have a dedicated staff. We are pretty optimistic.鈥�
For information on memberships and to donate to Jasper museum, go to .
