The Sicamous & District Museum has been modernized to better showcase the community’s history.
On Nov. 30, the museum had a grand re-opening to debut its new layout and presentation of Sicamous’ past and the developments that shaped the community.
Having had a few different locations over the years, the museum landed at the district office back in 2012 and, in 2019, welcomed the chamber of commerce in sharing the space and collaborating on preserving the past. That partnership resulted in a new, streamlined format for the museum that presents a timeline of Sicamous, from its Splatsin/Secwépemc beginnings, to the Hudson’s Bay Company, gold seekers and the arrival of the Canadian Pacific Railway, to the Houseboat Capital of Canada that it is today.
With his signature humour, longtime museum director Gordon Mackie, 95, expressed his appreciation of the new look during the ribbon cutting ceremony.
“Probably I should be one of the main exhibits here, I’ve been around long enough,” he joked before giving credit to everyone who worked on the project. “I have to compliment all of the people that have been involved in putting it up the way it is today, because this is just the way it should be.
“You’ve hit the nail on the head, and put on a really good show.”
Mayor Colleen Anderson, who wielded the giant ceremonial scissors, agreed that this is a great improvement in showcasing Sicamous. “These exhibit improvements look wonderful. And they do tell a lot about the history of Sicamous and our rich past.”
Along with the new look, the museum has extended hours and is now open Monday to Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
