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Keremeos museum not that unknown

Response to letter critical of local knowledge

To the Editor:

In response to M. Saint Laurent’s letter published in the July 21 Review I would like to express my regrets that this gentleman had so much trouble finding the museum

On checking with the staff at Similkameen Country the new summer student expressed to me that she definitely knew that there was a museum in Keremeos as the South Similkameen Museum is a member of Similkameen Country.  She did inform R. Saint Laurent that she did not know the street address for the museum.  I must admit, until I became a member of the executive I did not know the civic address of the museum either.  The corner of 6th Street and 6th Avenue always seemed to work for me.

I am very surprised that R. Saint Laurent did not know how to contact anyone at the museum.  He managed to send a letter to announce his resignation as a member of the museum last year and has attended two consecutive AGM’s that I am aware of.  Surely he must know the name of the museum society if he was a member.  He has also telephoned Doreen Smith, the Past President on more than one occasion.  I am sure she could have told R. Saint Laurent what the hours are at the museum.

Rightly so, our summer student in the museum should know the proper name of the museum and she was aware of it when she sent her resume to South Similkameen Museum Society asking for employment.   Being employed only a matter of a week, or so, with so much information loaded on her all at once I don’t wonder she may have forgotten some things.  I also find it hard to believe that she didn’t show him the respect he needed. I was informed that they conversed for some time. Yes, there is a lack of signage at the museum.  We are fully aware of it.  We are also very aware of the fact that we need a new building and a large enough piece of property so that we could move the jail house (museum) onto the same property and let this heritage structure resume its life as an honoured heritage building.  I don’t see the advantage of spending a sum of money on new signage to find it unsuitable at our new location.

As to getting our telephone number listed, that hasn’t been an option so far.  By connecting the land line phone every year in June and disconnecting it again in the fall when the museum closes is a costly process.  This also does not allow us to be in the telephone listings as this is done in the fall.  This year we have purchased a cell phone that we can then have connected all year long and our listing will be on-line through one of the directory sites such as Canada 411. There are plans to print new brochures and information with our new phone number prominently displayed.  Now, with a cell phone we will always be available to make arrangements if and when anyone wants a tour of the museum.

So, in case you are still in doubt, the official name of the museum is South Similkameen Museum Society  the hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday until August 27,  Our brand new telephone number is 250-499-9295.  Or you can contact myself, Judy Chisholm at 250-499-2883 or Doreen Smith at 250-499-5746.

Judy Chisholm, President, South Similkameen  Museum Society