Get Your Copy of the 2017 Heritage Calendar

As 2016 draws to a close, many of us have begun to think of our hopes, plans and resolutions for the New Year. What better way to keep yourself on track than with a new calendar?

Each year, the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo publishes a Heritage Calendar to recognize and celebrate the important history of our region. The calendars feature local photos and each month includes interesting "On This Day" facts. You can view the pdf version of the latest calendar here.

The theme of this year's calendar is "Festivals and Events in Wood Buffalo". Created in collaboration with the Fort McMurray Heritage Society and the Fort Chipewyan Bicentennial Museum, the Heritage Calendar is a great resource to learn more about our local history. 

You can also purchase copies of the calendar by donation at the Heritage Village Gift Shop. 

Visit www.rmwb.ca/heritagecalendars for more information. 

Fort McMurray Hand Crafted Market

Fort Mac Hand Crafted Market is now piloting outdoor markets every other Saturday through the summer at Marine Park Museum!  Join us "where steel meets keel" and find farm-fresh produce, Alberta raised meats, and ready to eat meals. You can shop local for bread, ciders and sweet delights, or treat yourself to handcrafted jewelry, local art, or bespoke clothing.  Vendors vary from date to date so there will be something new and some regulars at each market.

 The Marine Park is a 4 acre site located along the Clearwater River in Fort McMurray’s lower town site on Clearwater Drive. This is the original site of the shipyards where, after spring break up, passengers and freight destined for the north were transferred from rail to ship (or barge). Its unique history also makes it the perfect spot for a market as they are a natural occurrence anywhere trade goods are unloaded and transferred.

Joanna Torguson, President of FMHCMarket, is grateful for the partnership. “It means we don’t have to shut down over the summer and can offer a new opportunity for business growth to our member vendors.” The Museum benefits from the funds raised from space rentals and increased traffic. Funds raised helps them build their programs and rebuild Heritage Park which is still recovering from a devastating flood.

 The community can now enjoy outdoor markets twice as often as dates have been carefully selected so as not to overlap with existing farmer’s markets. There are five more markets planned for the summer: July 4^th, July 18^th, August 1^st, August 15^th, and August 29^th (which is also the date of the annual Strongman Competition).

FMHCMarket is a grassroots collective of vendors who, primarily, work together create craft shows once each month. Founded in January 2014 to showcase local artisans with cottage businesses. The vision is a handmade only market and a mechanism to help member artisans become more successful.

A big fan of collaboration and community building, Torguson designed the market as a fundraiser that pops up regularly on the first Saturday of the month, except during the summer when the school is closed. As a pop-up, the market can happen at any location hosted by any group that needs easy fundraising. Special markets may pop up anywhere and anytime!

For more information, contact:

Joanna Torguson, President

Fort Mac Hand Crafted Market

fortmachandcrafted@gmail.com

780-881-7876

Roseanne Davidson, Executive Director

Fort McMurray Historical Society

execdirector@fortmcmurrayhistory.com
(780) 791-7575

Meet Me Under the Mistletoe @ Heritage Park

International Museum Day

Today is International Museum Day!

The International Council of Museums (ICOM) established this day in 1977 to encourage public awareness of the role of museums in the deveopment of society.  This year, the suggested theme is Museum Collections make Connections.  This theme reminds us that museums are living institutions that helo create  bonds between visitors, generations and cultures around the world.
The museum is an institution that preserves and communicates the past. yet it is grounded in the present.  It is a link between the generations and it allows present and future generations to better comprehend their origins. Collaborations between museums are occurring worldwide; an important cultural exchange of knowledge and experience.  Travelling exhibits, art displays, artifacts and other worldly items stem from one corner of the world to another though museums for the public to connect with , relate to and enjoy.
In 2013, 35,000 museums from 143 countries on five continents participated in International Museums Day.

Why not disperse yourself in our local history and visit one of our regions local museums;
1.  The Oil Sands Discovery Centre, http://history.alberta.ca/oilsands/
2.  Heritage Park Museum, http://www.fortmcmurrayhistory.com/
3.  Bi-Centennial Museum in Fort Chipewyan, http://public.museums.ab.ca/museums.cfm?ItemID=46

For more information regarding International Museum Day or the ICOM, please visit www.icom.museum

HIStory & HERitage: Tom Morimoto

                              HIStory & HERitage

Did you know that May is Asian Heritage Month? To celebrate the history and the contributions of Asian Canadians,  I want to highlight Tom Morimoto, a second generation Japanese Canadian who grew up in Fort McMurray during the Great Depression.

Tom's father, Tommy Morimoto, arrived in Canada in 1906. He was originally from Japan but had been working in Hawaii as a labourer.  As with the majority of Japanese immigrants to Canada at the time, he was a single, young man. Fortunately for Tommy, he just made the cut as the following year a limit was put on the number of Japanese men that could enter the country. Afterwards, most Japanese immigration  consisted of wives joining their husbands or young unmarried women betrothed to men in Canada. 

Tom’s mother, Mitome, belonged to this second category of women. She arrived in Canada in 1917 as a "picture bride". This practice was common among Japanese and Korean immigrants living in Canada or the U.S at the time, and it consisted of a man selecting a bride from their native countries through a matchmaker, who paired the bride and groom based on photographs of the two and their families' recommendations.

Following their marriage, Tommy and Mitome settled in Edmonton, where they operated a rooming house and a barbershop beside the Royal George Hotel. While their business was successful, the cost of rent was too expensive. Persuaded by the promise of Fort McMurray as the new, booming City of the North, they relocated to Fort McMurray and leased 10 acres of land near the current Grant McEwan bridge from the Hudson's Bay Company. They used this land to garden and plant vegetables, which they shipped further north on a steamboat. Near the end of the farming season, the Morimoto's would host a corn roast for the entire community. 

The Morimoto’s had 7 sons. Sadly, in 1938, Mitome and an infant son both passed away, leaving Tommy the sole caretaker and provider for his young family. 

Tom Morimoto was the oldest son in the family. As a teenager during the Depression, Tom worked odd jobs around town- farming, trapping and trading goods for fur. He also worked at the Canadian Airways Radio Station and learned Morse code. 

When the Second World War began in 1939, Tom applied to enlist in the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals. Despite Tom’s short stature and light weight, which were below the official standard, Tom was accepted because of his extensive skills and experience working with radios.  

As part of the Corps of Signals, Tom has the distinction of being the only Japanese Canadian on the beaches of Normandy on D-Day, June 6, 1944. 

Following the war, Tom attended the University of Alberta and graduated as a chemical engineer. He spent many years travelling the world and working in the oil industry, both in Alberta and Dubai. Now retired, Tom spends his time between living in Kelowna and Arizona. If you are interested in learning more about Tom’s amazing life, you can read his memoir “Breaking Trail”, which is available for purchase at Heritage Park. 

So the next time you're by the Snye, and your walking or driving along "Morimoto Drive", take a moment to recognize Tom's personal achievements as well as his family's place in our local and national history. 

If you want to learn more about Asian Heritage Month, click here 

Summer Student Positions at Heritage Park

Heritage Park is accepting applications for the following three positions: 

• Archivist Assistant
• Curator Assistant 
• Guest Services 

If you are interested in applying, please drop off your resume in person at Heritage Park or send your resume to the Program Coordinator at programs@fortmcmurrayhistory.com. You can also fax your resume to 780-791-5180. 

For more information about Heritage Park, visit their website at www.fortmcmurrayhistory.com

For questions regarding these positions, please contact Tammy at programs@fortmcmurrayhistory.com  or call 780 791 7575 ext 224. 

Heritage Park Summer Camps- Space is Limited!

Are you wondering what to do with your little ones for the summer break? Why not enroll them in summer camp at Heritage Park? This year, Heritage Park is offering 13 summer cramps, including 3 drama camps and 2 art courses! 

You don't even need to worry about packing a lunch for your child as lunch will be provided by Chartwell Catering (extra snacks and water are needed).

For more information please visit www.fortmcmurrayhistory.com

Get your copy of the Heritage Calendar Today

April has arrived, the snow is melting, the sun is out (on most days) and spring is officially in the air.  I hear some of my co-workers saying "where has the time gone?  Its April already!!"  

To help keep track of your time and all those busy days, why not download the Heritage Calendar. The Heritage Calendar highlights the Region's history and in particular for 2014, the history of the fur trade.  Each month listed in the calendar features a historic photograph with a related description.  The calendars help promote the rich cultural heritage that the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo has to offer.

You're probably wondering why you would want a calendar this late in the year.  well, please think about this; the Heritage Calendar makes for a lovely keep-sake and is available as a full size, gloss finish wall calendar at Heritage Park's gift shop for a minimal cost.  Purchasing a calendar will help off-set costs at Heritage Park for flood relief efforts.

Please visit www.Woodbuffalo.ab.ca to download your copy today - found under the Living/Arts and Culture/Heritage Calendar tabs.

To purchase a copy, visit Heritage Park at 1 Tolen Drive, Fort McMurray.


 

2014 Heritage Calendars

Alberta Culture Days at Heritage Park- September 29th 2013

The Fort McMurray Historical Society is proud to showcase a variety of archival material and films. With two separate showings, you don't want to miss this historical cultural event! Please provide a small donation to aid in the restoration of Heritage Park. The showings will take place on September 29th from 1 to 7.

You can join in the heritage plaque launch event and take your picture in a life-size plaque from 2 pm to 5 pm. 

This event is on Sunday, September 29, 2013 at Heritage Park. 

Heritage Park Flood Recovery Raffle for WestJet Voucher

Heritage Park Receives Donation for Flood Recovery

Annual Pancake Breakfast

Heritage Park Closed due to Flood

Heritage Park Summer Camps 2013

For more information, email: programs@fortmcmurrayhistory.com
Phone: 780-791-7575 ext. 224

www.fortmcmurrayhistory.com

Celtic Day 2013

Saturday, May 24, 2013

12:00 - 4:00pm

Heritage Park (1 Tolen Drive)

780-791-7575

Heritage Park 3rd Annual Giant Easter Egg Hung

Screening: Treasures From the Far Fur Country

Next Monday, January 28th, 2013 at 7:00 pm, Heritage Park will be having the Five Door Film company back for another screening of the Hudson’s Bay Company footage from 1906.

Please pass on this information to your family , friends…etc who might be interested in this. 

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at the information below. 

We hope to see you there! 

-- 

Nastassia Bakoyiannis 

Cultural Event Coordinator 

Fort McMurray Historical Society 

Heritage Park 

1 Tolen Drive, Fort McMurray, Alberta, T9H 1G7 

Tel: (780) 791-7575 x 227 

Fax: (780) 791-5180 

Email: Events@fortmcmurrayhistory.com

Volunteers needed for Heritage Day at Heritage Park

Heritage Day is a family oriented event that caters to all ages.  It is a celebration of music, art, dance, food, and cultural heritage. The event occurs on Monday, August 6 from 11:00-4:00pm at Heritage Park.  Admission is by donation and there will be live entertainment throughout the day.  Volunteers are needed for a variety of activities including children's games, food service, security, petting zoo and much more.
For more information about Heritage Day or to volunteer, please phone 780-791-7575 or email events@fortmcmurrayhistory.com

Summer Day Camps at Heritage Park

It's that time of year again! Time to sign up for summer camps!

For more information contact us at
(780) 791-7575 or email
heritage@fortmcmurrayhistory.com.

NEWS FLASH!!!

Another Art Camp has been added for the week of August 13th-17th!
The August 20th to 24th Art Camp is FULL!!

For more information about the Fort McMurray Heritage Society, Heritage Park and Marine Park ,and all of their associated Events and Programs, please click HERE