To celebrate "The Way We Were" and bring to life the Sundre Pioneer Museum, the executive director has embarked in a new direction.
"We are really excited to add to the museum experience with heritage performers and docents," said Jaime Marr.
"This is not a new concept as volunteers have often donated their time and talents to the museum, typically around special event days or when school tour groups were coming in."
However, Marr told the Round Up she intends to make the experience available ideally once a week throughout the year as opposed to only on a few special occasions such as Canada Day.
"It is important for people to know they can come to the museum to learn things about the way we were. We have a rich history that includes a wide range of aspects such as logging, hunting, trapping, homesteading, trading, ranching, agriculture and of course oil and gas," she said.
The first heritage performer to get involved was Sundre-area resident David Borys, whose keen interest in bladesmithing was a natural match for the pioneer village's blacksmith shop.
"I approached Jaime based on her positive reputation and the Sundre and District Historical Society's reputation," he told the Round Up, adding several "wonderful, positive members of the community" had urged him to seek out the museum to see what role he could play in bringing it to life.
"Jaime shared her vision with me and I was inspired by her and what she's doing at the museum."
Ecstatic to be offered the opportunity to participate, he said the experience to date has been among the most positive in his life, and he expressed unwavering gratitude for the chance to share his knowledge and passion while at the same time supporting the museum and further developing his skills.
"I love volunteering there," he said, describing the museum's forge as "perfect. It demonstrates wonderfully the machines and tools that were required for the pioneer age. That shop is a wonderful example of what the pioneers needed in order to have a community and survive."
Borys has been interested in bladesmithing for about as long as he can remember.
"I maintain and take care of my own personal blades. The passion has always kind of been there."
However, he previously kept his craft largely private ó at least until more recently when the opportunity to become engaged through the museum presented itself.
"People like Jamie Marr have encouraged and inspired me to pursue earnestly that passion wholeheartedly."
So what was once more of a hobby to pass the time has since become fired up into an enthusiastic full-blown commitment, and Borys is no stranger to spending time improving his abilities at the museum's forge when he can.
"The biggest challenge is that everything is jury-rigged," he said, adding bladesmithing and blacksmithing have no set patterns, blueprints or outlines. Each project is a unique experience with its own hurdles to overcome.
"It's all custom work. Every knife, every blade, is a one-of-a-kind piece of art created through passion, intuition and effort."
Although Borys works full time as a health-care assistant at the Sundre Seniors' Supportive Living centre where he tends to residents with dementia, he nevertheless finds himself investing much of his spare time at the museum.
"I'm there almost as much as I work," he said, adding he averages several hours from about 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. three days a week at the pioneer village.
Borys is optimistic the heritage performances will inspire within the community as well as visitors an interest in the history that has made Sundre what it is, and Marr certainly seems to agree.
"It's our responsibility at the museum to educate people," she said, adding the museum's board of directors has been fully supportive of the new direction.
Other volunteer heritage performers and educators who have committed to spending time at the museum are cowboy poet and retired farmer Harold Webber, a homesteader from Olds who goes by the name of Jade, weaver Ruth Hahn who among other items creates tea towels and hand cloths, as well as Jack Nichol, rodeo cowboy and former bull rider, and his wife Marj, who agreed to don full period clothes when showing visitors around the museum, which she knows like the back of her hand, said Marr.
To add another element of interest for the pioneer village's visitors, anything the heritage performers create can be bought at the museum's general store, she said, adding a commission has been worked out with the docents to generate creative revenue for the museum.
"I don't make money off of this process ó the money that I earn goes towards repairing, maintaining and making the blacksmith shop more functional," said Borys.
Anyone else who is "passionate about the Sundre community and the Sundre area and how it came to be" and might be interested in getting involved is welcome to drop by the museum to chat with Marr. Alternatively, call 403-638-3233 or email [email protected].
People with experiences directly related to past businesses or events that impacted or played a role in shaping Sundre into what the town is today "are the ones who have a real connection to the community vein. It would be great to have them share their stories to celebrate the way we were!"
Visit www.sundremuseum.com for more information on the pioneer village and museum.
