SUNDRE – The Sundre and District Museum has seen some growth in attendance at a variety of events.
However, as community functions ranging from Canada Day to Winterfest as well as myriad others including Alberta Culture Days are offered at no cost, the increased number of visitors hasn’t translated to higher revenue, said Carrie Couch, the museum’s executive director.
Couch was addressing council on Dec. 2 during a regular meeting to present a report outlining highlights from the past year, which she called a busy one.
“We successfully completed a number of projects,” she told council, citing the Bergen Schoolhouse roof reconstruction as the most notable.
“Caring for historical building takes special care and attention,” she said, adding such projects come with big price tags and no shortage of volunteer hours involved in fundraising.
Some other project highlights included placing the lampstand on the outdoor stage as well as painting the memory fence along the museum’s historic village grounds.
Community events such as Winterfest are made possible courtesy of partnership with the municipality as well as the Sundre and District Chamber of Commerce with support from other key organizations, she said, adding there were about 1,200 guests who attended the event in 2024.
Grants are also critical, with funds from the federal government’s Celebrate Canada program contributing towards three events that are hosted at the museum: Indigenous Peoples Day, Multicultural Day, and Canada Day.
“This grant is traditionally received annually. As we’re seeing more frequently than I’d like, this federal grant saw a significant decrease to all subscribers in the neighbourhood of a third,” she said, adding what previously represented $6,000 was down to $4,000.
But thanks to the support of partners like the town as well as
Stoney Nakoda and Otipemisiwak Métis Battle River District 3, the museum was still able to deliver programs that saw increased attendance, she said, adding visitors who come from further away also tend to stay around town for a while.
This year, the museum got one full-time, six-month intern through the Canadian Museums Association and Young Canada Works who ended up moving to Sundre from Calgary, she said.
“We’re happy to hear that she stayed in our community after her tenure with us,” said Couch, adding the local company that hired is lucky to have her and that the “community is enriched by her presence.”
The Canada Summer Jobs program also made possible hiring on two locals for eight-week stints.
Partnership with the Sundre Municipal Library as well as the Sundre and District Chamber of Commerce result in events like the Halloween Extravaganza and Sundown in Sundre, while the relationship with the Mountain View Regional Film Office opens doors with film productions.
Of course, a museum’s crowing asset is its collection, she said.
“The museum has an important job to safeguard our local history.”
As year-end stats were not yet available, she said the number of visitors as of the end of September was 6,078 visitors, along with almost 1,800 volunteer hours.
Calling volunteers the “cornerstone” of the museum, she said “they frankly are the heartbeat.”
Visitation was up 19 per cent in first six months, but that did not translate to increased revenue, she said, adding attendance for events is free.
But events that draw people in from out of Sundre does provide a beneficial economic ripple effect by bringing commerce to town, she said.
Yet that still leaves the historical society, which operates the museum, faced with the ongoing struggle of securing enough funds.
“Sundre and District Museum is not only museum that struggles with a shoestring budget and high operational costs,” she said.
According to financial information included in the report to council that is available in-full on the town website, revenues in 2023 were $209,268, as compared with $157,840 the year prior. Expenses in 2023 reached $215,431, leaving a deficit of $6,162, as compared with $175,616 in 2022, which left a deficit of $17,776.
Ever the optimist, Couch said there is always reason for hope.
“Times are tough, but I feel the Sundre and District Historical Society is tougher.”
She also noted the museum is more than a venue for community events.
“We are not just a tourist destination,” she said. “Our spaces offer community organizations places to meet and gather.”
Coun. Owen Petersen said he was amazed by the number of special events in Sundre that revolve around or are done in collaboration and support from museum. Recognizing free events aren’t money-makers, the councillor said he hopes to see a bump in funding commitments.
Council carried a motion accepting the report for information.
