BATTLEFORD — Manager Bernadette Leslie's passion for her work and commitment to preserving history led her to a 45-year career with the Fred Light Museum.
Many people from the community came together on July 12 to celebrate the museum's 45th anniversary and Leslie at her pre-retirement tea at the museum's old fire hall building. Leslie will officially retire in October.
Leslie was touched by people's words of tribute to her life's work over the years.
"I'm overwhelmed a little, I'd say, and surprised at how many speeches there were. I wasn't expecting that," she said afterwards.
"I know it's time to retire, but I know I'm thoroughly going to miss the museum and everybody who is connected to it. It's a mixed feeling; that's for sure."
Leslie started back in May of 1979 and in July of 1980 the museum officially opened to the public.
She started off as a summer student working with the museum's founder Fred Light, who passed away in 1998.
"I was hired as a summer student in 1979. And then it was finished at the end of September that year," she said. "Then I got a phone call in May of 1980, stating that they would like me to come back to the museum. Turns out Mr. Light liked my work ethic and he requested that I be returned to the museum. So, the rest is history. I've been here since."
Some of the projects Leslie has been involved with over the years include working on the museum's renovations and setting up the various exhibits.
"It was a work in progress, and I loved every minute of it. Absolutely," she said.
Leslie was also involved in establishing the Fred Light Museum history calendar, which started in 2018.
"It gives the history of the Battlefords that a lot of people didn't know about," she said.
Another project, Leslie is proud of is the Fred Light Museum 'Honour Our Veterans' banner program.
She believes her work matters to the community because she simply has a passion for history.
"I love the history and Mr. Light just teaching me about the history, and his passion about history," she added.
Some of Leslie's favourite exhibits at the museum include the Veterans' Room, which is particularly important to her.
"Because of what they've done for us, for our freedoms in our country. If it wasn't for them, we wouldn't be where we are today with our freedoms," she said.
Fred Light's granddaughter Donna Laycock, who is chair of the museum's board, was among those who paid tribute to Leslie's long-time contributions at the event.
"Bernadette started here as a student and my grandfather saw her potential and took her under his wing and taught her everything he knew," she said. "It accentuated her knowledge of the museum as it is today. Absolutely. She's carrying on the legacy of my grandfather's dream, to honour and preserve history, local Battleford history.
Battleford Mayor Ames Leslie, who is Bernadette's son, also had kind words to say about Bernadette's service.
He said schools don't teach local Battlefords history, so the museum plays a vital part in telling the stories and impact of local history.
"I appreciate personally as [Bernadette's] her son, and as further in life as the mayor, she was relentless at making this building into something that it is today," he said. "Bernadette, your name may not be on this [the museum] building, but your legacy is living here."
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