A donation from the Affinity Credit Union’s District Council 12 Fund will help the Souris Valley Museum’s building west of Estevan to remain open on a year-round basis, possibly as early as next year.
Affinity board member Dennis Bode presented a cheque for $20,000 to museum board members and employees on Monday morning. The museum has been fundraising for an expansion that costs an estimated $80,000 to $85,000, and the support from Affinity means they now have the necessary funds in place.
Mark Veneziano, the museum’s manager, said the expansion will include washrooms they need to be open year-round. Currently people visiting the museum have to use the washrooms at the neighbouring Visitor Information Centre, which is operated by Tourism Estevan. But the visitor centre is only open from May to August.
The expansion will be a 448-square-foot addition to the south side of the building. Veneziano is hopeful it will start soon, and be finished in time for the start of the 2017 season.
There will also be a classroom for their programming.
“I think it will help with being able to be open for more people to come to the museum, as well as it allows us to have more accessibility to students during the school year for teachers to bring their classes … and to offer more winter programs,” said Veneziano.
He also expects the addition will help the museum in the public’s eye throughout the year. Veneziano suspects that some people forget about the museum during the fall and winter months, and when the season begins in May, it takes a while for them to gain momentum.
All of the other work that is required for them to be open year-round has been finished, he said.
Museum board chair Marguerite Gallaway is looking forward to seeing the museum open throughout the year. Not only will they have washrooms in the building, but the classroom for children’s programming will also be an asset.
The museum also rents an office in Estevan during the months in which its building is closed, so Gallaway expects the museum’s overhead costs will also diminish.
“Hopefully it will increase attendance throughout the year, it will reduce our office costs and just be a positive,” said Gallaway.
She echoed Veneziano’s statement that it should create more awareness about the museum.
The museum also received donations, grants and work-in-kind support for the expansion.
