Upcoming Heritage Exhibit ot Mns f h o - L s


ie o te Bw Vlealy


During the completion of the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR), there was an increased interest in mining in the region. The CPR entered the Bow Valley in 1883 and the railway was completed in 1885 at Craigellachie, BC. Separate from the larger coal mining operations of Canmore, Bankhead and Anthracite, several hard rock mines were developed by small companies and independent prospectors in what is now Banff National Park.


The central hub of activity was a short lived mining town called Silver City near Castle Junction. It sprung up in 1883, had an estimated population of 3,000 and was all but deserted by 1885. The exhibit will describe what little is known of these lost mines today. It will include artifacts and photos from the mines themselves and tools from the arduous process of mining by hand along with information on some of the colourful characters and events of that era. This exhibit is based on the work done by a group of retired Parks Canada employees to relocate and document these little known mines. It is sure to rekindle an interest in hard rock mining in the Bow Valley and to help preserve this important component of our history.


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Who is the Canmore Museum’s Acting Director?


Debbie Carrico has been working at the Canmore Museum & Geoscience Centre since November 2007. She has worked in small museums for over 15 years. Debbie graduated from the University of Lethbridge in 1996 with a Bachelor of Arts with a major in History. She also attended Museums Alberta Forums and Conferences and completed several citation workshops. Debbie is an active volunteer. In the past that has included work with Fort Calgary − both at the barracks and the Deane House. Lethbridge’s Galt Museum is another site that has benefited from Debbie’s volunteer efforts.


Before taking on the position of Acting Director, Debbie was (and still is) in charge of the Gift Shop, running the admissions and front desk operations of the Museum, coordinating volunteers and looking after all of the activities at Canmore’s N.W.M.P. Barracks year-round. Debbie and her great volunteers at the Barracks have created a number of new events for this historic site like wintertime Milk Jug Curling, Family Day and Easter at the Barracks. New initiatives include Pascale Henion, the Belgian Waffle lady making and selling her waffles at the Barracks on the weekend. In addition, the Lady’s Hospital Auxiliary is holding bake sales at various events. Debbie believes there is a strong vibrant community in Canmore and wants to bring that energy together with the town’s rich history.


CMAGS Newsletter Vol. 6 No. 2 Dec 2011


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