The Westlock and District Historical Society, which oversees the Pioneer Museum, and Westlock and District Tractor Museum are now making final preparations before opening for the season on the May long weekend.
On April 16, the societies hosted a combined annual general meeting at Hazel Bluff Hall, featuring a talk from human-rights activist Chester Cunningham.
Art Avery, president of the historical society, said over 90 people listened to Cunningham speak on topics including his experience assisting First Nations people thought the criminal justice system.
“It was exceptional. He’s a very down to earth gentleman that has done a lot for the Métis communities in Alberta,” Avery said. “Just a super speaker to have.”
Tractor museum president Rod McFarlane echoed Avery’s comments.
“He was an excellent speaker and he had lots of information to pass on,” McFarlane said. “He’s done a lot of work for Native people.”
As far as business is concerned, both presidents said the 2014 season brought in an average number of visitors.
“We had 1,263 visitors last year, it’s about average, but less than 2013 because the 55-plus Games were here in 2013,” Avery said of the Pioneer Museum.
McFarlane didn’t have exact numbers to share about the tractor museum, but said numbers were around average, with approximately 1,500 visitors in 2014.
The Pioneer Museum’s season kicks off with the annual pancake breakfast held on May 18, while the Wheels of Class show and shine returns July 12.
“It is always a good advertiser for our museum,” Avery said. “It attracts people from all over the country. Last year there was somewhere in the neighbourhood of 180 vehicles. It is quite a show.”
As for the tractor museum, McFarlane said the annual tractor show will once again be the first weekend in June.
“It’s a very good time to see the tractor-pulls, the work people having been doing on their tractors,” he said. “We have events for the kids as well at the tractor show, so there’s something for them to do.”
