Christmas ‘carding’ was and continues to be a common pastime amongst textile enthusiasts. Intended to separate, remove impurities, and align wool into parallel fibres, hand carders untangle fibrous materials including silk, cotton, wool, and fur. This set of carders was made by Andrew Sjorlund circa 1900, who used hardwood and numerous nails secured by leather,…

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Tis’ the season when bags are laden with gifts in such a manner that one either needs a sturdy and willing escort or a ‘handy’ pair of parcel holders! Well look no further than these nifty bag carriers consisting of a wooden or cork cylinder with a wire drilled through the center that has two…

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This year’s NHL season commenced early this month and hockey fanatics across Canada are delighted. It’s hard to contest that the frosty sport isn’t one of the nation’s favorites, and many take to the ice to lace up themselves come the colder months. But ice skates have changed drastically since its original design! These detachable…

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Here at the Heritage Museum, we’re a big fan of flare! This gun, known as a flare gun, is used to illuminate dark areas for improved vision or send out distress signals. It has a round open barrel, thick body, and large trigger. While this flare gun originated from the Second World War, originally belonging…

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While most of our artifacts are safely stored in our non-public collection rooms, many are on permanent display in our third-floor galleries. They have become fixtures in our day-to-day lives and there are times even I forget how special they are. For example, this pulpit and pew. Their story goes back almost as far as…

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What does culture mean to you? Culture is found all over the place, from customs, to cuisine, to art and music, and more. Culture is what makes our community rich and diverse. The artifacts pictured here were made in the likeness of a cultural property known as peace pipes. Peace pipes are used by a…

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The month of October heralds Halloween and all sorts of spooky surprises! From howling werewolves to ghostly appearances, you never know what sorts of hair-raising sensations await. Luckily, this artifact doesn’t need the help of a witch and her bubbling cauldron to be magical! Known as a magic lantern, this early type of image projector…

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Are you an avid movie watcher? Many of us enjoy seeing the latest Hollywood movie in theaters, popcorn and candy in hand, or watching film favorites from the comfort of our couches. The film industry and its technology has come a long way to bring us the best in cinematic experience, but this movie projector…

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It’s the middle of March and for most the novelty of winter has worn off with feelings of contempt and frustration in its wake. Wetaskiwinites are tired of piling on layers and layers of winter wear, shoveling the freshly fallen snow off their driveways, and scraping the frost off their windshields before work. Luckily, we…

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Violins are among some of the most difficult instruments to play. It requires precision and passion to become a violinist, accompanied of course by years of dedicated practice. Violins appeared quite suddenly in the 16th century, and customarily went along with singers and dancers. A similar instrument, the fiddle, is commonly mistaken for the violin.…

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