The thermometer outside the museum hit the ceiling on Saturday, as members of the Jasper-Yellowhead Museum and Archives Society received a cheque for $39,000.
The money, presented by West Yellowhead MLA Robin Campbell, is a Community Facilities Enhancement Grant from the provincial government, and is earmarked for the roof fund, which now totals $105,000.
It took three tries to be approved for the grant, said Anna Marie Couture, who spearheaded the fundraising efforts for the roof.
鈥淚t was third time鈥檚 the charm,鈥� she said with a laugh, noting that it never would have happened if Campbell hadn鈥檛 stepped up to the plate for the museum. 鈥淗e really came through for us.鈥�
Arvon Hilworth, a long time Jasperite and museum board member, is also to thank for the grant. He helped lobby the government on the museum鈥檚 behalf.
With the money raised and the contract out, now it鈥檚 just a matter of waiting for the contractors to repair the museum鈥檚 long ailing roof. The hope is it will be completed 鈥渂efore the snow flies,鈥� said Herb Robinson, president of the museum society.
鈥淭his is such a relief,鈥� said Joe Couture, historian for the museum and archives. 鈥淲e had leaks and you don鈥檛 want leaks in a roof where you have your museum and archives.鈥�
Fundraising for the project began back in March with a penny drive and a campaign to sell each square foot of the roof. Over the last six months, Sheila Couture, who took on the responsibility of the pennies, rolled $2,877.59 worth of the one-cent coins. (She noted on Saturday that the museum will continue collecting them to put toward their operating costs, so if you have a secret stash you鈥檙e dying to get rid you know who to call.)
As well as the pennies and the sale of the roof, there were also numerous community fundraisers held in support of the cause, including the United Church Thrift Shop Fashion Show and the Meadows to Menu dinner at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge.
There were also some large donations made, including one for $10,000 from the Jasper Volunteer Fire Brigade.
鈥淭he community came through for us,鈥� said Anna Marie Couture. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just amazing.鈥�
With $105,000 in the bank, it might now look like the museum is flush with money, but Robinson said there are plenty of other repairs beyond the roof that need to get done sooner rather than later.
Those will come in due time, but first up is the roof.
Nicole Veerman
[email protected]
