The , just south of Smithers, B.C., has re-opened for the summer with the help of volunteers and a university student.

This is the first summer the museum has opened without the museum society鈥檚 past-president, Doug Boersema, who died in December after battling cancer.

The former 1920s school house, which was converted into a museum in the 1980s, has familiar favourites, as well as some new displays.

Alex Chaplin, a second-year university student, who works at the museum every summer, has helped create a new military display.

The display case has artifacts from the Boer War, as well as a scroll that lists all the veterans from who fought in the First and Second World Wars.

鈥淲e put, 鈥榗urated by Alex Chaplin鈥� in the case and he is so proud,鈥� says Linda Hanson, museum manager and treasurer. 鈥淛uno Beach has just celebrated their (80th anniversary) and we managed to incorporate maps of the beaches over there into our military display.鈥�

The museum also offers interactive activities for people of all ages to enjoy.

鈥淲e often find kids will drag their parents in to do tours through the museum and have a great time,鈥� Hanson says.

Visitors can also touch and handle most of the artifacts, which helps kids step back in time.

鈥淭here are lots of artifacts (kids) can touch and see, like rotary phones, typewriters (and objects) they would never have experienced,鈥� Chaplin says.

Hanson noted the importance of the past.

鈥淚t is important to learn about our history and realize how we got to where we are today. It was on the backs of people who did a lot of hard work,鈥� she says.

Although many locals and tourists visit the museum, finding volunteers to run it can be a challenge.

鈥淲e not only have the museum, but we also look after St. Stephen鈥檚 historical church across the highway and we are carrying on the history of our area,鈥� she says.

鈥淲e need to know our past before we can know where we are going in the future,鈥� she said.

The museum is open from Tuesday to Saturday with free entry for all ages. Learn more at

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