BN14-22: POUCE COUPE MUSEUM OPENED FOR THE SUMMER

May 13, 2002

POUCE COUPE -- With the help of a mascot and several local dignitaries, the Pouce Coupe Museum was officially opened Monday for the summer.

Consisting of heritage buildings stuffed with memorabilia, the museum gives a picture of what life was like during key moments on the village’s history.

There was a time, indeed, when Pouce Coupe was larger than Dawson Creek, and was home to the hospital and several government buildings for the South Peace.

The museum is not just for tourists but for local people as well, Peace River South MLA Blair Lekstrom said.

"A lot of times when we travel around the province and the country we take our time to go see the museums in the other areas," he said. "I would encourage everybody to take the time out to come visit the museum here in Pouce Coupe and in Dawson Creek and the other communities in our area because it’s a wealth of information."

The museum is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week and come June and July it will be open later.

Several events will be held over the summer. Next weekend there will be recitals of Robert Service’s poetry in front of the trapper’s cabin.

Other events include tea houses, tall tales contests, children’s days, and railroad days.

The big event will be the Canada Day celebrations which will feature several events along the village’s main street and at the museum.

"We have all sorts of things lined up," said museum manager Al Cameron.