You’re very welcome to the 2016 season at Prairie Wind & Silver Sage! The Little Brick Schoolhouse is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day beginning Friday May 13. As always, we offer our developing ecomuseum exhibition, two new art shows, great Grasslands and prairie-themed gifts and books, and some of the best lattes and treats in the southwest.

And as always, making and baking those wonderful drinks and eats, and helping you with all your questions, are our cheerful and enthusiastic staff, pictured above. On the left, Ally Vonk is our 2016 summer student museum assistant. She comes to us with a background in history and volunteering and is looking forward to meeting all our supportive and interesting customers. On the right and returning for her second season is senior summer staff member Madonna Hamel, with her well-known gifts for community connections and the best in books. Please drop by and say hello.

New to the ecomuseum are large scale photos of the amazing Grasslands sky by astrophotographer Alan Dyer. Their colour and depth shine on the scene below.

This year in the Cloakroom Gallery you’ll see Sky Alive by local photographer Sherri Grant, photos printed on canvas and metal that reflect her fascination for the sky and the glorious beauty it reveals. In the Museum Gallery you’ll find My Mother’s Apron by Madonna Hamel, an exhibition of artifacts and artwork exploring the lives and stories of women of Val Marie and southwest Saskatchewan.

And in the gift and bookshop, always something new. We look forward to seeing you!

Debbie Kilfoyle

Prairie Wind & Silver Sage is very pleased to welcome Debbie Kilfoyle to our staff in the position of Manager. Debbie started work on April 1.

Debbie has an extensive background with Parks Canada, having worked in five different national parks including Grasslands National Park where she wrote the  park and national historic site management plan and coordinated with neighbouring landowners for the reintroduction of plains bison. She also has experience with National Defence at CFB Suffield as biologist, liaising with industry to compile recommendations provide examination of issues including species at risk, topographical concerns, and archaeological sites. In addition she has a number of related management qualifications and has worked in both retail and volunteer management.

Even though she has only been on staff for a couple of weeks, Debbie has already begun exploring the development of a grant application to renovate the worn out windows at the Little brick Schoolhouse, begun plans for improved storage and office space in the building basement, and started working with board members and community stakeholders on local projects.

Please say hello to Debbie Kilfoyle in and around Prairie Wind & Silver Sage on weekends this summer!