Western Development Museum To Feature Ever Popular Christmas Program

By Natalie Clysdale

An ever popular program at the Moose Jaw Western Development Museum (WDM) is about to get some 21st Century modernization.

The ever popular “A Christmas Long Ago” is not only being offered in-person but also for the first time virtually this year over the meeting app ZOOM.

“A basic overview of this program is our visitors whether they will be attending the in-person program or the coffee club virtual program will learn about Christmas traditions and stories focused on the grandfather and grandmother who are getting ready to celebrate Christmas in the year of 1910,” said Karla Rasmussen education and public program coordinator at the Moose Jaw WDM.

Corner view of grandparents’ living room - photo courtesy Western Development Museum Moose Jaw

The in-person portion of the program will allow visitors to visualize what the Christmas would look like.

"If you actually attend the in-person program you will see a room that is decorated as Grandfather and Grandmothers house in 1910,” Rasmussen said.

“One part of it details getting the spare room ready for guests to arrive at the grandparents house, its a virtual program that will include a slideshow presentation of pictures. The other part that our visitors really enjoy is to see what kind of presents were given in that time era and so in person we actually open up boxes and hold up things that might have been given around that time period.”

A letter - photo courtesy Western Development Museum Moose Jaw

The cost to attend is WDM members (adults) $12 (children under 18) $9.

For non-member adults the cost is $15 and non-member children the cost is $12.

To attend the in-person presentation you must register by tomorrow December 15th at midnight on-line by clicking the link.

The event runs this Saturday December 18th from 1 - 2 pm at the Western Development Museum - 50 Diefenbaker Drive.

For those who cannot attend the in-person event the WDM is offering a virtual presentation through their virtual coffee club.

If you come into the virtual version there will be photographs with many items, that grandfather or grandmother might be ready for pictures, the other part that the visitors will see how many presents are given.

“There are more slides this year because of us taking the program virtual. The in-person program is easier to visualize but bringing it to a virtual program will be a bit of a challenge as we take it to the virtual version PowerPoint over ZOOM,” Rasmussen said.

The virtual version will be one hour and have 37 slides in total which will be photographs of items, the room the grandparents will get ready for Christmas, the number of Christmas presents and what those items are.

“The virtual program is wonderful it is about connecting with people now that we are open again. We know there are people who still are not comfortable coming to see our collection and stories and programs,” Rasmussen said.

There will be discussion about making and preserves and also the horseshoe grandmother has over her door to bring good luck as well artifacts that people in that day and age may have had.

Jams and preserves - photo courtesy Western Development Museum Moose Jaw

There will be discussion about the artifacts and items in used in 1910.

The ZOOM presentation takes place December 21st between 10 am and 11 am.

The ZOOM presentation is free to register and attend. Register is on-line at WDM Virtual Coffee Club.