Artifacts
Tragedy marked at Kapasiwin
Tragedy marked at Kapasiwin
Tragedy marked at Kapasiwin
A memorial sign has recently been installed at Kapasiwin to remember a tragedy that occurred in Waskesiu Lake in 1927.
What's in a name?
Tragedy marked at Kapasiwin
Tragedy marked at Kapasiwin
Many early cabins and cottages at Waskesiu had charming names. This quaint custom unfortunately has fallen out of fashion.
The Tackle Box
Tragedy marked at Kapasiwin
Waskesiu people
The Tackle Box is the tale of one family's shack tent, as told by Sandra Moneo Styranka.
Waskesiu people
Fire towers & smoke jumpers
Waskesiu people
In this brief video clip, Mona Finlayson and Merv Houghton enjoy the phrase Waskesiu People.
Fire towers & smoke jumpers
Fire towers & smoke jumpers
Fire towers & smoke jumpers
Prince Albert National Park once had a network of six fire towers which played an important role in fire suppression.
A Princess Visits
Fire towers & smoke jumpers
Fire towers & smoke jumpers
In 1958 Princess Margaret visited Waskesiu
Fences and neighbours
Twin Pine Cinema projector
Twin Pine Cinema projector
In Waskesiu, there are no fences around people’s cabins and cottages. Cindercrete blocks were sunk level into the ground to show the property line.
Twin Pine Cinema projector
Twin Pine Cinema projector
Twin Pine Cinema projector
This projector operated for more than 50 years in the Park Theatre, now known as Twin Pine Cinema.
Flexie paintings
Twin Pine Cinema projector
Bungalow Cabins and Store
A recent exhibit of paintings by a prolific prairie painter has cabin and cottage owners checking their properties for “Flexie” paintings.
Bungalow Cabins and Store
Bungalow Cabins and Store
Bungalow Cabins and Store
One of the early businesses to rent accommodations to friends of shacktenters and other tourists was Waskesiu Bungalow Cabins and Store, built in 1932.
China souvenirs
Bungalow Cabins and Store
Park warden uniforms
Visitors to Waskesiu and Prince Albert National Park over the years have returned home with souvenirs to remind them of their summer holiday.
Park warden uniforms
Bungalow Cabins and Store
Park warden uniforms
The Waskesiu Hertage Museum is fortunate to have on display a uniform from Parks Canada .
Lifeguard register 1965
Lifeguard register 1965
Lifeguard register 1965
Detailed records kept by the head life guard included weather and water conditions and shifts the guards were working.
Ritchie plugs
Lifeguard register 1965
Lifeguard register 1965
Plugs were used for casting or trolling for Northern Pike or as they are locally known, jackfish, in Waskesiu and Crean Lakes.
Don't feed the bears
Lifeguard register 1965
Don't feed the bears
This is one of the original signs that Park visitors would see in many locations around the Park.
Skatehaven
Doc Sissons Shell Shop
Don't feed the bears
A very popular activity with Park visitors of all ages was roller skating at Skatehaven, an outdoor rink.
Doc Sissons Shell Shop
Doc Sissons Shell Shop
Doc Sissons Shell Shop
Doc Sissons and his spouse Ma Sissons owned or operated several business in the early years, but are mostly remembered for the Shell Shop.
Souvenir tray
Doc Sissons Shell Shop
Doc Sissons Shell Shop
Visitors to Waskesiu purchased a variety of goods as souvenirs of their holiday at Waskesiu.
National park medallions
National park medallions
National park medallions
The Waskesiu Heritage Museum has two examples of medallions that were used as annual Park permits or vehicle licenses in the 1930s.
Portage rail cart
National park medallions
National park medallions
This cart was used to portage boats around low water in the Kingsmere River on a narrow gauge rail line of about a quarter of a mile for many years.
Camp kitchen
National park medallions
Supplying ice
Early visitors living in shack tents cooked and shared meals in the camp kitchens provided by the Park service in the campgrounds.
Supplying ice
Cowichan sweaters
Supplying ice
In the early days of the Park, Waskesiu Livery Service supplied the vacationers with ice for the iceboxes in the summer.
Cowichan sweaters
Cowichan sweaters
Cowichan sweaters
Cowichan sweaters were a staple wardrobe item for shacktenters and early visitors to the Park.
The Paddlewheeler
Cowichan sweaters
Cowichan sweaters
The Paddlewheeler, known as the Neo-watin, toured guests around Lake Waskesiu on a one-hour cruise.
NHL Referee Brad Meier and Waskesiu
Spring Fishing Trip to Wassagam Lake
NHL Referee Brad Meier and Waskesiu
Waskesiu has many connections to the world of hockey. Our Curator chatted with Brad Meier, NHL referee about this and his own connections with Waskesiu.
Mr. Hockey, Gordie Howe artifacts
Spring Fishing Trip to Wassagam Lake
NHL Referee Brad Meier and Waskesiu
A regular visitor and seasonal employee at Prince Albert National Park in the 1950s and 60s, Gordie Howe called Waskesiu "his favourite place on earth". The Museum received donations from his family in 2019 when Gordie was honored in several ways at Waskesiu.
Spring Fishing Trip to Wassagam Lake
Spring Fishing Trip to Wassagam Lake
Spring Fishing Trip to Wassagam Lake
Gifted storyteller Don Sipes shares his adventure boating and hiking to the remote Wassagam Lake with his friend Dave Lepp to fish for lake trout one spring. This adventure has it all - arduous hiking, dangerous boating, backwoods ingenuity, gorgeous sunshine, pouring rain, fabulous fishing, delicious campfire fish, and close friendship. Enjoy!