About Us

History of the Museum

Victor Campbell was an avid enthusiast for the establishment of a museum in Humboldt, and after his retirement in 1976, he began actively pursuing this goal. Through many public meetings, volunteer work and discussions with Town Council, the Humboldt and District Museum and Gallery was created.

Following countless hours of volunteer work in areas of research, collecting artifacts and developing exhibits, the Museum was opened to the public in 1982. The first museum board included Campbell, Ron Bell, Robert Marshall, Sr. PaulineThacyk, Jim Ogilvie and Matt Breker.

Photo at right: Vic Campbell (left) and Ron Bell discuss the museum operations in 1986, while a visitor views the displays.

The community enthusiastically supported the museum’s development. Many people generously donated their time, talent and artifacts. The museum received a substantial boost when the collection from St. Peter’s Abbey at Muenster was donated. The St. Peter’s artifacts included one of the oldest collections of natural history specimens in the province, started in the 1920s.

The collecting of artifacts and developing exhibits evolved and expanded over the years, with new displays taking up much of the main floor. By the late 1980s exhibits were constructed on the second floor of the building, and by 2001 the third floor exhibits were unveiled.

Community support is the most important aspect of the museum operations. The City of Humboldt has committed to the preservation of its heritage and culture through core funding. The Friends of the Museum group was formed in 1994 and the Humboldt and District Museum and Gallery Public Foundation followed in 1996. The Archives within the museum operations were created in 2003 to collect and preserve public documents from the area.

With an increase in programs, events and exhibits, the museum moved to year round operations in 1999. Renovations such as the installation of an elevator in 2002 and a full-building heating, ventilation and cooling system in 2004, have made the museum an accessible, comfortable place to visit, while properly preserving the museum collection. The Museum strives to share its wealth of information with the public through its exhibits, publications, education programs, outreach activities and research facilities.

Museum Board and Staff

The museum is governed by a volunteer board of directors which oversees the operations on behalf of Humboldt City Council. Members of the Board of Directors are:

• Carol Oleksyn, Chairperson
• Rev. Alvin Hingley
• Wanda Lefebvre
• John Scott
• Aaron Lukan
• Dave Gullacher
• Linda Mattock, City Council Representative

Museum staff members are:

• Jennifer Hoesgen, Curator
• Brenda Duerr, Supervisor
• Anneke Drinkwater, Programmer
• Eileen Woodham, Clerk

Contact Information

• Humboldt and District Museum and Gallery
• Box 2349
• Humboldt, Saskatchewan, Canada
• S0K 2A0
  
  
• Tel (306) 682-5226
• Fax (306) 682-1430
• Email humboldt.museum@sasktel.net