Canim Lake
Tsq'escen First Nation

Xat'sull / Soda Creek

Esketemc First Nation

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THE PROJECT

THE BRIDGE

MUSEUM GROUNDBREAKING

COMPLETION CEREMONY

OUR SEPTEMBER 6, 2024 CEREMONY

It is important to state that the ceremony we held on September 6, 2024, was to celebrate the completion of construction of our new cultural centre, and did not constitute the “grand opening” we envisage for the time when we have completed the exhibits and programming that will eventually grace this beautiful building. As such, we essentially limited our invitations and expressions of thanks to those organizations and individuals who had contributed directly to the construction phase of our project.

There are numerous others who have supported our overall project throughout the more than 20 years that have elapsed since the project was first conceived, and they will all be recognized and honoured when that time comes, hopefully soon.

This page is dedicated to an account of the ceremony, and is graced by a small selection of the vast number of incredible photographs that were taken on that auspicious day. A complete version of the expressions of thanks that were provided during the ceremony, are captured by a link to this article.

And now to the ceremony which took place in the early afternoon of Friday, September 6th in heat that reached 33 degrees celsius for almost the entire ceremony. We were able to erect a tent that provided shade to anyone who felt unable to endure the heat, and an ample supply of water was available to all attendees.

The ceremony began at the appointed time of 1 p.m. when Irvine Johnson our Master of Ceremonies called for the opening prayer. It was given by Clara Camille of SXFN, and was followed by a welcome to the traditional territory of the Northern Secwepemc people from Tsq’escen Chief Helen Henderson.

Irvine next introduced Society President Irene Gilbert and Vice President Kerry Chelsea who welcomed the estimated 250 attendees to the ceremony. Irene Gilbert then presented the gift of a beautiful blanket to each of the five Northern Secwepemc Nations as a token of the Society’s appreciation for the support they had each given to the Society and to the project over its more than 20 years. Accepting these gifts and responding in turn to the Society’s expression of thanks were Chiefs Helen Henderson of Tsq’escen First Nation, Marilyn Camille of Stswecem’c Xget’tem First Nation, Rhonda Phillips of Xat’sull First Nation, Fred Robbins of Esk’etemc and Councillor Shae Chelsea on behalf of Chief Willie Sellars of Williams Lake First Nation. Each of the recipients spoke of their excitement on the achievement of this important milestone and its crucial contribution to the preservation of the language, culture and history of the Northern Secwepemc people they represent.

Irvine next introduced Society Secretary Graham Leslie who was given the honour of recognizing and thanking all those who had contributed directly to the construction of the building and the landscaping.

First in order were the five member Northern Secwepemc First Nations who were recognized anew for their contributions and support over the more than 20 years of the project’s existence. Specifically honoured by name, were the five Chiefs whose Band Councils had formally approved the project in 2005; the several Chiefs who had followed them, and whose communities had contributed such invaluable support to the project over the intervening years; and the more than 40 former Society members and directors who had represented their communities during that time. All of those individuals are listed by name in the Society’s expression of thanks that can be accessed through the following link.

Next in order were the three organizations that contributed the funding that enabled our new cultural centre to be constructed. The first of these that were mentioned was the Northern Development Initiative Trust whose early grant of $300,000 had provided the leverage by which the Society obtained the balance of the funding. Board Chair Margo Wagner was present to accept our expression of gratitude, and responded with her own statement of congratulations.

Thanks were then expressed to the two Federal Government departments that had provided the majority of the funding - Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada and the Department of Canadian Heritage. Neither of the Ministers was able to accept our invitation to attend, and nor were most of the officials who had worked so collaboratively with us to obtain the funding, almost all of them residing and working in distant locations. The one happy exception was Shannon Bettles of the Department of Canadian Heritage who is currently located in Williams Lake, and who in various capacities, including as the Regional Director for a period of time, has been a huge supporter and advocate for our project for several years. All of the other officials as well as their current Ministers, sent us their congratulations and best wishes for the future.

Mention was made of one other individual who is considered in the most favourable light by our Society. The Hon. Marc Miller, now Minister of Immigration, was the CIRNAC Minister two years ago when his Department provided the initial grant funding that enabled construction to go ahead. He had in person attended the site at the time, and in recognition of his evidently sincere interest in our project, we had invited him to the ceremony. Understandably in view of his other pressing commitments, Minister Miller was unable to accept our invitation, but he nevertheless sent us a wonderful letter of congratulations and support that is included in the page of thanks linked to this account.

The next expressions of thanks were directed to the three organizations that had made direct contributions to the construction of the building. The first was the firm of McFarland Marceau Architects which was represented at the ceremony by principal Marie Marceau, lead architects on the project Roman Lavalle as well as Craig Duffield, Frank Huang and Richard Buccino. On behalf of the firm, Marie was presented with the gift of a drum by President Irene, and addressed the gathering with her own remarks that offered congratulations to the Society. The second of the three was the firm of D. Jensen & Associates, our exhibit design consultants, who were represented at the ceremony by principal David Jensen and his graphic designer Kathy Curry. David was presented with the gift of a drum by Irene, and responded with his own remarks. Last of the three major contributors to the construction project was Alfred Horie Construction Co. Ltd. which was represented by President John Paone, Site Superintendent Dennis Cadrain and by Ben Bauce who had been Project manager until the very last stages of construction, and who travelled all the way from Calgary to be with us. Irene presented John with a drum, following which he addressed the gathering, remarking on the wonderful experience he and his colleagues had enjoyed while working with the architects, exhibit designers and the Society.

Thanks were also expressed to three other organizations that had made financial contributions to the Society. The 100 Mile House branch of the western Financial Group had contributed funding that had enabled the Society to purchase much of the kitchen equipment in the building. The New Pathways to Gold Society had provided a grant that made a significant contribution the cost of hosting the ceremony. And the Fraser Volunteer Association of Canada had donated the tables and chairs that will be needed in order for the Society to rent out its space for meetings.

Irvine Johnson then introduced Vickie Zhang, President of the Fraser Volunteer Association of Canada and Fred Kwok, Vice Chairman of the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Vancouver, each of whom addressed the gathering, emphasizing their pleasure over a growing and positive relationship between our two communities. Fred Kwok then presented the Society with the gift of a large banner dedicated to the opening of our centre.

The final expression of gratitude was directed to Al Richmond, the Area Director for our location throughout the more than 20 years of our project, and a fervent and most effective supporter and advocate for the project during all of that time. Al was presented with the gift of a blanket by President Irene, and then took the opportunity to address the gathering.

The ceremony drew to a close with the presentation of a blanket to each of the current Society directors by President Irene, and to Irene herself by Master of Ceremonies Irvine Johnson. At its conclusion, those in attendance were provided with the opportunity to tour the inside of the building where they were able to view the banners created by David Jensen and his team, and which depict the story of how we arrived at this momentous stage on our journey, and what lies ahead of us on the next stage.

Below are a few slides of the event to enjoy.

1 / 7 2 / 7 3 / 7 4 / 7 5 / 7 6 / 7 7 / 7 ❮ ❯ There is a full version of thanks to its various benefactors that were intended to be given at the Society’s September 6, 2024, ceremony to mark the completion of construction of its new cultural centre building. Those given at the ceremony were shortened in recognition of the severe heat being experienced by attendees during the ceremony. This link gives the full speech: Click