Warm N' Woolly

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“Warm N' Woolly,” 2024

(courtesy of the Musée Héritage Museum)

A new exhibition at the Musée Héritage Museum (inside St. Albert Place) is taking visitors back in time to explore the harsh realities of winter, but also how the challenging season has brought communities together over the years.

Warm N’ Woolly, curated by Martin Bierens of the Arts and Heritage Foundation of St. Albert, features chilly photos and cozy items from the museum’s collection to showcase winter survival in the Capital Region from the early nineteen hundreds and beyond. The exhibition also looks at the transition of different textiles that have been used in Alberta over time, from furs, to buffalo robes, to wool; and includes the compelling historic Alberta battle between the cattle and sheep farming industries.

When entering the exhibition, visitors are greeted by a large photo banner featuring two sisters donning the height of fashion in 1910, as well as vintage clothing artifacts such as an RCMP-issue Buffalo Coat, and Indigenous winter attire such as mukluks, Dene mittens and a Métis Capote on loan from the Royal Alberta Museum. The exhibition features several stories brought to life with engaging pictures about how the wrath of winter has caused hardship, death and heartache. On the lighter side, there are many hear-warming tales of when sudden blizzards stranded groups of people together and how they made the best of it.

“A lot of the modern conveniences that we have, especially during the cold months, make it so much easier for us today, and I hope visitors think about the ingenuity and grit that was once needed to survive,” says Martin Bierens, Curator of the Musée Héritage Museum. “I ultimately hope that people will think about some of the difficulties that winter can bring, but also the joy that comes with the colder weather,” he adds.

The exhibition also has a winter-sports themed area, featuring a pair of prominent St. Albert athletes. Visitors will learn about Hec Gervais, the man known as “The Friendly Giant”, his success as a 1961 World Champion curler, and his impact on the St. Albert community due to his good nature. Joe Benoit’s story takes visitors back to the 1940’s when he became the first Métis hockey player to win the Stanley Cup (with the Montreal Canadiens).

Warm N’ Woolly runs from October 22 to February 22, 2025 at the museum with FREE entry.

Events:

-Opening reception and speaker’s presentation (October 26, from 2 – 4 pm)

Hear from Shannon Nelson, a textile researcher and founder of Traceable Textiles. She will speak about the history of Alberta's textile industry.

-Family fun at the Little White School (January, 2025-TBD) watch www.artsandheritage.ca for updates.

Contact: Martin Bierens

Curator, Musée Héritage Museum

Phone: 780-418-6001

Email: martinb@artsandheritage.ca