The David Thompson Puppet Show

This show is presented free of charge to visitors at the Rocky Mountain House National Historic Site on weekends, starting on the long weekend in May, and five days a week throughout the summer. It tells the story of explorer, mapmaker and fur trader David Thompson in a lively and entertaining way.

It costs us about $3000 a summer to offer this program and we are looking for sponsors to help cover the cost of the performances. We also need to start planning for replacing the puppets which have been used for about eight years now.

The Charlotte Small Journal

This is a project which was started several years ago, but due to circumstances beyond our control the work we did was lost. This would be book which could be used as a scrapbook or journal. It would have brief household hints for fur trade ladies along the bottom of the page and perhaps a watermarked picture of the plant talked about on the page itself. This would be a good project for a summer employee that has an interest in history and research. The cost would be in getting it printed, which could run to several thousand dollars depending on the paper used, size of pages and so forth.

Promotional Items

It would be good to get some nicely made items such as bookmarks or fridge magnets promoting the gift shop or the puppet show which could be given away at the library, the Rocky Visitor Centre, at trade fairs and other events. Also bookmarks or cloth bags which could be given away as gifts to volunteers.

Business Manager / Supervisor

It is getting more and more difficult to find volunteers to look after the paperwork involved with being a non-profit, charitable organization with employees, especially in this age of accountability. We have applied for funding to create a position for a Business Manager / Supervisor and are looking for ways to make this position sustainable. An added benefit for having such a position would be to open up new ways to use the Historic Site, in co-operation with Parks Canada, during the off season, especially in the Fall when the Site is often beautiful - but closed.

Canada Day Celebrations

We are part of a committee which organizes the Rocky Mountain House and District Canada Day Celebration. Every year we have events and activities for the whole family. During the day at the Historic Site we have demonstrations, races, face painting, musical performances. One of the favorite standbys is the Buffalo Chip Flip which is sort of a prairie discus throwing contest. There is a colourful ceremony in the afternoon where awards are presented to Citizen, Youth, Pioneer and Aboriginal Elder of the Day. Birthday Cake is then served.

In the evening there is usually a musical performance at the North Saskatchewan River Park with music for the whole family. The evening performance is capped with a display of Fireworks.

We get funding for this from Clearwater County, The town of Rocky Mountain House and Celebrate Canada; however we also need sponsors and donors for the programs and activities as well. Since Canada Day is operated under the umbrella of the Confluence Heritage Society, we are able to offer charitable receipts to any sponsors and donors who wish them.