The Canadian Tractor Museum is launching a fundraising campaign to keep the institution afloat.
With several thousands of dollars in revenue disappearing as a result of the provincial government cutting several valuable programs — such as the Summer Temporary Employment Program (STEP) — museum president Rod McFarlane said it became necessary to go to the public for assistance to keep the museum alive.
“It’s mainly the heritage we’re trying to keep here and not lose it to the United States or wherever,” McFarlane said.
He explained a lot of people in the U.S. are also interested in the history of farming, and so they often come to Canada and buy vintage machines to take home with them. Keeping the museum open would make it easier to keep that history in Canada.
The campaign will promote three different fundraising options, McFarlane said. The first is donating a set amount in each of 2014, 2015 and 2016; the second is a donation only in 2014 and 2015; the final option is one-time donation in 2014.
Having different options gives donors a choice of how much they wish to support the museum, he said. Tax receipts are also available.
While the museum may be asking for money, McFarlane said the institution indirectly gives back to the local economy through the visitors who also spend money in the community.
“Quite a few people come through and realize the museum is here, but we close at 5 p.m.,” he said.
“So they stay overnight, have breakfast, come to the museum and have dinner before they leave.”
The museum is definitely worth saving, McFarlane said, recounting a story about a woman who called the museum last winter hoping to bring her family in for a tour.
“They had recently moved to Canada,” he said. “She wanted to teach her children about the farming heritage of Canada, and especially Alberta. She felt that was a good place to come.”
In addition to providing people an opportunity to learn something new, the museum also helps vintage tractor collectors with their collections.
Many people will come in to look at what is on display to see what parts they may be missing, or to chat about what they are restoring, McFarlane said.
Anyone interested in donating to the museum is asked to call McFarlane at 780-349-5178 or Bernard Wiese at 780-349-4568.
