by PAUL RAYNER

A deal combining donation and purchase will mean that an important tourist attraction will remain and remain open in Boissevain.

On November 1, the possession of the Irvin Goodon International Wildlife Museum on the south end of the town changed. Under the Turtle Mountain Community Development Corporation, which is sponsored by the Town of Boissevain and the RM of Morton, the museum will continue to operate. This development pleases all involved in the situation over many months.

“This move with the Irvin Goodon International Wildlife Museum is a real good news story in the push for the tourist dollar,” said Boissevain Mayor Ed Anderson. “This is a win/win situation for our beautiful community that we are able to keep this museum intact in Boissevain and have people in place now to attract people to our community.”

The deal is such where the building itself, as well as the remaining contents of the gift shop, will be purchased by the new owners. However, Irvin and Marge Goodon will be donating the all important wildlife displays of many different animal types, from bears to wild cats.

“Irvin and Marge have very gracefully donated to our community the complete Wildlife Museum artifacts, which includes the entire bear collection in the north end, all the signage involved, the log cabin and archway antlers.”

Bob McCallum, the reeve for the RM of Morton, is also highly pleased with the development.

“I think this is a highly positive move for the community to have this museum in the first place,” McCallum stated. “We wouldn’t want the museum to leave here. It has been a major attraction and it’s a big bonus for everyone to keep it here.”

The concern began in the spring and summer of 2007, due to a situation regarding a south entrance to #10 Highway leading to the area where the museum is located, also the home of the Visitor Centre and Tommy Turtle. There were concerns with safety regarding vehicles moving through the entranceway and the public attending the museum. The Town of Boissevain originally closed the route in the spring, but later voted to re-open. Irvin Goodon protested the move at the time, stating he would rather close his attraction than have a tragic accident at the site. The Town did place speed limits in the area, but Goodon felt the issue was still a problem.

Irvin Goodon said he did not want the issue to be seen as a power struggle, and although the situation has not been completely resolved in his mind, he feels some progress has been made and wants the museum, opened in 2001, to stay open.

“We didn’t want the issue to give the impression of a power struggle,” he stated. “I’m hoping the Town will still close it, because the safety issue is still there. It has cooled it down, maybe it has been somewhat improved, and I think if we didn’t bring up the issue it would still be there.”

“We’re happy with the agreement. We worked together to come up with something everyone can live with. I think the museum can be made bigger and better. They can access funding and grants a lot better than we could because it is non-profit.”

To both Marge and Irvin, it was important to keep the museum intact and in Boissevain. Marge said they did have several organizations interested in taking their product, but she said this was not what it was put in town for. Irvin added a good part of his life was contained in the museum, as many of the animals on display he hunted himself, and a lot of work was put into establishing the attraction.

“We made a lot of good friends and met a lot of people here, and we really want to thank the people who visited us,” Irvin stated. “We have developed a tourist attraction almost second to none. We’re proud of this place and we’re happy it’s going to stay in Boissevain.”

Marge said throughout the summer and early fall when they were holding the sales it was like a “funeral atmosphere”. As well, there were plenty of comments about the museum’s future.

“We had comments all summer about the closing,” Marge said, “people saying ‘you cannot close’. The museum did bring a lot of people.”

This attitude from the public was not lost on others, including McCallum.

“We had people on the outside of the community watching what was going on and they knew the museum,” the reeve stated. “Outside people were concerned that it would leave the community and were encouraging us to keep it. As far as the RM of Morton was concerned, it is considered part of economic development. This museum is an opportunity that comes up once a lifetime and you don’t want to lose it.”

In fact, there are plans to enhance the situation. Both Business Development Officer Shirley Bell and Tourism Coordinator Aggie Buhler will be in the process of moving over from the adjacent Visitor Centre to the museum building. There is a feeling that the move will enhance everything.

“I think it will attract people over there,” McCallum said, “and help people who visit pass the word to friends to come to Boissevain.”

“That’s going to be good,” Irvin agreed. “It gives them a bigger place to work from, and will help things continue to get better.”

The Visitor Centre is already the home of Earl Patterson’s Chokecherry Junction model train display. There are plans to invite others in the community with train displays to move in as well to make it a larger attraction.

“We could knock a wall down,” Anderson explained, “and have the other train people there. It could become a miniature train centre. There are lots of ideas for the area.”

Anderson added the basic April to October schedule will not likely change for the museum opening, although there will be room for scheduled tours. The museum will be run under a separate board with Town and RM representatives.

Both Irvin and Marge Goodon intend to remain involved. For example, there is considerable wildlife related product for sale in the gift shop made by Irvin. This will be sold on consignment, and he intends to make more for this purpose. 

“We’ll stay involved,” Irvin explained, “but be in the background. They want to keep us involved and we want that. We’ll be able to come and go and help with the tours. We can do parades, maybe trade shows, things like that.”

As for the original issue, Mayor Anderson said the Town would continue to keep an eye on it.

“If there is a safety problem,” the mayor said, “if there is we will most certainly deal with it.”

Nonetheless, there is an overall happy feeling that the situation is resolved and the community will benefit.

“There are a lot of benefits to the museum,” the mayor stated. “We must bring in business to the town and keep the services alive. If we want people to come to our community, we must have a positive, progressive atmosphere. I think this is exciting really, and it has gone really well.”

“We took something bad and made it good,” Irvin said. “It is something we can live with and the museum stays in town.”