The Archives is a resource for researchers, academics and members of the public. The Archives is a resource for researchers, academics and members of the public. The Edson and Area Archives' mandate is to acquire, preserve and make accessible records that reflect the political, social, and economic life of Edson and the surrounding area. The Archives contain items from individuals, families, businesses and organizations within the geographical limits of: east to Wildwood; west to Medicine Lodge; north to Shining Bank; and south to Mountain Park. Records of interest include (but are not limited to): Letters and correspondence Photographs Municipal records Home movies, films and videos Sound recordings Diaries, scrapbooks and journals Sketchbooks/drawings Corporate or organizational records Maps and plans Digital records How do I donate my records? Donations make the Edson and Area Archives the unique resource it is. We continue to welcome donations in line with our archives collection policy, however, a number of different criteria determines the acceptance of donations: Be of historical value and enduring public interest Be unique and not duplicate the records in existing holdings Authenticity and integrity Condition Ability of the Archives to provide appropriate preservation and care of the materials. We also hold a collection of research and reference material. To donate or access to the Edson and Area Archives, call 780-723-5696 or e-mail accessions@gallowaystationmuseum.com . Archives

Private Tours Group and guided tours of the Galloway Station Museum are available! Delve into the history of Edson and area in the company of colleagues, family, or friends. Book a group of 10 or more people and save on the cost of individual admission, and/or book a guided tour by one of the Museum’s knowledgeable and engaging staff. Groups can enjoy a private tour tailored to their interests by requesting a focus on a particular subject, the current temporary exhibit, or the entire collection. Please call 780-723-5696 or email manager@gallowaystationmuseum to book a group tour.

Explore the Galloway Station Museum, Travel Centre & Archives in 3D from your very own laptop! Explore the Galloway Station Museum from home! Thanks to Klik Solutions (www.kliksolutions.net ) and the Edson & District Chamber of Commerce, you can now visit the Galloway Station Museum, Travel Centre & Archives from the comfort of your own home! If you liked the virtual tour, you will love the real thing! Drop into the Gal loway Station Museum at 223 - 55th Street in Edson, or give us a call to book a tour at 780-723-5696 .

Learn the history behind the monuments of RCMP Centennial Park, including our very own Eddie the Squirrel! Eddie the Squirrel There have been various stories regarding the adoption of Edson’s beloved mascot, Eddie the Squirrel over the years, however, according to an Edson Leader story from September 1973, the wives of Edson Town Council members were the genesis of this community’s furry representative. The ladies congregated over coffee one evening while their husbands were at a council meeting to brainstorm ways to promote Edson at an upcoming Alberta Urban Municipalities convention in Jasper. As it happens, Mrs. Millie Crawford (wife of Mayor Dr. Jim Crawford) had been purchasing little pottery squirrels that Art and Frances Ciciarelli made from Edson clay for quite a while to use as gifts. It was decided that if Jasper could claim a bear for their mascot, Edson could claim a squirrel. (We have heard the story that, to foster the friendly rivalry between Edson and Hinton, Mrs. Crawford said, “How about a squirrel because they think we’re all nuts anyway!” She was kidding, but everyone thought it was funny so they kept it. This was mentioned to Galloway staff by a relative, however it has not been verified.) The Ciciarelli’s, with the help of the aforementioned ladies, councillors, their children and anyone else that could be roped into helping, created 400 painted and glazed squirrels for the AUM delegates. Among other promotional items, they also created badges with squirrels on them and wrote the town name on 100 pounds of peanuts for Edson Councillors to hand out wherever they went. From the Edson Leader: Now while Edson’s Town Council members are involved with the serious business of Alberta’s urban problems, their wives will be busy as hostesses making darn sure that everyone who attends the convention will KNOW WHERE EDSON IS LOCATED the next time they are asked. In 1980, a cement Eddie the Squirrel, designed by Trygve Seland, was installed and proudly welcomed travelers to the visitor centre in front of the Edson Chamber of Commerce office in RCMP Centennial Park for about 30 years. In 2009, Eddie Sr. was given a well-earned retirement. In 2011, in conjunction with the reopening of the Galloway Station Museum & Travel Centre, Eddie Jr. (designed by Skookum Creative Works) was unveiled in the center of the park, complete with a cast bronze spruce cone and a stylized airbrush paint job. The inspiration for Eddie the Squirrel is a great story of a community coming together to promote the Town of Edson in a light-hearted, entertaining fashion. In any incarnation, Eddie has always been a draw for travelers and locals, with thousands of people stopping in to pose with our large red squirrel. Check out more pics of Eddie the Squirrel and upload your own! Yellowhead Ram The western slopes of the Rocky Mountains have been home to bighorn sheep (Ovis Canadenais) for thousands of years, and the Cadomin area has produced the biggest in the world. This monument is a tribute to the wildlife of this area and is dedicated to the organizations and individuals whose responsible stewardship has ensured and will continue to ensure the survival and growth of all our wilderness resources. In memory of Vicky Low. Lockheed T-33 Silver Star Per Ardua Ad Astra Through Diversity To The Stars CT - 133 Silver Star Dedicated as a memorial to the historical years of the Royal Canadian Air Force 1924-1968 it's members and affiliates Dedicated Victoria Day, 19, May, 1986, in Edson, Alberta By the Officers and Cadets 874 Tiger Moth Squadron Royal Canadian Air Cadets and Sponsors Edson Lions Club Re-dedication of the CT133097 September 8, 2018 874 Tiger Moth Squadron Royal Canadian Air Cadets

For more information on our tours, including prices, click here! Tour Info Each of our school programs are $3/person. This fee applies to students, educators, teacher assistants and parent helpers. Educators have the option of paying via their preferred method at the Galloway Station Museum, or we will send an invoice following your visit. We recommend booking well in advance to avoid disappointment. Our busiest times for school programs are May and June. If you need to cancel due to inclement weather or any other reason, please let us know as soon as possible and we will be happy to reschedule. All of our programs include a small snack, generally a cookie and juice. Please advise of any allergies in advance. You are welcome to bring your own snack. We are located in RCMP Centennial Park, which offers ample space for a picnic. We also have a boardroom that you are welcome to eat your lunch in if there are no other rentals. Please let us know in advance if you intend to have lunch here so we can plan accordingly. The Galloway Station Museum & Travel Centre is located at 223 – 55th Street, Edson, Alberta. We ask that you arrive on time as programs will begin and end promptly at the scheduled times and arriving late may shorten your visit. Free parking is available. We will provide all of the materials for an enjoyable visit. We ask that wet/muddy shoes be removed at the door. We have a place for coats and winter gear to be hung. If you are looking to extend your time in Edson, there are plenty of things to keep you busy. Repsol Place, the Red Brick, Bowling Alley, Edson Public Library and the Kinsmen Spray Park are popular options. Please call us today at 780-723-5696 for more details or to book your school tour!

Room Rentals Describe your image Describe your image Describe your image 1/5 Thank you for your interest in renting the Multi-Use Room at the Galloway Station Museum, Travel Centre & Archives, located in beautiful RCMP Centennial Park. Our elegant, modern facility is ideal for meetings, workshops, private gatherings, and special events. Why choose the Galloway? Our rental space offers: Free WiFi Audio/visual equipment, including a 5000 Lumen Laser Projector Bluetooth-enabled Bose PA and wireless mic 16 rectangular tables (6 ft long x 2.5 ft wide) High/low rounds available upon request Complimentary coffee, tea and water Deck access On-site kitchen Dishes, cutlery and glassware for up to 100 guests Catering is welcome! You are free to arrange your own food service, and we're happy to provide a list of recommended local caterers upon request. Room Rental Options: Please note that rental rates do not include admission to the museum. Blueprint Multi Use Room Rental Form Renters Checklist Board Room Only (Portable Wall Closed) Comfortably seats 40 people $50/hour + GST (maximum $300/Day + GST) Coffee/Tea/Water Wireless Internet Connection Deck Access Audio/Visual System *Only available during Galloway business hours. Multi-Use Room (Full Room) Comfortably seats 90 people $60/Hour + GST (maximum $360/Day + GST) Maximum capacity 100 people Coffee/Tea/Water Wireless Internet Connection Kitchen Facilities Deck Access Dishes/Cutlery/Glassware for up to 100 people Audio/Visual equipment *An additional $50 deposit is required for early morning hours (prior to 9 am) The full Multi-Use room will only be available after regular business hours unless special arrangements are made. Wedding Package Say ‘I do’ to savings! Check out our Wedding Package – a perfect weekend deal for your big day.

The Galloway Station Museum's collection contains over 6000 artifacts related to the history of Edson. Looking to donate? Learn more here! Our Collection The Edson & District Historical Society (EDHS) is committed to preserving and displaying its collection in an innovative, engaging and comprehensive manner while relaying the compelling history of Edson and area to local residents and visitors. The Edson & District Historical Society's collection contains more than 6,000 artifacts that play an important role in the history of Edson and area. This includes items from individuals, families, businesses and organizations within the geographical limits of: east to Wildwood; west to Medicine Lodge; north to Shining Bank; and south to Mountain Park. We acquire and possess objects that tell a big story or shine a light on all aspects of life in Edson and area. The Galloway Station Museum receives, through donations or bequests, objects that reflect our heritage and environment. Objects in the collection range from a 1907 Caboose, a chicken guillotine, a teddy bear and many more in between! Videos Donate Are you interested in donating? Follow these steps! 1. Ensure that the artifact you wish to donate is in good condition and is pertinent to the Edson/Yellowhead County area. We must be selective about adding to the collection, as space is limited. 2. Phone, email or stop by the museum to fill out a donation form! Please include as much information as you can on the object. The more information we have, the more of a tale we can tell. 3. The Museum’s collections committee meets quarterly. Depending on when your information is received, it may take several months to reach a decision on your potential donation.

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School Programs The Education Committee and Galloway staff have developed interactive ways for students to learn about the Edson area in a manner directly linked to individual grade curriculum. Our programs primarily target elementary students, although we have options for all ages. Please be advised that each tour is unique and only certain programs include a guided tour through the entire museum, while others are focused on specific exhibits. All tours have educator program guides that provide a break-down of the tour, curriculum connections and classroom activities for before and after your visit. The Galloway Station Museum takes special care to develop student-centered programming that is in line with the curriculum guidelines as laid out by Alberta Education. Our tours are conducted in small groups and range from 90 to 120 minutes depending on student ages. This includes a craft and snack of a cookie and juice. Please inform us if there are any allergies in your group. Schools, scouts and girl guides, youth community organizations, and home school groups are eligible for school group admission rates and program options. My First Museum Visit Grades K-1 | 90 minutes Let us make the students' first visit a fun time! There is an emphasis on age-appropriate storytelling, hands-on exploration and craft. Enjoy a snack in the boardroom before departing. Then and Now Grade 2 | 105 minutes ‘Then and Now’ will help your students understand what their community would have been like in the past and how it has changed over time.‘Then and Now’ is geared towards Grade Two students and is 105 minutes in length. Students will be introduced to the Galloway Station Museum and become engaged in a fun learning atmosphere. Tours will focus on a mix of hands-on exploration and captivating storytelling to keep young minds focused. We will start discussions regarding the differences between Edson life in the past, and now. Students will have the opportunity to handle some artifacts. Enjoy a snack before departing. My Natural World Grade 3 | 120 minutes Ready to learn about wildlife in the Edson area? This tour is very hands-on! Handle real animal skulls and compare the differences. Match the animal prints, feel all the furs in our trapper’s cabin and become engaged in fun activities to understand animal life cycles. Enjoy a snack before departing. Natural Resources in the Edson Area Grades 4-5 | 120 minutes Edson is home to many natural resources such as oil and gas, agriculture, coal and lumber. These resources have played a major role in the development of Edson. Students will learn about these resources during a guided tour through our permanent exhibits. We will open discussions that examine how these resources have affected Edsonites over time. Our natural resource activity stations will reinforce what they have learned. Enjoy a snack before departing. Museum Mystery Grade 6 | 120 minutes You are deputized! Late in the evening on March 16, 1914, the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway local payroll was STOLEN! Local police officer Inspector Raven is on the case and he has six suspects. But wait! Your good friend Staghound Jack - the local gravedigger and handyman - is on the suspect list! You’ve known Staghound for many years and you know he’s innocent. Your job is to catch the thief by solving the puzzles you will be given to prove that Staghound Jack is an innocent man. Inspector Raven can’t do this alone, so he’s deputized you… now all you have to do is find the thief! Participants must work together to answer riddles, match fingerprints and analyze handwriting samples. General Tour Grades P-12 | 90-120 minutes Our general tour includes a brief overview of all exhibits in our museum. This tour is designed for everyone and will be modified for grade levels and time allowances. History will come alive as we explore differences between ‘then’ and ‘now’. If you would like to spend more time exploring a certain topic, please let us know in advance. Enjoy a snack before departing. For more information and prices, click here

The Resilience Project is a multifaceted project undertaken by the Edson & District Historical Society in collaboration with CANOE to showcase the role of arts and culture in community recovery, promoting a sense of togetherness and celebrating our home. The Resilience Project is a multifaceted project undertaken by The Edson & District Historical Society in collaboration with CANOE to showcase the role of arts and culture in community recovery, promoting a sense of togetherness and celebrating our home. This project was made possible through a grant from Department of Canadian Heritage's Commemorate Canada - Reopening Fund . 1/10 CANOE is an acronym for Culture and Arts Network Of Edson and as the name implies, it is a group of individuals, companies and organizations whose mandate is to contribute to the arts community in the West Yellowhead town of Edson and the surrounding area. The Resilience Project consists of several component parts, including a series of five murals designed and created on local buildings to beautify these buildings and bring a sense of pride and togetherness. Switzer's Drugs Artist - Brie Adkins The Heart of Edson Gallery & Studio artists - Andrew Visser & Pat Jakubiec Royal Canadian Legion -Joe Wynne Branch 51 artist - Madison Sharman Timberjack Home Hardware Building Centre artists - the community and Madison Sharman Henry Family Vision Care artist - Berg Felsing Concurrently, the committee approached a number of area residents who were identified as having unique stories - but all exemplify the theme of resilience. Those residents formed the nucleus of the remaining components which included a series of portraits created by area photographers documenting the character and/or lives of the subjects. These images were used to create a gallery exhibition of fine art prints to be displayed at different venues and kept as an archive of the project. As well, a series of video interviews created by a local filmmaker and recorded for community archival purposes formed the basis of a documentary - Resilience - A Small Town Definition. From those interviews, a series of short accounts of the subjects was written and combined with the portraits to create a book - Resilience - A Collaboration. Five hundred copies of the book were printed and made available to the public free of charge and the documentary and the book are available below in both official languages. (The documentary contains French subtitles). Please note that Resilience - A Collaboration and Resilience - A Small Town Definition deal with content and themes that some may find distressing. 1/15 Resilience a collaboration A poignant written exploration of 15 individuals in the greater community who tell their stories with grace, humour and wit. Resilience - A Small Town Definition A full-length documentary highlighting the amazing stories of our 15 subjects, and their resilience and strength through adversity. Résilience une collaboration Une exploration écrite poignante de 15 personnes de la grande communauté qui racontent leurs histoires avec grâce, humour et esprit. Résilience - Définition d'une petite ville Un long métrage documentaire mettant en lumière les histoires de nos 15 sujets, leur résilience et leur force face à l'adversité. 1/99 The entire project is then wrapped up with a celebration gala at which the book, prints and documentary were unveiled and presented. Special thanks go out once again to the subjects of this book for their patience and time, to CANOE committee members, the Edson Photography Club and contributing photographers, the mural artists and businesses, the Galloway Station Museum staff, the Town of Edson, The Heart of Edson Gallery, SRVENT Freelance, our translators, and the Government of Canada. This project was made possible through a grant from Department of Canadian Heritage's Commemorate Canada - Reopening Fund and in-kind donations from the Town of Edson and the Edson & District Historical Society. The Resilience Project material is subject to copyright. Use of the above material in full or in part is subject to the approval of both The Edson & District Historical Society and The Culture and Arts Network of Edson.

Read local historian Christopher White's thesis, ‘The Old Edson Cemetery: Investigations into an Early 20th Century Western Alberta Cemetery’. Baby Graves Christopher White, author of the paper ‘The Old Edson Cemetery: Investigations into an Early 20th Century Western Alberta Cemetery’ presented a talk and tour of the site in October 2012, July 2013 and September 2020. Christopher’s thesis uses archaeological survey and historic documentary sources to reconstruct past mortality patterns and understand mortuary practices from the early 20th century Edson Cemetery in Edson, Alberta. Results show that the cemetery existed foremost as a place to enshrine the individual identity of the deceased, with pragmatic concerns about public health and municipal development guiding the establishment, management and eventual abandonment of the site. Mortality patterns show a high number of infant and young childhood fatalities compared to their representation in the living population. Deceased infants received the same level of memorialization as adults, reflecting both a domestic and public identity. Adult mortality patterns follow known occupational risks while a spike in adult deaths in late 1918 coincides with the spread of the “Spanish Flu” epidemic. These findings highlight the importance of historic context and the value of documentary evidence for analyzing past mortuary behaviours. Click here to download The Old Edson Cemetery: Investigations into an Early 20th Century Western Alberta Cemetery. Tour images of the Glenwood Cemetery Photos by Christopher White Back to Reports

Explore all that there is to do and see in Edson and area with this glossy, magazine-style Visitor Guide created in-house!