qMAS Quarterly
A quarterly newsletter with updates on museum going-ons and history tidbits!
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Industrial Filming in Powell River - 2
Exhibit Spotlight - 4
Featured Books - 5
A Poem from the Archives - 6
The Collection Relocation - 7
Museum Logo Contest - 9
Witness to A Witness
The month of July saw a strange and exciting event occur on the Museum's premises: for three days, the entire Museum turned into a film set! Many will have noticed this summer the film crew going around Powell River, renting out several different properties in order to create the film Can I Get A Witness. The Museum itself was lucky enough to be scouted, and we were pleased to become a part of this movie. Staff had their hands full, as they had to move numerous artifacts and displays around to accommodate the film crew. They even brought some items out of storage just for the shoot! This was the first rental of this kind at qMAS, and now that it's in the past, staff can safely say: "We'll be more prepared for the next time."
To stay up to date, follow us @qathetMuseum on
S u m m e r 2 0 2 3 | I s s u e N o 9
Industrial Filming in Powell River
Our Own Version of Hollywood
by Carolyn Smith, Visitor Services Assistant
With the recent filming taking place throughout the qathet Region, staff at qathet Museum & Archives have been reflecting on the history of production in the area. Although Hollywood seems like a world away from the serene landscape and isolated communities of the qathet Region, the early residents were given a small glimpse into the world of film. Despite no early blockbuster films being shot in the area during the 1940s and 1950s Powell River did become globally recognized for their two colour films; River of Paper and The Powell River Story, which identified the industrial work taking place on the West Coast of B.C.. Initially, the intent of the production of these early films was to promote the Powell River Company's product at an international level, but it was soon realized the films would also hold educational value globally.
River of Paper: Powell River's First in Industrial Film
In 1945, the Powell River Company (owners and operators of the Powell River Pulp and Paper Mill) released a movie titled River of Paper that was shared with various industrial companies across B.C. and later the world. The film outlined all the manufacturing phases for Powell River newsprint, showcasing the qathet Region as vital to Canada’s greatest manufacturing industry (continued)
qMAS | Summer 2023 | Page 2
| 2007 50 13400
Behind The Scenes circa 1945 | 2007 50 13358
Filming the Log
Dump
circa 1940s
50 13410
Making A Movie circa 1940s | 2007
qMAS | Summer 2023 | Page 3
The film was used globally as an educational and entertainment feature that shared the story of the Powell River Company from its inception. By its second year, the film was seen by over 680,000 people including viewers located in Canada, the United States, Australia, Phillippines, the United Kingdom, and South America. Although the primary filming took place in the Municipality of Powell River, scenes also took place in Desolation Sound and showcased loggers working the forests of Haida Gwaii.
As was reported by the Powell River Digester, "The Powell River Company hopes that by means of these scenes, taken in its plant and at its logging camps, the public will appreciate something of the great industry that serves them with their paper requirements. We hope that our own employees have gained a new perspective on their work and the industry which employs them. We hope our consumers and prospective customers will see something of the foundation, the men, machines and the organization on which Powell River’s reputation has been based."
(Powell River Digester October 1945 Pages 4-5)
The Powell River Story: The Company's Follow-Up
Filming did not stop in the 1940s as The Powell River Company released a second coloured film with its industrial movie, The Powell River Story. The new film described the full range of the company's operations: “newsprint and pulp mills, sawmill and corrugated box plants, and logging and towing operations.” Narration of the film was done by renowned Canadian author and historical journalist,
Bruce Hutchison. Although the primary purpose of the film was to outline the story of Powell River, the company hoped it would hold a similar educational value to that of their first movie, River of Paper “At the Kootney [sic] Film Festival, now recognized as one of the major film festivals in Canada, the Company film was awarded first place for overall excellence in the industrial section” (Powell River Digester 1956). The filming was no easy task; many scenes were retaken due to the adverse west coast weather and film producers flew over 6400 kilometres between logging camps and other operations of the Powell River Company.
K o o t n e y F i l m F e s t i v a l A w a r d2 0 0 7 5 0 1 1 2 8 8 All film copies are available for viewing through qathet Museum & Archives. For Source Information See Bottom of Page 6
Filming the Log Dump circa 1940s | 2007 50 13400
Exhibit Spotlight - VILLA'S 50th
by Mary Williams, Assistant Curator
July 22nd, 2023 through September, 2023
qMAS is pleased to have a new seasonal exhibit on display this summer. As this fall is the 50th anniversary of Powell River's very own VILLA Soccer Team, we have collaborated with them to create this special display.
The team loaned all of the items exhibited to the Museum, for which we are extremely grateful. Both the Museum staff and the VILLA Soccer Team are glad that the public will be able to view these items so full of memories.
Some of the wonderful items loaned to the Museum are one of the first jerseys used by the original team, and a jersey from the short-lived women's division of the team. There are plenty of other items as well, so we everyone is encouraged to come and view this temporary exhibit before it's closed down!
For those who find this exhibit particularly fascinating, a member of the VILLA Soccer Club will be giving a Fall Speaker Series talk in September at the Museum. Why not attend both the exhibit and presentation, and get as much as you can out of this timesensitive exhibit?
qMAS | Summer 2023 | Page 4
Featured Books
Memories of the Mill
A Memoir Anthology
$35.00
This anthology was created in partnership with the Powell River Public Library and First Credit Union. It records a number of stories and memories from former Mill employees, written in their own words. This book is a limited run, so once all copies are sold, they're gone!
Sheltering in the Backrush
A History of the Twin Islands
Jeanette Taylor
$24.95
Twin Islands form part of the lacey fringe at the southern edge of the Discovery Islands archipelago, where it meets the north Salish Sea. This is the interface between wilderness and urban settlement. Those who do find their way to Twin are richly rewarded by a beautiful and tranquil destination with a fascinating past. In Powell River, the Museum is the primary seller of these books!
qMAS | Summer 2023 | Page 5
qMAS | Summer 2023 | Page 6
A Poem from the Archives . . .
2008.38.1
Owned by Oren Olsen
This is a framed poem donated by Sonia MacLean, and titled "Just Such a Friend are You"
Just such a
Friend are You
What is a friend? A sturdy oak
To rest and lean upon He gives us cheer and comfort
When hope seems almost gone; He helps us vision brightest bloom
Where tangled weeds but grew.
And makes us see the road ahead. Just such a friend are you.
ARTICLE SOURCES
New Color Film: "The Powell River Story", The Powell River Digester, Vol. 32, No.2 March-April 1956, pg. 13.
"River of Paper is Still Rolling Along", The Powell River Digester, Vol. 23, No. 3 May-June 1947, pg. 5.
"Powell River Company Film Enjoyed by Thousands in Canada and U.S.", The Powell River Digester, Vol. 22, No. 2 February 1946, pg. 2.
The Moving Project
By Assistant Curators Mary & Ava
After some challenges and setbacks, the collection mobile storage project is finally set to move forward. The largest impediment to the Museum undertaking this project has been finding an acceptable temporary storage facility. As we will be storing the entirety of the non-displayed artifacts in this off-site location for several months, qMAS needed to find a location that was accessible, climate-controlled, and had good security. After some searching and some fall-throughs, the Museum has finally secured a space in the Town Centre Mall to use.
The Museum is renting the space in the Town Centre Mall as of the beginning of August 2023. The artifact collection reorganization project is expected to occur over several months, as staff must first carefully package all the artifacts and move them to the temporary storage location.
Staff expects that the packaging portion of the reorganization will take the most time. They have already begun meetings and purchasing supplies in order to move as carefully and swiftly as possible.
The qathet Museum & Archives has been ordering supplies such as acidfree tissue paper and large boxes to complete the project. We have even been consulting case studies from other museums such as the Science Museum of Minnesota who moved their collection of 1.75 million collection items in 2001. The Cumberland Museum recently installed new mobile storage to house its collection and we have been grateful for their notes on the experience.
We anticipate that this project will require many hands and are keen to accept volunteers for this special project.
The desired outcomes of this project include creating space efficiencies in which to store artifacts that will give the Museum the capacity to continue accepting donations of the community's heritage, creating safer storage spaces, becoming more familiar with all collection items, and doing an inventory of the collection.
qMAS | Summer 2023 | Page 7
4790 Marine Avenue Powell River, BC V8A 4Z5 Tuesday to Saturday 10 am - 3 pm U p c o m i n g a t q M A S info@qathetmuseum.ca 604-485-2222 www.qathetmuseum.ca
