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NNSL Photo/graphic

U.S. military trucks that once helped build the Canol Trail now call the museum in Norman Wells home. - photo courtesy of Glen Guthrie

More room to grow

John Curran
Northern News Services

Norman Wells (July 24/06) - Folks around Norman Wells have big plans for their historical centre and they're looking to the government for help making them a reality.

The Norman Wells Historical Society, the group responsible for the museum celebrating Sahtu history and the Canol Trail in particular, is hoping to tap into the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment's (ITI) recently unveiled Tourism 2010 initiative to fund an expansion plan.

"The proposal went in to ITI on July 14," said society president Glen Guthrie. "We're hoping to double the size of the museum."

The building, itself one of the old structures from the Canol Trail, is about 3,000 square feet and not exactly adequate for all of the history the society has pulled together over the years.

"We really want to be able to display some of the artifacts we have in storage right now," he said, adding the estimated cost to do the work is about $1.6 million.

The proposal calls for an H-shaped structure that would also become a much more useful facility for residents of the Sahtu.

"Part of this will allow space for artists and crafters," he said.

"Not just room to display their works," but also spot for them to come in and create where tourists can watch and learn more about the process.

Plans also call for a multi-media centre that could be used by visiting tour groups and students from Mackenzie Mountain school.

"We'd love to expand," said Peggy Pouw who manages the centre, adding there have already been hoards of people visiting this summer.

In June, about 1,200 people walked through the doors and as of July 20, another 584 had been in this month, she added.

"We've already had some hunters coming through and the Norweta has been in town three times so far this summer," she said.

"With all of the exploration work coming up, there's going to be many people visiting Norman Wells."

The historical centre also includes outdoor displays, such as vehicles salvaged from the Canol Trail and a replica Sahtu trapper's cabin finished last year.

Guthrie expects to hear back from ITI in the coming few weeks about the group's pitch for assistance.