LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
Fort Simpson's Historical Society is putting out a call for vendors and volunteers to help out with its 25th anniversary celebrations, which are tentatively scheduled to take place mid-September.

The Historical Society held its annual general meeting at the McPherson House on July 29. - April Hudson/NNSL photo

During the society's annual general meeting on July 29, board member Angela Fiebelkorn said the society already has the Edmonton House Brigade scheduled to come to Fort Simpson to re-enact a scene depicting a historic fur-trading camp.

Prior to the anniversary, the society will also be holding its annual shoreline cleanup on Sept. 12. The event usually starts at 1 p.m. at the McPherson House.

The cleanup will be held as part of the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup, a joint initiative put on by the Vancouver Aquarium and the World Wildlife Federation. For six years now, the Fort Simpson Historical Society has taken part.

"We live along the ninth-longest river in the world. We need to be doing our part," said society president Martina Norwegian.

"As small an organization as we are, I think this has a huge ripple effect in that we are part of a national group."

In the past, the shoreline cleanup has included fundraising opportunities for the Historical Society, including book sales and brown bag lunch sales.

Aside from events, the Historical Society has had a busy year of fundraising, applying for grants and focusing on construction of the Heritage Centre.

For that project, the society contracted Do It Development out of La Crete, Alta.

So far, the company has completed the centre's exterior and is working on framing the inside of the building now.

"The windows are in and the siding is up. Our working relationship (with Do It Development) is very positive," Norwegian said.

"They are going the extra mile to fix (the building) and are even talking about doing some landscaping."

So far, the interior staircase is complete, as well as basement frosted walls, exterior fire escapes and filtered windows in the gallery.

Norwegian said the society hopes to move into the new space in September 2017.

"Before that happens, funding must be accessed to complete the project," Norwegian said. The society will need funding to complete mechanical, electrical and drywall work for the 2016-17 fiscal year.

The society's board of directors will be seeking around $200,000 to finish the building. That includes $60,000 each for mechanical and electrical and $80,000 for interior finishing.

Fundraising efforts so far have gone well, and it was noted during the meeting that the society has spent a little more than $2,000 for fundraising, which has brought in $12,000.

For the fiscal year, which ended March 31 the society had a net income of approximately $7,400.

During the meeting, the society agreed to change its term of office from one year to three, so elections will not need to take place every year. That bylaw was effective as of July 29.

Norwegian was acclaimed as president, while executive board members remained the same as in past years.

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