In the Gallery - Madhu Kumar: The Stories of Immigrant Women
SHOWING: May 1 to June 23
Monday to Friday - 9: a.m. to 5: p.m.
When anyone moves to a new country there are challenges. This is especially true for women. My life is not the same in Canada as it was back home in India. I had to overcome many challenges, such as living in a very different environment and culture, being away from family and friends, and so on. In 2001, soon after I arrived in Toronto, I met another new Canadian who was struggling to raise her nine-year old daughter by herself. I empathized with her because I knew how difficult it was to raise children even when you have the support of a partner. I offered to take care of her daughter after school until she returned at night after working long hours at her job. I felt her pain as a single mother being far from her family and friends. I wanted to do what I could to help.
This relationship inspired me. I wanted to capture the experiences of newcomer women on canvas. I started by contacting women through the Immigrant Women Centre in Regina. I went to their homes and with my camera, recorded their joys and problems. Most of the feelings I heard were of loneliness, emptiness, and sadness.
The women I have painted are bright, and hardworking. They were going through rough times as they tried to settle into their new lives. Through my paintings, I want to show what it feels like to be alone, frustrated, sad, empty, confused, lost amidst strangers and new friends. The paintings help promote dialogue about being new to Canada. I want to offer a glimpse into the life of an immigrant woman during this challenging time. Some show despair; others are more hopeful; while some are more settled.
Storytelling is not only the core of my work, but is also universally important. Human beings need to be seen and heard. Art is a vehicle through which I am empowering these women. - From the Artist Statement of Madhu Kumar
In the Gallery: Adrian Paton Photo Collection Travelling Exhibit
SHOWING: May 8 to June 30 Monday to Friday - 9: a.m. to 5 p.m.
Adrian Paton began to collect photographs in the late 1980s, when his grandmother’s photograph album was passed down to him. Since then, he has built an enormous photograph collection, totaling about 8,000 pieces.
Developed by the Saskatchewan History & Folklore Society (SHFS) and the University of Saskatchewan, this display features selected photos from the collection along with information designed to inspire people to reflect on the past.
Join us as we Celebrate International Museum Day! Adrian Paton Photo Slide Show with Hugh Henry, SHFS President View several photos from the Adrian Paton collection, and reminisce about Saskatchewan’s history! *Thursday, May 18 - 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. in the Grand Coteau Centre Gallery * Free Admission - Everyone Welcome - Refreshments will be served
The Newcomers: Documentary Film Screening & Community Conversation
Learn about the challenges and experiences of new immigrants in small-town Saskatchewan through this compelling film and personal testimonials from newcomers to Shaunavon, followed by open discussion about being a welcoming and inclusive community.
Wednesday, May 17, 2023 Grand Coteau Centre Gallery
Doors open: 6:00 p.m. Film Screening: 6:30 p.m. Followed by: Presentations by Shaunavon Newcomers from Great Plains College ESL Class, and Open Discussion
Everyone Welcome - FREE Admission - Refreshments will be served
*“It’s very hard in the beginning because you miss your family, You miss your traditions… Everything is different.” - Cecilia Zimmerman *
Morning Sing-Along
Join us for Morning Sing-Along!
On the third and fourth Fridays of every month, you are invited to come out to the Grand Coteau Centre Gallery for a fun morning sing-along!
Our wonderful volunteer and talented musicians, Kevin Sargeant & Rosemary Blomme, lead the group as we sing some oldies-but-goodies!
The best part is that there is No Experience or Talent ReCHOIRed!
Morning Sing-Along dates for May 2023
Fridays, May 19 and May 26 from 10: to 11: am
Everyone is Welcome! It’s always a good time!!
Download the Sing-Along with Ann Songbook here
Download the Bonus Lyrics here
Market at the Museum
Shaunavon’s 2023 MARKET AT THE MUSEUM will be starting on Saturday, July 8 and will run every Saturday from 9:30 am to Noon until September 16 on the front lawn of the Grand Coteau Heritage and Cultural Centre, 440 Centre Street.
INTERESTED VENDORS
Contact the Grand Coteau Centre at 306-297-3882 for more information or to reserve your table.
Makers, Bakers, Growers, Artists… everyone is welcome to sell their products at the Market at the Museum. Tables are just $10 per week.
Young Entrepreneurs: A limited number of Young Entrepreneur Tables will be available for young vendors ages 6 to 18. These will be 4 foot long tables, and the weekly fee is just $2 per table.
Download the following documents:
Market Vendor Information
Market Vendor Application Form
Evergreen Arts Camp 2023
A week-long fine arts camp for creative young people presented by Evergreen Arts and the Grand Coteau Heritage & Cultural Centre.
Campers experience a variety of exciting arts workshops in a fun, friendly & creative environment. Workshops will be led by professional artists, Grand Coteau Centre staff & local arts enthusiasts.
WHO?
Age Group #1: 6 to 9 years old
Age Group #2: 10 to 12 years old
WHEN? July 31 to August 4, 2023
Age Group #1: Mornings
Age Group #2: Afternoons
WHERE? Grand Coteau Heritage & Cultural Centre & various locations in the Town of Shaunavon
WHAT? Exciting workshops in a wide variety of art forms!
To register or for more information contact the Grand Coteau Centre:
440 Centre Street, Shaunavon
Phone 306-297-3882
Email gchccentre@gmail.com
Register Early - Limited number of spots available.
Download the Evergreen Arts Camp Registration Form
MANY THANKS!
We greatly appreciate the support of Evergreen Arts Camp funders & partners:
Me Time
The Grand Coteau Heritage and Cultural Centre, Shaunavon Library, Shaunavon Wellness & Leisure Committee and Economic Development Committee have partnered to create a novel community program called Me Time!
The Me Time initiative’s slogan “Together – for the health of it!” focuses on bringing community members together to connect one another through activities to enhance our individual health and well-being.
Follow the Me Time Shaunavon page for more details on events and programs being offered in the coming months!
The History of the Grand Coteau!
The Grand Coteau Museum was established in 1931 by a group of volunteers interested in preserving our history before it disappeared. The Museum has a rich history of it’s own and through the past 90 years has continued to grow it’s collection and it’s program offerings to the community. It has expanded to become the Grand Coteau Heritage & Cultural Centre which includes our natural history and heritage museum collection, an art gallery, the Shaunavon Branch of the Chinook Regional Library, as well as a community meeting space.
Visit the GCHCC History page to learn more about our museum’s history - including why we have the name “Grand Coteau”!
THE GRAND COTEAU HERITAGE & CULTURAL CENTRE SERVES AS SHAUNAVON'S TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRE
440 Centre Street
Phone: (306)297-3882
Hours of Operation:
May 1 to June 30: Monday to Friday 9:00a.m. - 5:00p.m.
July 1 to September 17: Monday to Saturday 9:00a.m. - 5:00p.m.
September 18 to April 30: Tuesday to Friday 9:00 a.m. - 5:00p.m.
Admission is Free, but Donations are Appreciated.
The Grand Coteau Heritage & Cultural Centre houses the Shaunavon Branch of the Chinook Regional Library, an art gallery, natural history and heritage rooms as well as a community meeting room.
The Centre is open year round and continues to provide visitors with a variety of cultural experiences.
The Grand Coteau Centre is a hub of activity, as evidenced by the number of vistors which reached an astonishing 10,000 in 2008.
Photograph Archives Online
The Grand Coteau Centre archives includes over 3,300 photographs relating to the history of Shaunavon and area. We are pleased to now make this collection available online.
High resolution digital files of these images are available for purchase from the Grand Coteau Centre. Please contact us for ordering information.
Shaunavon Library
The Shaunavon Branch of the Chinook Regional Library is located in the GCHCC, adjacent to our gallery space. The library is another hub of our community and offers free internet access, regular children’s programming, IT help, computer sessions and much more. The Shaunavon Library is an inviting and cozy locale for meeting friends and relaxing with a good book.
The friendly librarians will be happy to help you with research and computer usage. Interlibrary loans are available for titles not currently held on location.
Phone: 306-297-3844
Hours of Operation:
Monday 12:00 Noon - 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday 9:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday 12:00 Noon. - 5:00 p.m.
Thursday 12:00 Noon - 5:00 p.m.
Friday 9:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Saturday 12:00 Noon - 5:00 p.m.
Heritage Walking Tour
Walk with us through a part of Shaunavon’s history.
Staff and volunteers of the Grand Coteau Heritage & Cultural Centre have created a walking tour of some of Shaunavon’s historic buildings. The tour features 20 historic sites, all located within walking distance of beautiful downtown Shaunavon.
Printed tour brochures are available at the Grand Coteau Heritage & Cultural Centre (440 Centre Street), or you can click here to be directed to the Heritage Walking Tour page on this website.
Art Gallery
Our spacious 1000 ft. gallery features art exhibitions by local, Saskatchewan and Canadian artists. Many of our shows are from the Organization of Saskatchewan Arts Council’s (OSAC) Arts on the Move program. A full listing of OSAC visual arts touring exhibitions can be found on their website, osac.ca
New exhibitions are featured every one or two months. Exhibitions are subject to change without advance notice.
A donation box and guest book are located in the gallery. Please be sure to sign your name and leave us your comments regarding the current show!
GCHCC works collaboratively with the Shaunavon Arts Council to present visual and performing arts in our community. Please check out the Shaunavon Arts Council page for information on the current performing arts schedule.
2023 Exhibitions (confirmed to date):
- January 1 - February 23, 2023: Edie Marshall: Moving Landscapes
- March 1 - April 28, 2023: Andrew Robertson
- May 1 - June 23, 2023: Madhu Kumar: The Stories of Immigrant Women
- July 1 - August 23, 2023: TBA
- September 1 - October 23, 2023: The Flower People: Melanie Monique Rose
- November 1 - 10, 2023: Legion Poster & Essay Contest Entries
November 16 - December 20, 2023: Holiday Art Show & Sale
2022 Exhibitions:
- January & February, 2022: Gallery Closed for Renovations
- March 1 - April 27, 2022: AWE - Art With Equity Artwork by Long Term Care Residents - sponsored by Shaunavon Dental Centre, Dr. Andrew Stoll
- May 1 - 27, 2022: Milan Gerza: Anti-Universe - sponsored by Berg’s Home Furnishings
- June 1 - 27: Tekeyla Friday: Metis Claymation - sponsored by Access Real Estate Inc.
- July 1 - August 26, 2022: Dean Bauche
- September 1 - October 23, 2022: Hanna Yokozawa Farquharson: Calling
- October 31 - November 10, 2022: Legion Poster & Essay Contest Entries
November 15 - December 23, 2022: Holiday Art Show & Sale
Museum - Natural History Room
Museum - Heritage Exhibits
Our early settlement collection features artifacts significant to Shaunavon’s history. Permanent exhibits include The Crystal Bakery, Agriculture, One-Room Schoolhouse, Everett Baker, Communication, Illerbrun Church, Textiles, Home Life, Work Life, Early Policing and General Store.
A photographic exhibit entitled, “Why Here”, highlights the establishment of Shaunavon in 1913. From bald prairie to town status in less than six months, Shaunavon earned the title of Boomtown. Other exhibits we have displayed at this time are Millinery and Shaunavon Memorabilia. A future permanent photographic Coal Mining exhibit is under construction.
Community Meeting Room
A meeting room is located in the basement of the GCHCC, and is available for rental. The space can accommodate up to 50 individuals. A television, DVD player, slide projector and screen, coffee pots and washrooms are available for use upon request. The space is well-lit with a great deal of natural light as well.
Rental Rates:
Full Day: $75 plus GST
Half Day: $40 plus GST
60% reduction for Non Profit Groups Call 306-297-3882 for booking information.
Artist Rates:
Full Day: $50 plus GST
Half Day: $25 plus GST
Education/Archives/Research
Education:
Art Programming: Many of our monthly touring art exhibitions come to us through the Organization of Saskatchewan Arts Council’s Arts on the Move program. Please see our Art Gallery information above for a complete schedule of upcoming Art Gallery Exhibitions.
School Tours of our museum pioneer and natural history room exhibits can be arranged at any time by contacting our Program Coordinator, Tammy Willman at 306-297-3882.
Archives:
- The entire collection of The Shaunavon Standard newspaper, dating back to 1913
- Obituaries
- Photographs including collections from local residents, past and present
- Old town photos
- History Books - a large collection of history books from all over the Southwest and Saskatchewan
Research Requests:
GCHCC offers research services concerning individuals, organizations and/or businesses from Shaunavon’s past. The Centre’s staff & volunteers can assist individuals or organizations seeking this information and we will attempt to fill each request as best as possible.
Please contact us if you wish to discover more about Shaunavon’s past.
Donations for research requests are welcomed!
STAFF AND CONTACT INFORMATION:
Director of Culture: Joanne Gregoire
email: directorgchcc@sasktel.net
Contact Joanne for sponsorship and donation opportunities and general information about the Centre.
Program Coordinator: Tammy Willman
email: programsgchcc@sasktel.net
Contact Tammy for information on gallery exhibitions, school tours and community programs
Collections Manager: Kelly Attrell
email: heritagegchcc@sasktel.net
Contact Kelly if you have any questions or donations related to the Centre’s historic, archival and natural history collections
Research Volunteer: Kathleen East
About the Grand Coteau Centre
The Grand Coteau Heritage & Cultural Centre is located in the heart of Shaunavon, Saskatchewan. The Centre houses a museum, art gallery and the Shaunavon Branch of the Chinook Regional Library. Our collection is multi-disciplinary, including artifacts relating to the human history of Shaunavon, fine arts and natural history specimens of the area. A variety of programs and tours are offered in association with our collection, making us more than a collection of objects. Tours are offered on a regular basis throughout the year to school students and can also be provided to other groups upon request. Through our educational programming, we are able to provide opportunities for our public to enjoy the arts, as well as the natural history and the human history of our area.
GCHCC is also a popular locale for community events and special programming including Family Day, I Love Shaunavon Day, Canada Day, Boomtown Days, Halloween and the Parade of Lights.
Board of Directors:
Brent Michelson - President & Shaunavon Town Councillor
Robert Anderson - Vice President
Jenna Hiebert - Secretary
Nolan Klassen - Shaunavon Town Councillor
Terry Olesen
Sandy Fritz
Tara Lingenfelter
Marla Poisson
Hester Groenewald
History:
The name of Shaunavon’s Museum, “Grand Coteau”, comes from the title “le grand coteau” or grand slope of the Missouri, as applied by the explorer Le Verendrye to the area stretching from Kincaid to Govenlock.
The Grand Coteau Heritage & Cultural Centre officially opened Saturday, July 12, 1980, but had its origin as the “Grand Coteau Museum” which was organized on December 6, 1931 at a meeting convened in the court house in Shaunavon.
During the period from 1931 to 1957 the exhibits were housed in one room of the old two roomed school house on the school grounds just west of the older brick school. The period from 1936 to 1957 was a dormant one and only F.O. Bransted was left with enough interest to take visitors to view the exhibits.
In 1957 the work of reviving the Grand Coteau Museum was undertaken. The School Board gave the building to the Town of Shaunavon for $1.00. The Chamber of Commerce, with financial help from the Town and the Shawnees, moved the building to its present site in the small park on Centre Street and renovated the building. C. Busse, acting for the Chamber of Commerce, organized this phase of the work. The operation of the museum was turned over to a management committee with representation from the Town, Chamber of Commerce, Public School Board, High School Board, Separate School Board, School Unit No. 7, Shawnees and two members at large. This management committee began their work on July 2, 1959 and the museum was again officially opened in 1963, at the time of the 50th anniversary of the Town of Shaunavon. Even at that time the thought of incorporating the library was considered. In 1972 the basement was completed with grants from the Federal Government and the Town of Shaunavon.
In 1973 preliminary plans were started to provide more space as it was obvious that a heritage type of museum was needed by the community. In June of 1976 the cataloguing of all exhibits was started with the help of a special project grant from the Department of Culture and Youth and the able management of Janice Douglas, an anthropology student from the University of Alberta. The natural history cataloguing was completed in 1977 by the management committee.
In November 1977 the Town Council called a meeting to hear presentations on the announced Neighbourhood Improvement Program (NIP) and the Grand Coteau Management Committee made representation to have the enlargement of the museum to include an art gallery and the branch of the regional library considered as first priority. The plan received the approval of the Town Council and the new municipally operated facility was opened in 1980 with the guidance of a Board of Directors, and Director/Curator. Today the staff has expanded to include a Curatorial Assistant and volunteers.
The Centre now includes the Shaunavon Branch of the Chinook Regional Library, an art gallery, a natural history museum and tourist information centre all on the main floor; a heritage museum in the basement which also includes a general purpose community room.
The Centre continues to be open year round and offers a variety of cultural experiences. Stop in and visit us when you are in town.
