Provincial sites are open for summer

The province will begin reopening some museums, historic sites and archives on June 10.

As part of Stage 2 of Alberta’s Open for Summer Plan, museums and archives can open to the public at reduced visitor capacity. Alberta’s provincially owned heritage sites are leading the way by reopening:

• June 10: Provincial Archives of Alberta, Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology

• June 16: Frank Slide Interpretive Centre, Remington Carriage Museum, Royal Alberta Museum

• June 19: Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village

• June 21: Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump

• June 23: Reynolds-Alberta Museum “Alberta’s museums, historic sites and archives have done a wonderful job this past year. They have sparked our curiosity and kept us engaged in our province’s history. We are so excited to welcome Albertans back by offering a safe and fun experience for families, educators and history buffs alike. This is another important step in our province getting back to normal, and having the best summer ever.”

Leela Sharon Aheer, Minister of Culture, Multiculturalism and Status of Women

Following guidelines keeps everyone safe

Just as in summer 2020, the facilities have taken great care to ensure they reopen in a safe and responsible manner. Important measures to know:

• Masks are mandatory in all indoor public spaces, places of worship and indoor workplaces. Please bring and wear your own non-medical mask when visiting provincial museums and heritage sites. Timed ticketing is in place at several facilities to allow for reduced visitor capacity and physical distancing. Book your tickets in advance to avoid disappointment, as walk-up admissions may not be accommodated.

Each site has a plan specific to their facility, so visitors need to check online and review the visitor guidelines before arriving to ensure everyone has a safe and enjoyable experience.

Alberta’s government is responding to the COVID-19 pandemic by protecting lives and livelihoods with made-in-Alberta solutions to bend the curve, sustain small businesses and protect Alberta’s health-care system.

New photo exhibit at the Provincial Archives of Alberta

Open June 10: The Provincial Archives of Alberta is proud to present its newest gallery exhibit Prairie Royalty. The exhibit, featuring photographs selected from the holdings of the archives, capture those times when – just for a moment – an everyday Albertan could become Prairie royalty.

Access to the Reading Room is by appointment only from Tuesday to Friday. Staff are also available to answer queries and provide research assistance online or by phone. More information is available at provincialarchives.alberta.ca.

Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology

Open June 10: The Royal Tyrrell Museum will be open seven days a week for the summer, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily in June and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily July 1 to Aug. 31. Before driving to the museum, visit their website at tyrrellmuseum.com to purchase your timed tickets to avoid disappointment.

Explore the amazing Age of Mammals in the museum’s newest exhibit, co-funded by Alberta’s government and the Royal Tyrrell Museum Cooperating Society. Cenozoic: The Rise of Mammals features some of the weird and wonderful varieties of life that flourished after dinosaurs went extinct. New interactive elements, stunning murals, and dioramas and captivating illustrations by Alberta artist Eric Fossi enhance the visitor experience. Explore the history of Frank Slide

Open June 16: Nestled in the Crowsnest Pass, the Frank Slide Interpretive Centre shares the history of the area as well as the story of Canada’s deadliest rockslide.

Tickets are not required for Frank Slide Interpretive Centre, however visitor capacity has been reduced to allow for physical distancing. There may be a short lineup to enter the centre.

Remington Carriage Museum

Open June 16: The Remington Carriage Museum will be open Wednesday to Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. The museum has been busy since its closure working to make visitors’ experiences better than ever with new artifacts and displays. Carriage rides, guided tours and interactive displays will all be available on opening day.

New exhibits at Royal Alberta Museum (RAM)

Open June 16: Quilt of Belonging is Canada’s most comprehensive, collaborative textile tile art project. Measuring a monumental 36 metres in length, its 263 blocks portray the rich cultural legacies of all Indigenous Peoples in Canada and every world nation.

RAM is also hosting a community display of images from Edmonton photographer Joe Chowaniec’s popular book Abandoned Alberta. The project began as a hobby for Chowaniec, but after creating

a Facebook page to share his images, he developed a fan base of more than 30,000 social media followers and a book deal soon followed. This is the first public display of photographs from his book. Admission to this exhibit is free.

The Children’s Gallery remains closed during this stage of reopening. Advance, timed tickets are available now.

World-famous Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump returns

Open June 21: After a year of construction and renovations, Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump is excited to welcome visitors back this summer. Designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1981, the site is one of the oldest, largest and best-preserved buffalo jump sites across the western Plains. The interpretive centre is designed to belong to the landscape and the environment and its unique design won a Governor General’s Award for architecture.

Reynolds-Alberta Museum

Open June 23: The Reynolds-Alberta Museum will be open Wednesday to Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. The new summer exhibit Motorbikus Mechanicus … a Love Story features 40 concept and early production motorcycles and explores how a passion for education, combined with a love of motorcycles, came together to create a world-renowned motorcycle technician training ground in Fairview. The exhibit is in addition to the museum’s regular family-friendly activities. Advance tickets are available online. Related information

• Alberta’s Open for Summer Plan

• Frank Slide Interpretive Centre

• Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump

• Provincial Archives of Alberta

• Reynolds Alberta Museum

• Remington Carriage Museum

• Royal Alberta Museum

• Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology

• Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village