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Heritage Centre 2007 plan
2007
Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia Canada


Credits:
Skyline Atlantic Canada

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So the one time idea of having a small theatre within the Creamery, was abandoned, but the concept of a Performing Arts Centre remained but as a separate building.

Meanwhile the Heritage Centre was completed and opening celebrations took place in June 2009

However what was shown to be feasible10 years ago does not hold good today. Tourism varies from year to year, according to the state of the economy, and Provincial Government funds,and the visitor flow has never been as expected from the earlier studies. So meeting budgets and raising funds is always a headache! An admission charge of $5.00 for Adults, $4.00 for Seniors and Students, with children under 12 free and a Family ticket of $10.00 (2 adults and 2 childrren) does not seem unreasonable - and is essential if the Centre is to continue. Special Event Days have so far been free, with a donation box evident. An endowment would be helpful!

The volunteers - all of retirement age- and the Summer Students - work hard at making the Centre an attractive place to visit, and there have been many compliments and surprised comments at how good the Heritage Centre is. There are still people in the village who have never visited the place - and probably never will, and even some who do not know the Centre exists! Perhaps they disapprove or never see the articles in the local paper, the Special Event Posters, The Newsletters, or Fund Raising efforts.....

Some of the volunteers spend many hours identifying the articles on display and stored in the Shed building; all need up to date accession numbers, to be photographed, listed, and described. At some stage in the past, various records seem to have disappeared so histories of some artefacts need to be researched where possible - all this in order to meet the required standards of the Nova Scotia Museum Association. But it is fascinating work and the volunteers enjoy it. In 2011 the Association held their annual conference in Tatamagouche, with the Creamery Square Heritage Society as hosts.

The attractive Gift Shop adjacent to the Admissions area, is stocked by a volunteer who makes every effort to ensure that most items for sale are from Nova Scotia and the Maritimes.


What actually is in the Heritage Centre ? It is time to find out, but let it be said now that the running of the Centre depends upon the hard work of a few unpaid people aided during the height of the summer season, by grant paid Summer students. When the students have left it would be extremely difficult to maintain even the modified opening hours if it were not for a group of other volunteers who make themselves available during the 'shoulder season'. We could not manage without them and we are so grateful for their help.