1

The Heritage Centre, Creamery Square
11 October 2012
Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia Canada

Credits:
Creamery Square Heritage Society

2

Very many people have been involved with the Creamery Square project over the years; some have retired or been employed elsewhere and moved from the area. Others have become caught up with different organizations or lacked the time to devote to the many demands of Creamery Square . There are many who have been involved since the very beginning, when the Tatamagouche Creamery first became the property of the village - their devotion. loyality and firm belief in the potential of the project has been admirable.

When the Heritage Centre opened on June 19th 2010,The Canadian Museums Association honoured the Heritage Centre with an award for Outstanding Achievement in 'Facility Development and Design'; this alone validated the support of all levels of Government that helped bring the community's vision to reality. The judges in the selection process said that the Tatamagouche Creamery Square Project was 'nationally significant and exceeds the current standard of practice'.
Another 'Attraction' award in 'recognition of distinguished service and support of tourism' was received from Central Nova Tourism Association (CNTA)

The different groups in Creamery Square do try to co-operate and work together to 'become one', working under the 'umbrella' of the Creamery Square Association. There are very necessary controls which prevent covering a building with placards and notices but for a special occasion, an advertising notice board can be placed outside the appopriate building. There is a Marketing and Promotions Committee, with representatives from each of the organizations - they will investigate new signage for the Square, when the Centre for th Arts is completed, and see to the overall advertising - this does not stop the organizations 'doing their own thing' for their own events.

Within the Square, the newly named Margaret Fawcett Norrie Heritage Centre has mostly succeeded in bringing museums,collections and the archives to work as one organization.

3

Anna Parks
21st Century 2010
Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia Canada

Credits:
North Shore Archives

4

Anna Parks

The member of the CSA representative from CoRDA, who is now retired -commented that it was often necessary to go back to review the overall concept of Creamery Square in order to keep the various organizations concerned, on track...the need to 'work together' rather than as individuals. But she believed ' in retrospect that the dynamics and reactions that happened during the development would be common among people in most communities' She also commented on the remarkable and valuable level of leadership found in Tatamagouche.... "During my career in Community Economic Development, I have never experienced working with any community that had the same level of skill sets and determination as exhibited by the voluntary sector in Tatamagouche"

Anna's guidance and skills were fundamental in moving the project forward.

5

Floyd Tucker
21st Century 2010
Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia Canada

Credits:
North Shore Archives

6

Floyd Tucker
Floyd has been associated with the project from the very early days, with meetings chaired by Jo Ann Fewer of CoRDA, held at the Fraser Cultural Centre. These were concerned with organization, type of structure, and what was actually wanted in developing the Creamery building. He became Chairman of the CSA and saw much of the subsequent action. Floyd has also been Chairman of the Creamery Square Heritage Society. He saw his job as a peacemaker - with so many people and groups involved it was inevitable that there would be differences in opinion - his work was bringing people to realise that co-operation was the way to go...that 'co-operation' is still successfully continuing, - well, most of the time, - both within the Heritage Centre and the entire project of Creamery Square..
He, along with Maralyn Driver, the Treasurer for the Heritage Centre, are its representatives on the Creamery Square Association Board, responsible for expressing the views of the Heritage Centre and keeping the Centre informed of CSA activities.

7

Doreen Gorman
21st Century 2012
Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia Canada

Credits:
North Shore Archives

8

Doreen Gorman
A long time associated with the Sunrise Trail Museum and Archives, Doreen recalls the old museum as being dark, musty and on diffferent levels, and the Archives housed in the top room of the Fraser Cultural Centre as a rather odoriferous and small space, and a potential fire hazard. When eventually the CSA was ready to 'take over', the persons up until then running the Creamery activities were rather loathe to relinquish the building. There were some uncomfortable meetings but eventually the 'hand over' took place. Meanwhile relationships between the then Board of the Fraser Cultural Centre and the Archives and Anna Swan Museum deteriorated - with the result that both moved to the Creamery. Meanwhile work on the Farmers' Market had progressed. Problems arose with the move of the Brule Fossils to the Creamery, with constant demands for more space to show the fossils - several consultants and the Project Manager were all involved. Doreen personally feels the fossils have too much space and other sections of the Centre suffered as a result. But at the end of it all. after such a long journey, people associated with the Heritage Centre work well together - with a common aim - to make it work and be a success.

9

Dale Swan
16 November 2012
Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia Canada

Credits:
Creamery Square Heritage Society

10

Dale Swan
Dale has long been associated with the North Shore Archives and the Anna Swan Museum - currently responsible for both. He links regularly with other museums in the area and in the United States, has completely reorganised the Archives and made it easier to do genealogical research.

Dale says that had the old museums stayed where they were there was a good chance of their being closed and the contents redistributed - perhaps to Truro or even Halifax. As a result of the move, this did not happen.
Dale maintains the Heritage Centre today retains a sense of past rural life but in a very pleasant 'technical age' setting. He believes that in the process of updating to meet required standards many of those involved have discovered just how modern museums operate.

11

Anne MacKeen
27 November 2012
Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia Canada

Credits:
Creamery Square Heritage Society

12

Anne MacKeen
Anne is another devoted resident who worked with the project from the early days with Loney MacLean. Anne acted as secretary for the Creamery Square Association for a number of years and saw the 'ups' and 'downs' as work progressed, but always felt the underlying excitement. In her loyality to the Square, Anne has spent much time helping with fund raising events, and never hesitates when asked to be on duty at the Heritage Centre when students are no longer available.
She is now secretary for the newly formed Creamery Square Arts Society, which will watch over the Centre for the Arts

Loney MacLean
When the Creamery Building was handed over to the village, Loney was instrumental in bringing the building into shape as a Community Centre; under her guidance the place was cleaned up, painted inside, heating improved, chairs found, and programs of events started, some of which - such as the Sunday Coffee sessions, were very popular. With help she ran it for a number of years and understandably was loathe to let it go when the building was designated as the Heritage Centre. Her enthusiasm in those early years was infectious and for a number of years the Centre was a popular meeting place,and venue for a wide variery of events

Jo Ann Fewer
Jo Ann was the Executive Director of the Colchester Regional Development Agency (CoRDA), when the then Director of Development with the County of Colchester, NS, - Crawford MacPherson, first described to her the concept of Creamery Square. Jo Ann says she loved the idea and applauded the community for recognising the opportunity to bring together the historic assets of the shore into one built infrastructure, thus creating efficiency in operation and critical mass from a visitors perspective. She viewed the project as a wonderful development for the community of Tatamagouche

Ellen Millard
Ellen is author of a number of popular local history books, one time curator of the Sunrise Trail Museum, and currently actively involved with the Farmers' Market . She remembers the early days of the project as challenging and exciting, but she always believed that the concept of Creamery Square was what was really needed for the North Shore community. Despite hic-cups along the way, she thinks the end result is wonderful.

Linda and Bob Byers were connected with the project in the early days - both serving on Boards and Committees. In 2003 they received a cheque for $20000 from the North Shore Bavarian Society, which kick-started the project. They recall the concept of the Tatamagouche Creamery site developing into a tourist destination as both visionary and exciting. Various stakeholders came together with energy and enthusiasm to move the project forward. The possibilities were endless and it was clear that this was a win/win for the various groups involved and for the community.
'The Farmers' Market opened and then the Museum and both quickly became an integral part of the 'Square'. The development of the Grain Elevator and work done on the Butter Trail further enhanced the destination and it was wonderful to see the waterfront become a popular meeting place for both locals and visitors.
The construction of Phase Three - the Centre for the Arts, will mean that this ambitious project is complete and that the original vision has become a reality. What a remarkable achievement! Creamery Square is truly a destination of which we can all be proud.'

Chuck and Annette Hunziker
Both were very involved in the early days with Chuck doing many of the repairs needed on the old Creamery building. Annette served on the CSA board, helping the decision making. In 2004 she was involved with the logo design for the Creamery ..".the milk churn engulfs the heritage of the property the association is bringing to the forefront of the community"...and...." In those early days, " she said.."10 groups were working as a team for a common goal"
Busy lives led them to other persuits, but both remember it as a wonderful, exciting time with so much happening. They still think of the Square as an amazing place, delighted to have been involved with the project, and pleased that they were partly responsible for finding and employing the Project Manager.

Lorenda Ebbett
Lorenda is another of the 'early' workers on the project and she served on the Creamery Square Association Board ., Her interests mainly concerned the Farmers' Market, and the various ideas that were proposed for the new site for the market, especially after the decision that was made not to use the Shed building. Her family had a stall in the new market, selling home raised meat, and she worked tirelessly for the Board, until eventually she opened a small shop on a farm property they owned, just outside Tatamagouche.

Peggy Todd
Peggy was one of the original group working with the Brule Fossils when it occupied the old School House at Brule. When the fossils moved to the Heritage Centre, Peggy joined the Board and was a staunch supporter of the new facility. Retiring from the Board she has remained a close ally of all that goes on there - volunteering when necessary, willingly giving of her time, and working hard on special fund-raising events.

Maralyn Driver
Maralyn is currently both Treasurer and Secretary for the Creamery Square Heritage Society, and does the buying for the Gift Shop. She writes some of the grant proposals,and helps with the over-seeing of the Summer Students. Like other Heritage Society Board members she turns her hand to anything needed, and represents the Society on the CSA Board. Keith, her husband, has been over-seeing the building of the chaloupe.

13

The Project Manager for Creamery Square
21st Century- 2010
Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia Canada

Credits:
Creamery Square Project Office

14

Colin Fowlie
Colin is the Project Manager, and it is his hard work, determination and 'know how' that has kept the entire project on course. Of the Heritage Centre he said..'It is not a provincial or national museum but it is operating at that level and at the core of that is unparalleled community involvement'. He maintains that...' it is not just the bricks and mortar but the quality of the exhibits, the interpretations and how it is being presented to the public, that is important'.
In 2007 Colin stated that such a project had never been done in Nova Scotia before - bringing several existing cultural and museum groups including archives, into one site......it provided a new model for upgrading and making community museums...more sustainable and improved..."

Krista Stoll
Krista has worked with Colin in the office and is a vital part of the entire project. . Many times the Heritage Centre has asked her for assistance, and she has always given willingly of her skills and knowledge, and able to find the required information immediately.

The Construction crew on the Square site in most weathers have always been cheerfully cooperative when called upon by the Heritage Society - they have carried heavy objects, mended things and advised when required.They certainly know what they are about and should feel proud of their achievements.