Instead of serving up burgers and fries this summer, a recent graduate is answering such questions as: "Where are all your dead people?"
Danielle Sieben, who completed Grade 12 at John Paul II Collegiate this June, is spending her summer at the Fred Light Museum, directing tourists to the cemetery and other sites of interest. Her position is funded through Young Canada Works, a federal initiative that subsidizes summer jobs and internships in mainly non-profit organizations. This will be the third year the museum receives funds from YCW.
Bernadette Leslie, museum manager, said the funding is important because it keeps the museum fully staffed during the summer.
"If we didn't have this funding, we would have to cut our hours back," said Leslie.
The museum was initially turned down for funding this year, but about a month ago was notified they would receive $2,834 from the program, which was a relief for Leslie.
Currently, there are three summer students working at the museum. Besides Sieben, there are two University of Saskatchewan students: Angela LePlant and Shawna Bunz.
Leslie said working at the museum provides students a chance to hone their public relations skills, as they answer tourist questions and direct people to attractions in the Battlefords. It is also a wonderful opportunity to explore the history of the region.
"We get to see a lot of cool things we wouldn't get to see in our everyday lives," said Sieben, adding she enjoys handling the artefacts in the museum.
Although she's planning to attend NAIT in Edmonton next fall, Sieben said she hopes to spend another summer working at the museum.
The Fred Light Museum also received a $3,500 grant from the Museums Association of Saskatchewan. The majority of the museum's $69,000 annual operating budget, however, is covered by the Town of Battleford, which accepts donations on behalf of the museum.
