A one-time contribution of $113,000 has been granted to Barkerville Historic Town and Park, in support of the National Historic Site’s innovative Historic Street interpretation program.
This funding, made possible by a partnership between the Gaming Branch of British Columbia’s Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development, the Friends of Barkerville-Cariboo Goldfields Historical Society, the Barkerville Heritage Trust, and Barkerville Historic Town and Park, will help to sustain Barkerville’s award-winning interpretation program.
The official announcement, made last week by Cariboo North MLA and then Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development, Coralee Oakes who, on July 30, was appointed Minster of Small Business, Red-Tape Reduction and Minister Responsible for the Liquor Distribution Branch.
It was a welcome declaration of support for Barkerville’s 2015 “season of sesquicentennials,” celebrating the 150th anniversaries of the Cariboo Waggon Road, the Cariboo Amateur Dramatic Association, and the Cariboo Sentinel newspaper.
“We are grateful to the Community, Sport and Cultural Development Ministry, as well as our local partners, for this investment in Barkerville’s 2015 season,” said Don Bassermann, Barkerville Heritage Trust chair.
“Provisions of this kind help to solidify Barkerville’s position as a nationally significant heritage resource and tourism attraction for British Columbia and Canada.”
Barkerville’s refreshed Historic Street interpretation program includes:
• the full-time interpretation of Billy Barker’s life story, including the reconstruction of the original Barker & Co. mine shaft and shaft house;
• a newly improved Cariboo Sentinel newspaper experience complete with twice-daily printing press presentations and souvenir copies of reprinted Cariboo Sentinel first editions; and
• and the long-awaited return of Barkerville’s signature afternoon “street music” scenario, affectionately rebranded as “Billy Barker’s Quarter Hour of Music and Frivolity,” in honour of the Cariboo Amateur Dramatic Association’s 150th anniversary.
For more information about Barkerville’s 2015 season of sesquicentennials, and the new Historic Street interpretation initiatives, please visit www.barkerville.ca.