Our Collections

Our Permanent Collection is based on the extensive and varied collection of Mr. Sam Waller. Containing over 70,000 items, the collection includes natural history specimens, human history artifacts, books and library materials, photographs and negatives, fine art pieces and the archives of the Town of The Pas. While our founder collected from the four corners of the world, the Museum now limits new accessions to those items that are pertinent to the history of the community and region. Many items from the collection can be viewed in our exhibits.

Our small Education Collection has been developed with duplicates of items in the permanent collection, in addition to items specifically donated for this collection. These items are used in our educational programming for youth and school groups. A work in progress, we are always looking to expand this collection with interesting items that can be used to tell the stories of our past. Please contact the Museum staff for more details.

From the Vault - featured items from our collection

Emil St. Godard's Dog Derby plaque

The Pas Dog Derby plaque

A plaque from The Pas Winter Carnival, 1929, awarded to Emil St. Godard for the 200 Mile Non-Stop Dog Derby. The first Dog Derby (a sled dog race) was held at The Pas in 1916, and a winter carnival soon sprung up around the race to entertain locals and visitors alike while they were waiting for the return of the dog teams. The 200 mile course had mushers and their dogs travel from The Pas to Flin Flon and back. The fastest this route was covered in the 1920s was 23 hours, 24 minutes by Shorty Russick in 1924. Emil St. Godard of The Pas rose to prominence in the dog sled world during the 1920s and early 1930s, winning countless trophies throughout Canada and the United States, including the Dog Derby at The Pas from 1925 to 1929. Today, dog sled races are still held annually at The Pas during the Northern Manitoba Trappers' Festival, although the World Championship Dog Race is now three laps of 35 miles per day, rather than the non-stop 200 mile race that won Emil St. Godard this plaque.

Added: January, 2012

Previous Features