BPMAnnualReportComplete2017

BRALORNE
PIONEER MUSEUM
Annual Report
2017

Table of Contents
President’s Report .................................................................................................... 2
Operational Update.................................................................................................. 3
Collection Management Project ............................................................................. 4
Our 2017 Staff .......................................................................................................... 5
Transition 2017 ......................................................................................................... 7
Bridge River Gold .................................................................................................... 9
Museum Day ...........................................................................................................10
Financial Report 2017 ............................................................................................11

President’s Report
During the last year we continued to make good progress on our collection management by cataloguing
and digitization of the permanent collection.
We had up to 4 staff rotating this summer and were so able to get a lot done while being open for visitors
in our temporary location.
I want to thank our dedicated staff for ensuring that this big task is moving forward. We’d also like to
particularly thank Susan Medville, our Heritage Consultant, without whose expertise we would not be
moving forward as we are.
I’d like to thank our outgoing board (Michelle Nortje, Debbie Demare, Roger Geeves and Pat Dahle) for
their dedication and commitment. Also a big THANK YOU to the Heritage Committee: Roger Geeves,
Lorna Geeves, Judith Hull, Assu Nydam, John Robins, Debbie Demare, Cara Demare, Teri Anderson.
They have spent many hours guiding the movement of the Bralorne Pioneer Museum in to the coming
years.
Through the purchase of the former Bralorne Pioneer Mine Motel through the Bridge River Valley
Community Association, we will be able to now plan for a move to the new location at a later point and
give the museum a permanent home within the mixed use building.
One challenge we keep facing is to gather stories from people that lived here (and still live here) about the
rich history of the Bridge River Valley.
Many visitors stopped by this year and shared their personal story and their connection to the area. It
always impresses me when somebody random has ties to the valley and finds themselves or a close
relative in one of the pictures.
We will continue to work hard to ensure that we preserve our unique artifacts for future generations.
Andre Kuerbis
President, Bralorne Pioneer Museum Society

Operational Update
• Operating at the temporary museum – 3767
Lillooet-Pioneer Rd. 40
• Part time year round staff – 6 hours per week
• Summer staff – weekends – 18 hours per week –
May long weekend – Thanksgiving
• Basic Exhibit Completed
• 553 visitors from May to October (excl. bus tours)
• Four bus tours – approximately 100 guests
• Donations to General Fund as at October 30
totalled $ 3123
• Online fundraising to Oct. 30 (included in above
amount) $725
• Regular contributions to Mountain Telegraph
newsletter
• Maintained Facebook page
• Created an Instagram account
• Professionally produced advertising and related
marketing materials
Special thanks to Roger and Lorna Geeves and Teri Anderson for their hard work getting the new
exhibits completed for Museum opening in May

Collection Management Project
• Two days of staff training were provided with Susan Medville in early 2017
• Work started on those collection cards that had not been input into Past Perfect
previously but needed to get into the Museums data system. It was slow going at first
and there were days that went faster than other when inputting the information in Past
Perfect. Near the end of May the cards were completed.
• In the summer there were two students, Emilie Larsen and Kali Chetcuti working on
Collections. During that time from early June more archival boxes were started.
• Also on the list were a huge amount of photograph’s that needed to be scanned. While
one student scanned the photographs the other staff numbered the items to have them
ready for uploading.
• Prior to uploading (Emilie) the photographs, the numbers had to be changed on the
scanning end. Those photographs were uploaded into Past Perfect with matching
numbers.
• All in all a total of between 2500-3500 pictures had been captured. They are now in
archival boxes for future reference, Nine boxes in total at this time. We reached our
goal prior to the student leaving for the summer.
• At beginning of 2017 there were 12 completed archival boxes, the next box to be
completed will have the total at 29!
• Two grant applications to the Canadian Conservation Institute. They are for The Snow
Queen Robe (Cape) and the Brexton Sign. Confirmation has been received that the
applications will participate in the annual evaluation in November , fingers crossed they
are chosen. Great work Janis who had never done this type of thing before.
• Our main staff Janis is taking additional training this November on Collections
Management and the Past Perfect Software.
Summary of Key Accomplishments of Collection for 2017
• Total Collection Cards: 1600.
• Entered 305 cards plus additional 237 or 33.875% increase
• Substantial increase of Archival Boxes and Artifacts put away up 41.379% from 2016
• Scanning and uploading of pictures prior to students leaving increase of 80% from 2016
• Grant applications accepted by the Canadian Conservation Institute-Evaluation in
November.
• On-Line courses for Collection Management to be taken in November-Past Perfect.

Our 2017 Staff
Susan Medville
Susan Medville, M.A., member of Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals is the
Principal of Mountain Heritage. She is a historian, cultural resource specialist and heritage and
museum planner. For the past few years she has served as a heritage consultant for working with
the Bridge River Valley Community Association Heritage Committee to assist with the planning
and management their many heritage resources.
In 2017 Susan worked with the Bralorne Pioneer Museum to develop their exhibit at the Hurst
Building, the Museum’s interim home. The exhibit includes six illustrated text panels discussing
the history of Bralorne and Pioneer from the first prospectors coming to the area, through the
booming years of the mines to the closing of the Pioneer Mine and the Whiting’s purchase of the
Bralorne town-site. A limited number of artifacts were selected and put on display. During this
time period Susan also met with Museum Staff to familiarize them in the process of cataloguing
the Museum’s collection and handling and storing the artifacts. She is currently working with the
Museum to develop a plan for the transfer of the Museum from the Hurst building to the
Bralorne Pioneer Mines Office which will become the Museum’s permanent home.
Long time museum advocate and staff person, Teri Anderson greeted
visitors on the weekend this year.

Janis Irvine
Janis Irvine has joined us as Museum Assistant in early 2017. She will be at the Museum on
Monday year around. She will also be doing two days a week on the Collection Management
Project.
A little about Janis:
• hold a diploma as a paralegal, payroll specialist and
school graduate.
• two previous businesses under my belt and the
encouragement from the Business Development Bank of
Canada I received hours of advice and training in
marketing, sales techniques and customer service to
become a superior competitor in my field.
• Janis is passionate about any new assignments given and
takes pride in completion
• In her spare time my immediate family and extended
family have priority. She enjoies the great outdoors,
fishing, snowmobiling, boating and activities this great
area has to offer. Watching the wild life, enjoying the
fauna and clean living.

Transition 2017
In order to facilitate the best possible shared operational opportunities, in 2015 the Bralorne-
Pioneer Museum signed a management agreement with BRVCA. BRVCA, through its Heritage
Committee will manage the operations of the Bralorne-Pioneer Museum going forward.
In July 2017, The Bridge River Valley Community Association purchased the Bralorne Pioneer
Mines Motel (nee Office) with the intention of relocating the Bralorne Pioneer Museum into the
building.
It is the intent of the Bridge River Valley Community Association in partnership with the Bralorne
Pioneer Museum Society to create a space for the Museum that will become an attraction for
visitors and a place to celebrate the area’s rich heritage.
The Bralorne Pioneer Mines Motel, first opened in 1939 and was the site of the Bralorne Pioneer
Mines Office. Now that the building has been purchased, the next step will be to renovate a
significant portion of the building to become the new home of the Bralorne Pioneer Museum,
which was established in 1977.
The remainder of the building will be activated for purposes of revenue generation, including long
term rentals of both office space and residential, a gift shop and coffee shop. The revenue streams
will create new professional jobs in the community and will also help to ensure the ongoing
maintenance of an important heritage building.

This project would not be possible without the generous support of many funders including; The
Government of Canada – Gas Tax Fund – Community Works Fund program, the Province of BC
and the BC Museums Association – BC| Canada 150: Celebrating B.C Communities and their
Contribution to Canada program, the Bralorne-Pioneer Museum Society, Northern Development
Initiative Trust – Community Halls and Recreation Facilities Program , the Squamish- Lillooet
Regional District – Northern Payment In Lieu of taxes fund, as well as several private funders.
The Bridge River Valley Community Association sincerely appreciates the support and we are
thankful to our funders who are making this project a reality.
Project Background
In 2010, the Bridge River Valley Community Association conducted a building assessment and
cost analysis of the Bralorne Pioneer Museum’s existing location. The structure, which had
housed the museum since the 1980’s was constructed in the 1950’s as a temporary class room for
the Bralorne High School’s Industrial Arts programme. The 2010 report advised the Museum
Society not to renovate the museum’s existing building due to advanced structural damage. The
report concluded that the best course of action would be either to construct a new building on the
existing site or find a suitable building in Bralorne in which to relocate the museum. The
community determined that constructing a new building on the existing location would be cost
prohibitive.
By 2014, the Museum building had deteriorated to the point that the most vulnerable items in the
collection had to be moved to a temporary leased location to ensure protection from environmental
damage.
During this time, the community identified the possibility of relocating to the Bralorne Pioneer
Mines Office (Motel) as the most beneficial solution. It is the only building in the Bralorne
townsite both large enough and in reasonable enough condition to occupy. The building is
prominently located in the centre of Bralorne and has been well cared for since it became privately
held in the 1970s when the mine closed.
Further, the building served as the Mines office from 1939- 1971 and carries historic significance
to the community. Coincidentally, the Mines Office building was the original home of the museum
when it first opened its doors in 1977. However the museum had to be relocated when the office
came under new ownership in the 1980s.
Through this project, the Museum will come full-circle and return to its original home, while
providing other economic opportunities for the community and a self-sustaining revenue source to
maintain the building.

Bridge River Gold
The much beloved Bridge River Gold book has long
been out of print.
Permission was provided to the Bralorne Pioneer
Museum to have rights to the book and to republish.
The Museum had done some fundraising to reproduce
the book some years ago. A Total of $1680 was
donated. Now thanks to the financial assistance of the
SLRD Area A Select Funds Grant In Aide, the finances
now exist to reproduce the book
Of course, things have changed and the digital era is
upon us, so the first step was having the book
transcribed.
Judith Hull has taken on spearheading the editing of the
book. We also found a wonderful book publishing
professional who is assisting us.
The goal with best of luck and everything moving
smoothly is to have the book available by July 2017.
Our hope is to also make the book available for sale as
an e-book.
Special thanks to Dir. Debbie Demare, Judith Hull, and
Ellen Trembley for the countless hours this is going to
take.

Museum Day
As part of an effort to reach out and rebuild connections with the many people who lived and
worked in Bralorne and area, we held our first annual Museum Day on September 8.
The Bralorne Reunion organizers were contacted and the afternoon’s events were designed in
conjunction with their schedule out here in the Valley.
Additional outreach efforts are planned to reach out to folks having luncheons, etc. so we can
take our photographs which need some identification of people, places and time.

Financial Report 2017
• A yearly budget is created for the Bralorne Pioneer Museum and variance reports are
produced twice per year
• With the reopening on the weekends in 2017, significant visitation and related donations
were made to date (Oct. 30) of $2698
• Book and other types sales recommenced this year with net profit (at Oct 30) of $280
• Online fundraising thus far in 2017 through Canada Helps Great Canadian Giving
Challenge was $725
• A very generous donation of $5,000 was provided by John Robins for a specific purpose,
the Collection Management project
• While the Museum receives a taxation-based tax requisition from the SLRD of, other
sources of revenue do not allow for summer operations. Summer operations this year
cost approximately $6,000 for staff. In 2017, an SLRD Grant In Aide of $5,000 was
granted to assist the Museum to be open more hours during the summer months
• We have included the 2016 Financial Statements in this report

BRALORNE-PIONEER MUSEUM SOCIETY
Financial Statements
Year Ended December 31, 2016
(Unaudited - See Notice To Reader)

BRALORNE-PIONEER MUSEUM SOCIETY
Index to Financial Statements
Year Ended December 31, 2016
(Unaudited - See Notice To Reader)
NOTICE TO READER 1
Page
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Balance Sheet 2
Statement of Earnings and Retained Earnings 3
Notes to Financial Statements 4

155 Main Street
PO Box 1660
Lillooet, BC
VOK 1V0
phone: 250-256-0476
email: debraneufeldcpa@gmail.com
web: www.debraneufeldcpa.com
NOTICE TO READER
On the basis of information provided by management, I have compiled the balance sheet of Bralorne-
Pioneer Museum Society as at December 31, 2016 and the statement of earnings and retained earnings
for the year then ended.
I have not performed an audit or a review engagement in respect of these financial statements and,
accordingly, I express no assurance thereon.
Readers are cautioned that these statements may not be appropriate for their purposes.
The financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2015 were compiled by another accounting
firm and were neither audited nor reviewed and are presented for comparative purposes only.
Lillooet, British Columbia
October 10, 2017
Debra Neufeld, CPA
CHARTERED PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTANT

BRALORNE-PIONEER MUSEUM SOCIETY
Balance Sheet
December 31, 2016
(Unaudited - See Notice To Reader)
2016 2015
$ $
ASSETS
CURRENT
Cash 15,394 18,125
Accounts receivable 6,173 1,981
Inventory 372 372
21,939 20,478
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
CURRENT
Accounts payable 2,059 2,000
RETAINED EARNINGS 19,880 18,478
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY 21,939 20,478
See notes to financial statements
2

BRALORNE-PIONEER MUSEUM SOCIETY
Statement of Earnings and Retained Earnings
Year Ended December 31, 2016
(Unaudited - See Notice To Reader)
2016 2015
$ $
REVENUE 50,480 49,297
EXPENSES
Advertising and promotion 130 60
BRVCA Management Agreemen 14,698 16,092
Bad debts - 435
Fundraising Expenses 1,726 -
Office 421 528
Professional fees 1,200 1,145
Rental - 2,000
Repairs and maintenance - 385
Salaries and wages 17 15,385
Collections Management 30,886 -
Utilities - 829
49,078 36,859
EXCESS OF REVENUES OVER EXPENSES 1,402 12,438
NET ASSETS, beginning of year 18,478 6,040
NET ASSETS, end of year 19,880 18,478
See notes to financial statements
3

BRALORNE-PIONEER MUSEUM SOCIETY
Notes to Financial Statements
Year Ended December 31, 2016
(Unaudited - See Notice To Reader)
1. DESCRIPTION OF OPERATIONS
Bralorne-Pioneer Museum Society (the "society") is incorporated provincially under the laws of the
province of British Columbia on November 4, 1977. Its main activity is the operation of a museum.
4