Learning the B.C. Liberal government has promised $50,000 to help fix the floor in The Lodge is fantastic news for the community of 100 Mile House.
Just about every community along the Cariboo Highway has memorabilia on display so residents and tourists alike can learn about the local history of the area.
Some communities have makeshift museums where local residents and history buffs have collected, documented and displayed items.
They carefully detail where and when the artifacts were found, what they were used for, who owned them and details of the pioneer families that used them.
It is through this labour of love that we learn about the history of our communities and get a feel of how they were carved out of the wilderness.
We learn how these families grew and what each generation contributed to the growth of their particular communities and how they were connected to neighbouring areas.
We also learn about the Aboriginal people who were here when the pioneers arrived and how the two peoples mingled and, in some cases, blended.
So, why is this so important?
It's really quite simple.
It gives us a sense of who we are, which, in turn, gives a sense of pride of the determination, co-operation and strength of the people who built the communities we live in today.
If we pay attention to what our pioneers did to survive and how they helped each other build their homes and facilities together to make their towns and villages a better place to live, we will learn secrets of being kinder and more caring neighbours.
This is why it is so sad 100 Mile House doesn't have a museum today.
However, the news that we will have one soon is very exciting.
The 100 Mile & District Historical Society has been working long and hard to turn The Lodge into a museum, and it is currently storing artifacts in sheds.
Fixing the floor is the first step in being able to use The Lodge for public assembly for things like the museum.
Undoubtedly, there are electrical and plumbing concerns that have to be looked after, too.
We have to thank Donna Barnett for getting the seed money to fix the floor and start the process of finding a home for the museum.
Now, it is up to the District of 100 Mile House to help area residents find the money to get the rest of the job done.
Fortunately, district staff members are masters at using seed money to successfully apply for grants to get capital projects completed.
We have until March 31, 2015 to get the job done; let's do it together.