About Our Collections
Our Collections
The WDM Collections represent the cultural, agricultural and industrial history of Western Canada, with strong emphasis on Saskatchewan, from the settlement period (c.1870s) to the present day. These Collections are held in trust for the people of Saskatchewan. The WDM holds over 75,000 artifacts and over 500,000 archival, photographic, and library materials. Generally, the WDM does not collect fine arts, natural history or archaeological artifacts, although some of these types of artifacts remain in the Permanent Collection from earlier collecting priorities.
Collections Development Plan
The Collections Development Plan guides decision making by defining the criteria for accepting artifacts into the WDM’s accessioned Collections, the criteria for removing artifacts from the WDM’s accessioned Collections, and how limited resources will be allocated in the overall care and maintenance of the WDM’s accessioned Collections.
The Collections Development Plan is aligned to the WDM’s mandate as legislated by the Government of Saskatchewan in The Western Development Museum Act and the Board of Directors’ Ends Policy. The Plan responds to the WDM vision of A Saskatchewan Where Everyone Belongs and Histories Matter, in its goals to develop the Collections to better represent all Saskatchewan people, particularly those who have been unrepresented, underrepresented, misrepresented or erased in the Museum’s Collections and narratives since its founding in 1949.
Collections Storage Upgrades
The Curatorial & Corporate Services Centre is currently carrying out a large-scale collections project to implement critical upgrades in artifact storage to meet fire code regulations. This work will ensure that artifacts in storage are cared for now and for future generations.
The collections storage areas at the Curatorial & Corporate Services Centre will not be accessible to the public for the duration of the project. Public tours of these storage spaces and physical access to artifacts in storage for research purposes have been cancelled until further notice.
This project has been made possible in part by the Government of Canada.
George Shepherd Library
The George Shepherd Library contains a collection of printed materials, photographs (printed and digital) and other media types related to Saskatchewan and Western Canadian History and artifacts in the WDM collection.
Learn more about the Library’s namesake, George Shepherd.
