Winter Festivities Month

Join us throughout December as we celebrate winter.

Christmas Past and Present activity booklet: December 1 – January 8

Pick up a complimentary activity booklet to explore the Museum while learning more about winter and the holidays at different times in Saskatchewan’s past, comparing the past to the present. The answers for questions in red can be found in the Museum. The other questions and activities can be done at home after your visit; you can complete as many or as few as you wish.

This activity is included with Museum admission. WDM members are free.

Snowflake Seek and Find: December 1 – January 8

Did you know that every snowflake is different? Pick up an activity sheet and see how many you can spot in the WDM’s galleries. After you’ve finished, bring your sheet back to the lobby and receive a fun prize and a chance to win a plush Piper Cub.

This activity is included with Museum admission. WDM members are free.

Holiday Films from the National Film Board: December 1 – January 8

Watch a selection of animated and live-action short films with a winter theme screened in the Saskatchewan Theatre.

The Great Toy Robbery (1963), Jeff Hale, 6 minutes
This short animation stars the world’s most-wanted good guy: Santa Claus. In this spoof of the Wild West, good triumphs over evil, but not before the evil robbers and their innocent victims have romped through some odd situations.

The Joy of Winter (1962), Jean Dansereau & Bernard Gosselin, 14 minutes
How Canadians adjust to their long, snowbound season. Filmed with humour, The Joy of Winter shows people making the best of what they cannot change. From tiny tots to human polar bears the film leaves no doubt that, in the eyes of many Canadians, winter may offer more attractions than summer. Film without words.

Ludovic – Let it Snow (2011), Sylvain Lavoie, 12 minutes
It’s a nice winter day outside, and Ludovic and George are busy making snow bears. But George end up making a snow dragon. When their two snow creatures come to life, a nice game of red light-green light is great fun, until it’s a run to avoid the snowball blowing off of the snow dragon’s nose!

Snow Cat (1998), Sheldon Cohen, 23 minutes
A grandmother tells her young grandchild the moving tale of a lonely girl and an unforgettable magical cat in this animated short narrated by Oscar®, Emmy and Tony award winner Maureen Stapleton. The film is based on a short story written by Dayal Kaur Khalsa and adapted by two-time Governor General’s award recipient Tim Wynne-Jones.

It’s Snow (1974), Gayle Thomas, 5 minutes
Colour cut-out animation inspired by the shape of snowflakes and touched with the airy magic of these fragile designs. While music tinkles invitingly, snowflakes roll and whirl, pulse and glitter, shining with the many hues of twinkling lights. Made without words, this is a joyous film to please the fancy and captivate eye and ear.

The Rink (1962), Gilles Carle, 10 minutes
This short, silent film captures a Sunday afternoon at a community skating rink. Iconic Quebec director Gilles Carle has the camera follow toddlers learning to skate, young girls flashing their skates and boys decked out in the colours of their favourite hockey teams. A picture-perfect moment on a bright winter’s day.

This activity is included with Museum admission. WDM members are free.

A Christmas Long Ago

Christmas is a time when a person’s thoughts turn to family gatherings, decorated trees, turkey dinners, brightly wrapped gifts and holiday traditions.

Like today, children of long ago grew more excited as the holiday season drew near – wondering what the hung stocking would hold, what new toy may be under the tree, what shape the newly cut tree would take, and what goodies the family would bake.

Through this Museum-led program, we provide an opportunity for visitors to learn about 1910 settler life and, in particular, about family traditions during the holiday season.

Explore holiday traditions, see what types of gifts were given, and make an old-fashioned craft. Recommended for ages five years and up; families welcome!

Dates

• December 10 – 10:00 am
• December 10 – 2:00 pm
• December 17 – 10:00 am
• December 17 – 2:00 pm
• December 23 – 7:00 pm (VIRTUAL) – registration closed.

Cost

WDM members: Adult $12.69, Youth $9.51
Non-members: Adult $15.86, Youth $12.69

Pre-registration is required for all programs.

Register

Click on a date/time to register.

• December 10 – 10:00 am
• December 10 – 2:00 pm
• December 17 – 10:00 am
• December 17 – 2:00 pm
• December 23 – 7:00 pm (VIRTUAL) – registration closed.

Refund Policy

• Registrations cancelled more than five business days prior to the program will be issued a 100% refund.
• Registrations cancelled within five days of the program will be refunded their registration fee less an administration fee of 15%.

Information

WDM Moose Jaw: 1-306-693-5989