Biggar Museum & Gallery
105 3rd Avenue West S0K 0M0 Biggar, SK, Canada

One of 20 thought provoking paintings by Donna Langhorne, also known as Donna the Strange. This is called Rise. The Doodem is the Thunderbird and the subject is Perpetuation of Stereotypes. The preamble to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIPS) therefore affirms that all doctrines, policies, and practices based on or advocating superiority of peoples or individuals on the basis of national origin or racial, religious, ethnic or cultural differences are racist, scientifically false, legally invalid, morally condemnable and socially unjust. Yet, they persist!

Another of the exquisite paintings by Donna Langhorne in our gallery. Open Monday - Friday 1:00 - 5:00. Call 306-948-3451 to book a morning appointment. This one is named Poisoned. the Doodem (or totem animal) is the Rabbit...the subject is lack of cleaning drinking water. "The treaties were to last as long as the sun shines and the rivers flow. These are symbols of life, as is the fertile rabbit. The systemic failure to provide safe drinking water on reserve has turned the source of life into a death dealing substance. the Rabbit tribe offers hope to improve living conditions on reserve. " This is just one of 20 thought provoking paintings in the collection, each one addressing Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action.

There is always something new to learn at the Museum... We recently discovered that some of our glass collection is Uranium Glass! A popular collectable right now. Come check it out in person and learn about the historical use of uranium in glass production.

In honour of International Women's Day, here is a painting by Donna Langhorne that is now hanging in the Gallery. The subject is Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls Here the Mother Bear is the nurturer...."bringing power through the roots of the feminized tree of life. The victims suitably retired in the red dress movement, are at peace in their respective seed pods of life. It invites consideration for a broader community healing from deep personal loss and c...ultural trauma, and teaches us the importance of dignifying these vulnerable women who were treated by their predators as faceless, nameless, dehumanized objects. In this way, we can imagine conditions where these women are at peace, their loss not in vain but, rather, serving as seeds for a safer, beautifully uplifting future." this is just one of the 20 paintings in the gallery...open 1-5 Monday to Friday, Please call 306-948-3451 to book a morning visit. See more

Common Truths, by Donna Langhorne in the galley now until March 23. Our hours are Monday to Friday 1:00 - 5:00, if you wan to see it in the mornings, please call 306-948-3451 to book an appointment. We are here after school. We follow SHA protocol, masks to be worn and hands sanitized. Here are only 5 canvases out of the 20 . . . colourful, vibrant, and thought provoking!

Over a century of gratitude for the businesses in our town..... It's finally warming up!! Now my thoughts are turning to the garden. February is a good time to start looking at starting seeds to set out as plants for when spring gets here . a very welcome thought let me tell you! I need seeds for herbs and potting soil and the cells to start everything and I know I can get all that downtown in Biggar. I also know I can get conversation about what others have started, shari...ng methods, achievements; being part of the community that grows will be found in the shops. In these times of staying home, keeping company with very few, its kinda nice to share some conversations with like minded people. Our town was created by those whose goods and services were for the settlers. I imagine all the conversation and sharing they met when they went into the shops were welcome as well. When the railroad was completed and the goods started rolling in, our town grew from a village in 1909 to a town in 1911. Some of the first businesses were the Omrod building, the Biggar Hotel, the Empire Hotel, North American Lumber and E.H. Hardware. Then A.W. Mooney, McKinley and Mitchell Hardware came in quickly after 1909. Pharmacies and Drug Stores were built, and of course, Groceries. Our town has had the businesses to provide the town and the outlaying farming area for anything and everything we have ever needed. From what I can see, there have always been two hardware stores in town. Who can remember P.H. O’Brien hardware? McLeod’s has not been gone for too long. One Stop Home Improvement has been here since 1993, with some owners changing hands. Home Hardware is in the building that used to be Bargain StoreI will have to look into what was there in the past, can anyone tell me? I am so grateful for the products and services provided by the owners and staff, as the early settlers must have felt too. See more

Red Sky in the morning...Sailors take warning.... so does that mean there will be no wind today...now, won't that be a welcome relief! I tell you, our town forefathers were made of strong stuff to hunker down for the winter in the dug out or sod shack or shack, hopefully with enough wood to last months and months...food to last months and months, and hoping for a passable road to get to town to get supplies and connections with other people...think about that for awhile.

We have survived another blizzard! And our power stayed on, thank you to SaskPower linesmen, to the town for getting at the roads, to everyone out there shovelling and keeping the businesses open...imagine what a blizzard in 1909 would been like in a sod shack out near Argo...?!!! Here are a couple pictures of prior snow storms here in Biggar...can you guess where these places were???

Well, our first week into 2021, and what have we had...light at the end of the tunnel for the virus with more vaccines being delivered, chaos on Capitol Hill in USA...and very pleasant temperatures, albeit pretty slippery out there...do be careful, every step outside needs concentration! What was going on in Biggar in January in 1914 --- Canadian Bank of Commerce to occupy new building on Main Street - a lot less terrifying then in Washington this year!! For more "Days Before Today", check out The Independent next Thursday!

We still have auction items that have not been picked up....please come in and pick them up, we are open 1:00 - 5:00 Monday to Friday!!

And we are back! I thought we would start the new year off with a picture of what April looked like in 1923! We are still looking for framed aerial photos of your farm....we promise to take really good care of them...our plan is to put them up in the gallery for the month of January. Call us at 306-948-3451 for more information.

There are still more Auction bid winners who have not picked up their gifts...today is the last day...9-12:00 1:00 - 5:00...See you all soon...and have a great holiday!!