President's message
President’s update July 25, 2026
Those of you who have been here other years, will notice a difference in the hamlet of Bresaylor. I would like to give you a background of the Bresaylor Museum and our plans for the future.
The Bresaylor Museum has operated for 43 years, after taking over from the Joe Sayers Museum. When Joe retired, he moved to Victoria, BC. His idea of holidays was to leave beautiful British Columbia and come out to Bresaylor every summer and collect artifacts and run his museum. He bought the Alex Lennie house for his museum and the Federal agent’s house for his summer residence. When Joe’s health started to fail, he talked the young artist, Velma Foster, who had moved from Calgary and had bought the church for an art studio and living quarters, into starting the Bresaylor Heritage Museum Association. Joe donated his artifacts and two buildings to the museum.
Joe had many stories to tell, some of which have been forgotten in time. His parents lived in the what we know as Velma Foster’s house at the end of the street. His mother lived to be the longest lasting survivor of the Frog Lake Massacre and his father being a prisoner at Poundmaker’s camp at the age of 16.
In 1989 when a tornado ripped the church off its foundation and moved it three feet, Velma bought and moved into the former house of Joe’s parents. Velma felt the history of Bresaylor important enough that with the help of neighbours and friends, she spearheaded the Bresaylor history book which is now gone through its third printing. Velma started the annual potlucks which we are celebrating today.
A few years ago, we launched website where you can read some of our stories and see some of our artifacts, and we are continuing to work on our website.
Three years ago when a group came through that walked the Fort Pitt trail, I guided them through the area. This showed the tremendous historic location we have here and the driving tour was started. A few years ago, thanks to the RM, we bought all the lots the RM owned in the hamlet for $1 each. Velma is passing her house and lots to us in her estate.
Velma’s house will become he museum’s office and will display Velma’s artwork as well as artifacts. First, we will have to renovate Velma’s house and install a security system. This fall a new porch and some repairs will be done on our museum buildings. As funds permit, we will build a security fence around the property.
Next year will be 145 years since Bresaylor settlement started and we are planning a two day event on the last weekend of July.
Eventually, we may see a $1 million display building on this property. These things can only be done as we can afford them. We operate on corporate and private donations and grants.
The Bresaylor museum has survived the last 43 years and also the Joe Sayers’ Museum before that. Let’s mark it a museum that not only survives, but thrives, preserving the area’s heritage.
Bob Peterson
