Thank you to our speakers!

The Museum has been very fortunate to have two fantastic speakers over the last week. Both talented, informative, and fun speakers!

Eric Moller and Stephanie Capyk of Cardinal Creek Honey graced us with their sweet presence last Saturday, August 10th. They regaled us with stories of beekeeping and the various practices used in beekeeping.

Last night, August 15th, Teresa Griffith joined us to tell tales from her new book "York Boat Captain: 18 Life-Changing Days on the Peace River". Through laughter, stories, and fun, Captain Overboard (as she is sometimes known) shared some of her time on the Peace River with her audience, just enough to entice us to buy the book and read it for ourselves.  

Teresa Griffith signing her book for a fan. 

"York Boat Captain" Book Launch with Teresa Griffith

Have you ever met an author who was also a York boat captain? No? Well, after you meet Captain Teresa Griffith, you will no longer be able to say that.

Teresa had the audacity to become the first woman captain of a York boat – a position reserved for men in the heyday of fur trading and York boats in the 1800s. In fact, the crew of the fur-bearing boat was all men. Leap ahead to 2011. We  have not only a female captain, but also a female crew member – not token females, but hardworking, skilful participants carrying their weight literally and figuratively – Teresa as captain (sweep) and Cheryll Ferguson-Welke as oarsman along with her male counterparts.

Teresa Griffith’s book – York Boat Captain, 18 Life-changing Days on the Peace River is not a women’s story, as such, but rather a people story – a  documentation of the human spirit – merging skill with emulating the activities of days gone by – business and survival.

In Teresa’s compelling, spellbinding and informative book, she makes what might be considered mundane – the prep work – fascinating – a good lead up to the adventure of the 18 days on the Peace River for whom all involved was a life-changing experience.

Teresa’s well-written, attention-getting work is a darn good read.

York Boat landing at Riverfront Park, Peace River, June 2011.
Photo by Beth Wilkins, Researcher, Peace River Museum, Archives and Mackenzie Centre.  

Please see for yourself, at the launching of the book York Boat Captain, 18 Life-changing Days on the Peace River – Thursday, August 15, 7:30 p.m. at the Peace River Museum, Archives and Mackenzie Centre. Captain Teresa Griffith looks forward to chatting with you about her adventure and signing her book, which will be for sale. Cash or cheque is acceptable.

Paddler Teresa Griffith regaled visitors with her tales

On Thursday night, August 16, the Museum played host to veteran paddler Teresa Griffith, owner of Flow North Paddling Company, as she regaled all those who attended with stories about her time kayaking and canoeing the Peace River in order to create the GeoTourism paddling guide of the river. She also spoke a bit about her time as Captain of GeoTourism's replica York Boat on its inaugural voyage in 2011.

Attendees were inspired by Teresa's speaking, because she brings personal experiences and feelings into her tales. Her experience is vast; she has spent many days paddling on the Peace River.

This talk was the perfect accompaniment to our current exhibit Paddling Through Time: 220 Years of Canoeing on the Peace, and the Museum thanks Teresa and her husband Darren for spending a wonderful evening with us. 

Veteran Paddler Teresa Griffith to speak at Peace River Museum

In conjunction with our current exhibit, Paddling Through Time: 220 Years of Canoeing on the Peace, and the upcoming, Paddle the Peace, Teresa Griffith, owner/operator of Flow North Paddling Company, will be visiting the Museum. She will be speaking on August 16th at 7 pm about her trips on the Peace River as a solo kayaker and on the York Boat through GeoTourism Canada.

We are excited to host Teresa and invite anyone interested in our beautiful Peace River to join us on Thursday, August 16th at 7 pm at the Museum.