Kara Burton, executive director of the Osoyoos Museum and Archives stands amidst the renovations now underway. Dale Boyd/Osoyoos Times

Dale Boyd

Osoyoos Times

Standing amidst the noise of construction equipment and swinging hammers, executive director of the Osoyoos Museum and Archives Kara Burton is watching years of work come to fruition.

The move to the completely reimagined new space is a project she has been working on for almost a decade since regional district residents voted to purchase the property in 2011.

“I started working for the museum maybe two months before that vote, so it has pretty much been my whole career at the museum working towards this,” Burton said, gesturing to the busy work site. “To see it coming together and actually ripping stuff apart is huge, and it’s actually a lot of fun.”

Read more: Museum still seeking funding for 2020 move

The museum took possession of the old Home Building Centre on Main Street on Jan. 2 when Burton made the first sledgehammer swing to start the renovations on the new space.

“We’re just digging right in to get the demolition done, to get the renovation done so we can get open by mid-June,” Burton said. “We are sort of running both buildings right now so it will be very limited down at the old building.”

The new museum will focus on three main themes in Osoyoos: the land, the people and the industry. Burton will be keeping an eye on the renovations and construction while simultaneously doing the research and writing for the new exhibition.

“We’re working closely with our interior designer, the local carpenter. Everyone that we are hiring to do the work we are keeping it as local as possible. So all the electricians are local, the plumbers. It’s a community project,” Burton said.

While she is overseeing the changes to the museum’s new home, Burton noted construction work is not typically part of her job.

“I think when I swung the sledgehammer the other day, that was the first time I picked one up,” Burton laughed.

The space will not only examine the history and culture of Osoyoos’ past, but provide space and activities for the town and local groups in hopes of becoming a present-day cultural hub.

“We want it to be a community hub, a community building. We have planned a multi-purpose room which will be downstairs which can be a meeting space for local groups and organizations. I’m hoping to have all local artists and local products available in the gift shop. Of course, the stories we tell with the exhibits and everything is all local,” Burton said. “We really want it to be the community museum and keep everything Osoyoos.”