2025 is a year of new beginnings and fond farewells here at the museum. With the recent retirement of our dedicated director and curator of 17 years, Irene Kerr, we look forward to what is in store for the museum with Olivia Cotton Cornwall and Samuel Locken stepping into the roles. This would mark the fourth time that the position has passed hands, with Olivia and Sam becoming the fifth Curator and Director (respectively) of the Museum of the Highwood in sixty four years. Let’s look back on the history of this special group of passionate and dedicated individuals that have carried the museum through the sometimes turbulent but often fascinating years in the town of High River.

When the first museum committee was established in 1962, Don King was an active volunteer. He and Don Tannas curated exhibits in the little museum that was opened in the former Eamor’s Saddlery building on Third Avenue S.W. They worked with committee and community members and used their connections at the Glenbow to grow and maintain the collection. When the deal was made with the town to move into the old CPR Station in 1977, it was a natural choice that Don would become the first full-time curator of the Museum of the Highwood.

His expertise from the Glenbow, upbringing in the town of High River and time as an active volunteer with the committee proved to be just what was needed to get the museum to where it needed to be. As curator, Don was able to set the foundations of the museum into the old train station, spending the following years cataloguing the collection, making necessary changes to the layout of the building and creating fascinating exhibits. Don’s positive reputation from being an impressively active community member would inspire folks from all over the area to get involved in the exciting new museum. His passion for archeology played an important role in telling the early history of the Highwood watershed and his connections through living a very involved life in this historic area played a role in continuing the story from there.

After his retirement in 1991, he continued to be a mentor to his successors at the museum - providing valuable insight and endless knowledge about the history of the Highwood right up to his passing in 2007. Don’s vision for preserving and sharing the history of the area is fundamental in the ongoing success story of Museum of the Highwood.

After her time operating the renowned tea house at the E.P. Ranch, Lynn Cartwright worked as Don’s curatorial assistant for a year before she became the Director and Curator upon his retirement. With her deep roots in the foothills and ranching and her natural sight for creativity, she was a wonderful fit for the role. Lynn curated the wildly successful Range to Racetrack exhibit that was loaned to the Calgary Stampede and put on display in the Plus 15 at the BMO Centre, where it remained until 2020. Other exhibits created by Lynn were the groundbreaking Ladies in Learning and Scouts and Guides: Now and Then. She also kickstarted the Ranch Rodeo Fundraiser, which was a successful and engaging event for local ranchers in support of the Museum of the Highwood.

Lynn’s time at the museum, though relatively short, left a lasting imprint on the museum’s western identity. She would then move south to Montana with her husband, western bronze artist Jay Contway who passed away in 2018. She has since carried on his legacy, sharing his work at museums, events and art shows across Montana and Alberta and writing a wonderful book in 2024 titled Jay Contway: The Artist, The Cowboy, His Legacy.

Dianne worked at Heritage Park as the Manager of Historical Operations and Programming before taking the job as the third curator of the Museum of the Highwood in 1995. With her programming expertise, creativity and passion for history, she shared the history of the Highwood area through school programs and memorable exhibits. Generations of students fondly remember her pioneer programs and still talk about them to this day. Notable exhibits during Dianne’s time at the museum include The River - A Celebration of the Highwood and Sheep Rivers, The Lure of the Open Road, Motoring in Alberta and Getting the Goods on Mail Order Shopping, which won an Award of Merit from the Alberta Museums Association. Dianne also started the successful Historic Homes Tour in 2000, which became one of the most significant fundraisers for the museum.

After her time at the museum, Dianne continued to contribute to the education of youth in the community through her impactful work with Literacy For Life.

Dianne passed away in 2022 and the legacy she has left behind in both the museum and community will be fondly remembered. Her passion, dedication and spirit will forever inspire the identity of the Museum of the Highwood.

Irene’s involvement in the museum began in the 90’s when she signed up to be a volunteer and eventually a board member. Her passion for history and belief in the important work of preserving it along with her experience of 14 years working at the Glenbow Museum lead to her taking on the role of Director and Curator when Dianne announced her retirement in 2007.

She continued and improved on the important work of cataloguing and organising the collection. When fire struck the museum in 2010 and then a major flood 3 years later, Irene dedicated her time and resources to rally a team to restore what they could of the collection. She worked tirelessly to save the museum and it’s rightful home in the train station. Over the course of these unprecedented times Irene managed to keep the operations of the museum up and running, putting on impressive exhibits including Listen Up! Musical Memories of the Highwood, W.O. Mitchell Folksy, Foothills Philosopher, Marking Macleod Trail and Unfair Trade. Irene’s natural talent of identifying connections resulted in people from all over the community creating lasting relationships with the museum. Through employment, volunteer opportunities, artefact donations, research or other ways of involvement, Irene consistently drew people into the wonderful world of High River’s history and culture - and that will carry on as she works on projects near and dear to her heart after her retirement from the museum.

While the calamities that struck the museum were a challenge of her time as Director, Irene’s mark on the museum is defined by her dedication to maintaining the integrity and importance of history through storytelling and research. It didn’t matter who walked into the museum - if they had a question, Irene would find the answer. This is a quality that will not only be missed by the current staff, but carried on with pride as a fundamental element of the museum’s role in the community.

Olivia Cotton cornwall & samuel locken

2025 -

The Museum of the Highwood’s success story has no doubt been a result of the passion and dedication of the Curator/Directors that have carried it through the past 67 years. That story is now being carried on as Irene retires and this special position has been restructured into two positions, passed into the hands of Olivia Cotton Cornwall and Samuel Locken.

Olivia first visited the Museum of the Highwood in 2005 when her family moved from Ontario to Alberta, and eight years later would begin working here as a summer student in 2013 - the year of the flood. This began her experience of working in the museum world, as she pursued her post-secondary studies earning her B.A in History with a minor in Museum and Heritage Studies and graduating from the University of Alberta with her M.A. in History and English in 2020. During this time Olivia returned to the museum as a summer student, volunteer and full time staff member. She also worked at Heritage Park as the Education Specialist in 2022 before returning to the Museum of the Highwood as the Educational Programmer in 2023. Her path has led her to stepping into the role of Curator, where she plans to continue the important work of preserving and sharing the historical culture and heritage of the Highwood area while exploring innovative ways to connect and reflect the needs of the diversity of the community. Through programming, interpretation and exhibits Olivia aspires to explore topics and subjects that are relevant to the community and spark reflection, thought, and curiosity in museum visitors.

“My vision for the future of the Museum of the Highwood is one where everyone in our community feels welcome. It is a highly collaborative and participatory environment, where people from all backgrounds feel like they can share their stories, and their voices can be heard.” - Olivia Cotton Cornwall, Curator of the Museum of the Highwood

Samuel Locken grew up east of High River, with family roots in ranching and farming. He attended Mount Royal College and Queens University and trained as a pilot at the private level. His interest and familiarity with the Highwood area’s past and present along with his excellent people skills led him to successfully apply for a summer student position at the museum in 2021, working as a Visitor Information Provider. Samuel eventually became a part-time employee taking on more administration and operational duties, as well as research and exhibit installation. His interest in High River’s fascinating military and air force history inspired him to work on the annual Remembrance Day exhibits including last year’s The Long Road Home. As the Director, Samuel is committed to finding innovative ways to maintain museum operations and hopes to increase museum membership and inspire even more people from High River and surrounding communities to be involved in the Museum of the Highwood.

“I want the Museum of the Highwood to deepen our ties with other museums in our community, and across Southern Alberta. I hope that we can improve further on our position as a prominent public commons for the people of High River.” - Samuel Locken, Director of the Museum of the Highwood.

With our history in the confident hands of our new Curator and new Director, the Museum of the Highwood continues to preserve and share the unique history of the Highwood area, excite and enlighten visitors, and inspire our citizens to build a better future with a connection to the past.

Interested in getting involved in the museum’s exciting next chapter? Contact us today!

Written by Hayley Kerr-Watson

The Minds of the Museum of the Highwood

The Museum of the Highwood will preserve and share the unique history of the Highwood area, excite and enlighten our visitors, and inspire our citizens to build a better future for the community through a connection to the past.

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