Morinville Museum Ousts NCABL Hall of Fame

Citing a lack of space due to the increasing pressure to house more artifacts from St. Jean Baptiste Church following the devastating fire which burned that historic building to the ground almost two months ago, the Morinville Museum Committee informed League Office that it must vacate its premises in short order.  Commissioner Riopel was taken aback by the committee’s decision which was swift and totally unexpected.  Another reason given by the Museum Committee for asking that the NCABL vacate the premises was that the Hall of Fame did not fit all of the criteria for housing within a designated museum.  Commissioner Riopel responded that this fact had not prevented the museum from having welcomed the NCABL in 2017 during the League’s 50th anniversary celebrations.  In that year, the Town of Morinville had assisted the NCABL in encouraging the Morinville Museum Committee to approve a move to that facility located on Morinville’s main street.  Prior to 2017, the Hall of Fame had a smaller footprint and had found space in the former Morinville Cultural Centre as well as in the Town Hall itself.  Today, the Hall contains all of the press books containing the entire League history from its formation in 1967 to the present day.  This massive undertaking was completed by the NCABL in its 50th anniversary year and first entered into a public exposition during the “Meet and Greet” event held in Westlock as part of the 50th anniversary celebrations. Morinville was recognized as the official seat of the NCABL by decree of Council in 1993 following the League’s Silver Anniversary celebrations.  The NCABL has always maintained an official address in Morinville despite the Town not having had a franchise in over two decades.  Commissioner Riopel addressed Morinville Town Council last Tuesday to inform them of the Museum’s decision.  Discussions are set to take place with upper administration in the very near future when we will hopefully have more to report on the fate of the NCABL Hall Of Fame in Morinville.