Waller – Sam Waller Museum

Commonly known as “Mr. Museum”, Sam Waller immigrated to Ontario, Canada from England on March 22, 1911 at the age of 16. He served in WWI until he was discharged in 1919 and then returned to Canada. He received his first teaching position at the Anglican Residential School in Moose Factory, where he began learning Cree, in 1923, and then in 1930 he moved to Lake St. Martin Indian School in Gypsumville, Manitoba as a teacher and lay missionary. In 1957 Sam retired from teaching, except on occasion. Wanting to keep his collection, Sam decided to find a place where he could display it. Sam purchased land (1359 Gordon Avenue in The Pas) and obtained two bunkhouses from The Pas Lumber Company to place on the lot where he stored and displayed his collection of oddities. After some difficulty obtaining a museum license, The Little Northern Museum officially opened its doors on February 1st, 1958.