Heroes
Sid reflects on the worldwide pandemic that is COVID-19 and our current reality. He said the only other time in his life when he felt stuck was during the War.
Sid’s Treasures
A trip to town
Sid’s youngest daughter was in conversation with Yukon artist Jim Robb for a commission of Bordertown Garage and Museum / Sid’s Treasures.
Vote Livesey
The smoke has begun to clear in Beaver Creek, but hot embers still smoulder along the highway. We haven’t had a fire like this one
Bon voyage
Back in those days, ‘20s and ‘30s was known as the Golden Age of Tourism. It was a pretty busy time! I have lots of
Map to the gold fields
Passage routes marked in red which includes the “Chilcoot Pass” and the “White Pass” Sid’s days off consist of visiting with other locals at coffee
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Teddy bear time
“I don’t know its full history but I found it in an old trunk. It must be from the early 1900s,” said Sid, carrying the
Rations and cookbooks
Late May brought sun and warmth to the bordertown of Beaver Creek, Yukon. Sid was already back working hard at the Visitor Information Centre. He
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Turn up the amp …
For a two-night gig this past July in Beaver Creek, Larry Berrio and his band shut the town down! Berrio, from Sudbury, Ontario, travelled 5,000 kilometres with his bandmates to the most westerly community in Canada. With open arms, the town of Beaver Creek welcomed the band.
South to Alberta (a.k.a. Sid’s trip down memory lane)
Fun fact: Elvis Presley drove a 1958 red MGA, just like this one, in Blue Hawaii.
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South to Alberta – Part I
Exploration, adventure and community are among the most important aspects of living in the North. For many Yukoners, it was the “want” to explore a fantasized part of the world and to seek adventure in discovering Canada’s North, but it was the sense of community that made people want to stay.
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Learning from Roy
“When we first came to Canada in 1953 [from Friesland, Netherlands], we couldn’t read or write. I went down to the local bookstore and found this book.”
’50s Diner!
The first snow has settled in the border town of Beaver Creek, Yukon. Sid is preparing his house and museum for a long cold winter.
This beauty even has adjustable suspension
I was sitting comfortably amongst blankets and a beaver pelt on Sid’s living room couch, visiting with Jill. She pours us a warm cup of
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Giving That Room Props for Its Good Vibe
When the Westmark Hotel in Beaver Creek closed its doors in 2013, it brought an end to the dinner and show extravaganza called Beaver Creek
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Horses of the Yukon
Sid van der Meer, the history buff of Beaver Creek, Yukon, has a little part of the horse history displayed at Sid’s Treasures.
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Yukon History Maker
Sid Van der Meer received the History Maker Award , it is presented for outstanding contributions to Yukon heritage.
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Stoking the Fire
Today, Sid and I are on the hunt for an unusual piece in his collection. As we sift through antiques after antiques, we come across
A Big Yellow Truck with a Past
“It’s a 1942 International,” Sid tells me as we are standing by a truck whose yellow paint is slowly chipping away with age. The truck’s
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Stereoscopic Views
Looking through Sid’s antiquities I spot a familiar sight: stereoscopes. I had a pair of bright orange View Masters (a trademarked format of stereoscope) when
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Banners! Banners!
“They were popular back in the 1960s,” Sid tells me as we stand in one of his many garages. Built attached to his house, his old
Propeller Invention
Sid van der Meer hustles about Beaver Creek’s Visitor Information Centre preparing his workplace for the 2016 tourism season. With new Yukon tourism commercials airing
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Cave In
Sid van der Meer’s stories as dictated to his granddaughter Teresa. The tree leaves are rapidly changing and the temperature is beginning to drop. Autumn
An old wooden mantelpiece helps tell the story of the Northwest Staging Route
The airport in Beaver Creek, Yukon is small and if you don’t know what you’re looking for, there’s a good chance you will miss it.
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General Store
Sid van der Meer’s Bordertown Garage & Museum is composed up of numerous themed rooms. One room is themed as an old general store and
Two Tones
Today, Sid sits outside the Beaver Creek Visitor Information Centre basking in the warm summer sun. As he waits for visitors to arrive, he admires
Henry Ford’s Lady
Parked in front of Sid’s museum in Beaver Creek, Yukon sits a 1928 Ford Model A. “I bought it at a swap meet in Lethbridge
Ironing it Out
No matter how often you visit Sid van der Meer’s Bordertown Garage and Museum in Beaver Creek, there is always more to see. Many people
Diner Lights
Sid van der Meer recently travelled from the gold rush fields of Arizona back to Canada’s most westerly community — Beaver Creek, Yukon. Sid has
Nebraska Turtle
Sid van der Meer has lived in Beaver Creek, Yukon since 1997. He’s made a comfortable home for himself, and a charming museum for friends
Western Command
Sid van der Meer is an antiquarian and a storyteller; he has many wild yarns to share with his family, friends, and visitors who come
Boiling Water
Waking up to a layer of snow on the ground, Sid van der Meer ventures out to his museum. He is getting ready for winter
Fuelling Up
The beginning of September brings snow to Beaver Creek, home of Sid van der Meer’s Bordertown Garage & Museum. On a chilly September morning, van
Keeping Warm
This week, van der Meer tells the story of his collection of White Pass and stagecoach foot warmers. As the winter months are fast approaching,