Brigette and Gerald Miller have been giving tours at the LloydMall since early June. Showing a vast collection of rocks, fossils, a variety of other interesting artifacts. Jeannette Benoit-Leipert Meridian Source
Gerald Miller opened his first museum when he was 13.
He and his wife of 42 years, Brigette, are avid collectors of rocks, fossils and other artifacts from all around the world, focusing mostly on Alberta and Saskatchewan.
“We were born and raised 14 miles from the Montana border in a little community called Mankota, Sask. I grew up with my grandfathers, they were the pioneers of the area, so everything I’ve learned from them … going out and finding the fossils,” said Miller.
“I started collecting antiques and memorabilia when I was nine. My first museum, I had it when I was 13 and I still have the book people would actually sign into, and back then I was charging them 50 cents.”
On June 10, the Millers began giving tours out of the LloydMall, and Gerald said it’s been a very rewarding experience.
“We had a mom and her son come in a little while ago. This child was about nine years old, and it’s amazing what he knows. Other siblings couldn’t go with them that day, so he hounded and hounded his parents—mom, I have to bring my brothers and sisters,” said Miller.
“The other day when I got here he was standing here waiting with his brothers and sisters, and he was on cloud nine. I handed him my tools and said ‘here, you do the tour today.’”
They also had some local schools take advantage of the unique learning opportunity.
“We had St. Mary’s Grade 6 class, and the one guy that came through was a science teacher. He brought 19 students in and they were loving it. There’s so much to see and learn,” said Miller.
The fossils are categorized into four main categories: Alberta north, Alberta south, and Saskatchewan north and Saskatchewan south.
“Growing up in southern Saskatchewan, on the 49th parallel—we were not too far from Sitting Bull’s camp. We don’t live there anymore, and so when I came here, we put all the northern journeys together, and they match,” said Miller.
“So the northern natives—the Cree and the Blackfoot, of course, they survived on the bison, and they were pushing them south. Well, the natives down south were pushing them north. And it was all about survival.”
Brigette said it’s something they are both passionate about sharing with others.
“I enjoy the rock part of it—the fossils myself, and the native artifacts. That is intriguing to me. It’s part of our history, and it’s very educational,” she said.
Gerald said the exhibit they are currently showing is just the tip of the iceberg.
“What we’re looking for is a home. There’s another 20 exhibits over and above this,” he said.
“There’s another two more stages of this—rocks and fossils, and then we can go into The First World War, into The Second World War, we can go into farming and ranching, we can go into sports memorabilia, coins and stamps; the list goes on.”
Miller said they would like to share their rare collections with the people of Lloydminster, but also market it as a tourist destination to bring people into the city. He said they’re looking for a 10,000-square-foot building to make their dreams a reality.
The Millers say the best thing about their experience giving tours over the past couple of months is the people they meet and the stories that come out of it.
“The people that are coming in … their stories. As soon as they go through here—the kids have their stories, the seniors have their stories, the moms have their stories,” said Miller.
“And then on this side over here where the First Nations stuff is, you get the Métis and the First Nations and all their history and heritage comes out … in the end, you wouldn’t believe how many hugs I’ve had, and the tears. And it’s … the truth.”
