Normally, Festival du Voyageur would be kicking off at Fort Gibraltar this weekend, however, this year it is going to be a virtual event due to COVID-19.

The president of the St. Pierre Museum, Rolly Gagne says they will struggle financially without an in-person event.

"It is unfortunate for our museum here in town because the Festival du Voyageur, the Sugar Shack there that we operate and maintain is not going to be operating this year. That was our major fundraiser for our operational money for the year so we are going to be short a huge amount of money this year to operate the museum and the grounds, unfortunately."

Gagne says his team at the museum will now be looking for creative ways to raise funds and make up the difference.

Josée Curé is the owner of J'em Bistro which is located inside the convent building on the museum grounds. She notes she wanted to help people celebrate at home this year and also help raise some funds for the museum so she has a special Festival du Voyageur menu for this weekend and next.

"A few of our menu items we are donating two dollars of each to the museum. We are also doing box kits so it is either pea-soup or tourtière, all the ingredients are included as well as a recipe for you to keep and five dollars from every box sold, we are donating to the museum."

In addition, Curé says they will be serving venison stew with bannock, Festival du Voyageur inspired sandwiches, bison meatballs, and crepes this weekend and next. She adds SAYZOONS will also be providing activities at the St. Pierre Museum grounds such as snow-shoeing.

Meanwhile, Gagne says the St. Pierre Museum will be a part of the virtual Festival du Voyageur.

"They have got a beautiful program happening. We are involved at the museum. We are going to be showing people how to be able to produce their own taffy on the snow. How can you do that in your own kitchen with your children and how can you do this at home anyway."

You can visit the Festival du Voyageur website for their online programming and you might just catch the St. Pierre Museum's contributions.