229720
225777
Penticton  

Keremeos Grist Mill offering virtual tours, lessons

'Lost all of our revenue'

Chelsea Powrie

Those cooped up inside during the COVID-19 crisis can still experience the outdoors and learn some new skills through the Keremeos Grist Mill's virtual field trips, one of the few ways the organization can still engage the public.

General manager Chris Mathieson said this year is looking very different for the heritage site. 

"It became clear a couple weeks ago that we are not going to have a normal season," Mathieson said.

"As a heritage site that normally welcomes thousands of people, whatever the year ends up looking like, it's not normal. So why not make the effort right away to go out to people to find a way to get into their living rooms rather than the other way?"

Mathieson started hosting live videos on the mill's Facebook page last week, sharing some of the experiences visitors would normally get in person, helped along by his young son. 

"So far we've planted some seeds, we've done some improvised old fashioned games, we've baked bread," Mathieson said.

"Soon we're going to be looking in our chicken eggs in the incubators and talking about what's involved in hatching them."

He plans to offer virtual tours of the grounds as the weather improves. The Grist Mill relies entirely on revenue from visitors, so having to close in light of the pandemic is a major blow.

"We basically lost all of our revenue streams for the coming season. We're not going to be offering restaurant meals, we're not going to be booking campgrounds and special events," Mathieson said.

"Whatever we can do to stay in people's minds is important to us."

Catch the Grist Mill's virtual field trips most mornings here, like their page for alerts about broadcasts, and find out more about the organization and how to contribute by purchasing season passes here.



More Penticton News

225429