Pete and Phil Engstad have donated some of their father, Kaare Engstads, personal belongings to the Lakes District Museum.
“The museum has been in talks with the Engstad boys for awhile now,” says Museum Curator Michael Riis-Christianson “We are happy to announce they have donated 12 items of local historical prominence that will definitely boost the quality of our gallery.”
Who is Kaare Engstad you may ask? Well, in the early 1900’s, Engstad was a world-class athlete and local Olympian.
Kaare was an active member of the Omineca Ski Club. He won numerous Nordic skiing competitions across the country in the 1930s and was a member of Canada’s ski team at the 1932 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York.
Among the items donated to the Lakes District Museum by the Engstads are Kaare’s trophies
from 1932 Quebec and Ontario Ski Championships, a 1932 Olympic program, his autograph
book (which includes the signatures of several 1932 Olympic medalists, including Norwegian
figure skater Sonja Henie), and his 1932 Olympic sweater.
When will these items be on display you ask? Well, Riis-Christianson says residents will have to wait a little bit longer.
“We have to make sure these items are properly taken care of. We need to build proper displays and if any refurbishing needs to be done, we will take care of that as well. Locals can expect these items on display later in May.”
The Engstad brothers say this contribution was an easy one to make.
“If it wasn’t for the support of the community during those times, our fathers Olympic dream wouldn’t have been possible. This is our way to give back to the community that has helped our family significantly throughout the years.”
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