By Sarah Wallace

Prince Albert Historical Society president steps down

Mar 17, 2014 | 6:49 AM

She’s been with the Prince Albert Historical Society (PAHS) for about four-years and has spent the last two-years serving as president of the PAHS.

Now Debbie Honch is stepping down.

“I’ve always had a love and passion for history. At the time that I joined the board I was actually executive director at Prince Albert Tourism and we were doing lots of work [with the Historical Society] and lots of projects that had a historical base to them so I got involved then,” she explained.

“The first time I walked through the archives at the museum I fell in love with the place.”

She said it’s been a really exciting few years with the board working on initiatives like the restoration of the Diefenbaker House.

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“I think [the Diefenbaker House] is one of my near and dear projects and it’s just in its infancy, but the plans to improve the facility and the program in there has just been really exciting and rewarding.”

She said they are also working on the Gathering Place initiative, which will move some of the historical buildings closer to the museum so they can program them and use them.

“So the plans and dreaming of all those projects have been the most exciting for me. And just a great, great group of people down at the museum,” Honch said.

She said in her time as president she really enjoyed spending time with the people and at membership meetings because she got to meet a wide cross section of people.

She always enjoyed welcoming people to the museum, doing museum tours and spending time with people who came to the museum looking for their family histories.

“It’s obviously the people and their excitement in the connection to the place here in Prince Albert and just so rich in history.”

She is going to stay on the board after stepping down as president and said she was thankful for the chance to still be with the PAHS.

“I’m really going to miss getting really deep into the planning and organizing.”

She said she’ll also miss being a spokesperson for the PAHS because she loves sharing her love of the society.

As for why she’s stepping down, it comes down to making room for other passions as well.

“I’m now a real estate agent and I love it, it’s just a beautiful job fit for me and it’s just getting busier.”

She said the presidency needs someone who can commit more time to the role.

“I will miss spending time at the museum.”

Honch is a real estate agent through Coldwell Bankers in Prince Albert.

“It’s been really fun learning a new industry. I keep telling everybody instead of having to sell the whole city like I used to have to do in tourism, now I only have to do it one house at a time.”

The new president will be chosen on March 20.

swallace@panow.com

On Twitter: @sarahthesquid