Justin Miller has been named the new manager of the Fred Light Museum in Battleford, taking over from longtime manager Bernadette Leslie. (Kenneth Cheung/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Kenneth Cheung

A NEW CHAPTER BEGINS

Justin Miller takes helm of Fred Light Museum after Leslie’s decades-long tenure

Jul 29, 2025 | 2:51 PM

When Justin Miller first joined the Fred Light Museum board in 2016, he didn’t expect he would one day be running the place.

At the time, Miller was working at Home Hardware in North Battleford and had a budding interest in blacksmithing. That’s where he met the late Floyd Andersen, a longtime museum board member, who would change the course of his life.

“He was the one that roped me in and told me that if I joined the board at the Fred Light Museum that I had to stay on it till the day I died,” he said with a laugh.

“And then one thing led to another, and here I am, so I hopefully don’t stay here till I die, but hopefully till retirement.”

After encouraging Miller to bring his blacksmithing tools out of storage and put them to use, Andersen joined him, his father and other volunteers in building the museum’s Eagle Hills Blacksmith in 2018.

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Next to it sits the Andersen Woodworking shop, honouring the craftsmanship the family is known for.

Since then, Miller has volunteered at the museum, showing visitors how nails, tools and wagon wheels were once forged by hand. The blacksmith shop quickly became a favourite stop during the annual Family Fun Day.

Now he is stepping into a much bigger role as the museum’s new manager, following the retirement of Bernadette Leslie, who led the museum for nearly half a century.

READ MORE: ‘Our keeper of time’ bids farewell after more than four decades at Fred Light Museum

Leslie said Miller’s passion and dedication made him a natural fit for the job.

“Enthusiasm and just as willing to learn, and being a local person to really help. That’s what we were hoping to have with somebody local,” she said.

She believes Miller may feel some nerves about filling her shoes, but she plans to walk him through the job before stepping back for about a year.

“He’ll catch on,” she said. “If he wants to reach out for help, I’ll come over anytime and help him.”

Bernadette Leslie stands in front of the Fred Light Museum, the place she dedicated over 45 years to keeping Battleford’s stories alive. (Kenneth Cheung/battlefordsNOW staff)

“I’m nervous but definitely not scared,” Miller said.

“My hope is that I can make everybody that gave me this chance or had any part in giving me the chance , and the people that I work with over the years that… I can either gain respect from people, and at the end of it, have everyone thinks that I did a good job and kept the Fred light Museum in good shape for the next person.”

For now, Miller doesn’t plan to make “any drastic changes.” Instead, he intends to follow the path set by Leslie and museum founder Fred Light.

“If something needs to change, then it will be well thought out and done with care and keeping in mind the history of the museum and the people involved,” he said.

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Kenneth.Cheung@pattisonmedia.com