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Students Outside School
circa 1939
Jackhead, Manitoba, Canada


Credits:
Sam Waller Museum Collection

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On February 21, 1973 Sam's long-time dream of securing the integrity of his museum collection for the future was realized when the Town of The Pas finally agreed to assume responsibility for the Little Northern Museum collection and to operate it as a public facility.

Sam received recognition late in his life from many sources. A large sulphur butterfly, Colea gigantica Walleri, was named after him. He became a Manitoba Golden Boy, Honorary Citizen of Winnipeg, and Honorary member of the Manitoba Naturalists Society. Just before Sam passed away, he also won an honorary membership to The Pas Rotary Club and a citizenship award ("Certificate of Appreciation") presented by Councilor Ron Bernstrom, chairman of the museum committee in commemoration of the Museum's 20th anniversary (1958-78). The Museum of Mankind in London, England also developed a display, after his death, featuring artifacts from Moose Factory given to them by Sam and a biography about him was of course included.

In January of 1978 Sam had a pneumonia attack and on March 18th he was taken to the hospital with laboured breathing and died rather quickly. As per his wishes, he was buried in the Big Eddy Cemetery overlooking the valley with Pike Lake at the bottom.