2020 Virtual Annual Conference
Lisa McLeod, Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries discussed the future of the museum sector with Paul Robertson, OMA Council President, and Marie Lalonde, OMA Executive Director.
Krista McCracken, Researcher and Curator at Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre, presenting Reclaiming Shingwauk: Cross-Cultural Learning and Programming.
Natasha Henry, President of the Ontario Black History Society, panelist in Inclusion 2025: Where are We Now?
Meredith Leonard, Interpretive Services Coordinator at Halton Heritage Services, presenting the webinar Mid-Career Museum Professionals.
Are Museums in Crisis? panelists Gail Lord, Shelley Falconer, Julie Crooks, Janis Monture, and Kate Taylor with Marie Lalonde, OMA Executive Director.
An Invitation to Participate
The OMA invites members to join the 2021 Conference Program Committee.
- Do you want to get more involved in the Ontario museum community?
- Do you want to help create learning opportunities that are inspiring, engaging, challenging, and inclusive?
OMA Annual Conference 2021 Program Committee -
Apply by March 7, 2021
- Develop the call for proposals and select conference speakers and activities that reflect sector needs and create an engaging Conference for delegates.
- 1 year commitment, monthly meetings
Read about the Professional Development Advisory Committee HERE.
OMA Conference 2020 Highlights
The OMA’s first virtual conference was a success! With a new format came new possibilities, and we wanted to share some highlights from this transformed version of our Annual Conference.
The OMA Conference 2020 program was inspired by the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), but also addressed the many challenges facing museums during the COVID-19 pandemic and social upheaval that made 2020 an extraordinary year. Throughout the conference, delegates embraced the opportunity to reimagine their practices and the place of museums in society. The sessions and webinars addressed timely and important topics for the museum sector, such as climate change, social justice, digital transformation, tourism recovery, and cultivating resilience and well-being.
We were pleased to welcome The Honourable Lisa McLeod, Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries, who addressed OMA delegates and answered important questions about the future of Ontario's museums.
We also welcomed 221 museum professionals from 80 different institutions on our virtual platform for a full month of learning and connection:
- 80 delegates participated for the first time, and we were happy to welcome back 60 conference regulars.
- Colleagues in different stages of their career and in diverse roles gathered in the conference’s online venue, including a contingent of emerging museum professionals.
- Conference bursaries supported by OMA Council increased access to the event.
- 11 conference sessions and 4 Webinars
- 6 Celebratory and Awards videos
- 2 Video Lunchtime Performances
- 2 Member Check-ins
- and the 6th Annual GOEMP Trivia Night!
Thank you to See you at the OMA Annual Conference in 2021!
“Thank you all for an engaging and inspiring conference! I think you've proven that we can think of and do conferences in new ways - this wasn't just an adaptation to the current pandemic situation, I think it provides an example of and inspiration for how such events might change in the future. Thanks for working so hard to pull this event together - I've really enjoyed it.”
- Rhonda, OMA Conference 2020 Participant
If you wish to make a donation to the Ontario Museum Association and its work you may do so HERE. Donors will be acknowledged and thanked for their contribution to Ontario’s museum community.