The OMA and Conference Committees wish to thank delegates for making the 2009 OMA Annual Conference a great success! Over 200 museum professionals and students gathered in Hamilton to learn from colleagues and to share experiences.

Conference highlights included both keynote speakers, Dr. Candace Matelic and Pier Giorgio Di Cicco, which inspired delegates with their presentations during these challenging and transformative times. Within the thought-provoking and informative program, your 5 favourite sessions included:

• We Went to Them - (To see the exhibit, they came to us)
• HST in the Museum Sector
• The Green Museum Part 2-Partnering to Green Up an Existing Event
• The Future of Museum Work? (The consultants and contractors among us)
• Sustainability Through Partnerships

The tradeshow was also a success with 22 Exhibitors! Delegates had the chance to learn from exhibitors about display cases, touch screens in museums, conservation supplies and techniques, government programs, high-resolution 3D imaging, traveling exhibitions and more! 

CONFERENCE PRESENTATION MATERIALS

In this age of sustainability, we are pleased to provide Members with the following session support materials from Conference presenters in the Resources area:

• HST and Museums - Presentation
• Thriving on the Edge of Chaos - Keynote Presentation
• Building Responsive Museums - A Discussion Framework
• Creating and Sharing your Digital Collection - Presentation
• Museum Workers as Fully Loaded Camels - Session Backgrounder

AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE

Congratulations to this year's Awards of Excellence recipients! Delegates were delighted to welcome the Honourable Aileen Carroll, Minister of Culture, to the Awards Banquet hosted at the Art Gallery of Hamilton. We thank Minister Carroll for assisting in the presentation of awards.

 View highlights from the 2009 Awards of Excellence recipients:

• Daniel O'Brien - Recipient of the Award of Excellence for "Lifetime Achievement"
• CHOO / COPO - Council of Heritage Organizations in Ottawa/Le Conseil des organismes du patrimoine d'Ottawa - Award of Excellence for their innovative and effective e-newsletter "This Week in Heritage / Patrimoine hebdomadaire"
• Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre, Southampton - Award of Excellence for their creative, interactive family program "Wizardry & Wonders"
• The OPP Museum, Orillia - Award of Excellence for the outstanding and engaging travelling exhibit "Arresting Images: Mug Shots from the OPP Museum"
• Friends of Joseph Schneider Haus, Kitchener - Award of Excellence for the exceptional publication "This Old Haus: A Place in Time " which eloquently captures 25 years in the history and growth of the museum.

CERTIFICATE IN MUSEUM STUDIES

Congratulations to this year's Certificate in Museum Studies graduates!  Thank you Minister Carroll for assisting in the presentation of the certificates.

•  Wendy Stross
• Stephanie Powell Baswick
• Carolyn Westoby
• Tatiana Paganuzzi
• Kelley Swift Jones
• Pamela Woolner
• Irena Yancheva
• Fabienne Fusade
• Nicole Gignac
• Sara White
• Connie Bell
• Aly Boltman
• Anik Despres

EVALUATION PRIZE WINNERS

Congratulations to the following individuals who have received prizes for completing their Conference evaluation form:

•  2010 Full Conference Registration - Laura Watt, student in the Museum Management and Curatorship program at Fleming College
• WHMIS Training DVD (Courtesy of ESAO) - Susan Warner, Collingwood Museum
• Canada Science and Technology Museum Corporation gift pack - Nicole Jackson, Penetanguishene Museum
• 1 Year Individual Membership in the OMA - Sim Salata, Grey Roots Museum and Archives

CONFERENCE 2010

Stay Connected for Conference 2010 details, the Call for Proposals and how to get involved. Let's make Conference 2010 the best yet!