Actionable Online Accessibility

• Shelley Boden, Access Advisor
• Francis Tomkins, Tangled Art + Disability
• Sean Lee, Tangled Art + Disability

Get started thinking about disability inclusion! The OMA hosted a session at OMA Annual Conference 2022 to discuss practical advice on how cultural institutions can bring the voices of disabled people into their spaces in ways that respect and align with disability communities coming out of the pandemic. Watch the session recording HERE.

Monday January 3rd, Mark Gerretsen, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons (Senate) and Member of Parliament for Kingston and the Islands, on behalf of the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, announced approximately $12 million over three years for projects related to critical infrastructure improvements at Fort Henry, Fort Wellington, Laurier House, and Sir John Johnson House national historic sites.

Through this federal investment – part of the $557 million in funding announced by the Government of Canada in late 2022 – Parks Canada will conserve the heritage value of these important cultural resources, ensuring high quality, meaningful visitor experiences and contributing to the country’s world-class tourism offer.

Read more HERE.

Norfolk County councillors have voted to hire a curator for the Delhi Tobacco Museum and Heritage Centre. Councillors at a Wednesday budget meeting decided to add the position to the county’s 2023 operations budget. Their decision will still need to be ratified by council at a future meeting.

“We lost a bunch of volunteers because of COVID-19 and we need that curator to bring them back,” Coun. Chris Van Paassen (Ward 4) said. “We had a deputation tell us this morning that they need someone in the museum every day to help coordinate volunteers and programs.

“This is an investment in our future and a way of getting our volunteers back.”

Read more HERE.

Mayor Sandra Easton, members of Council and Town staff participated in four delegations at the 2023 ROMA Annual Conference on January 23, 2023.

The Town of Lincoln requested that the Ministry consider increasing the funding envelope for the Community Museum Operating Grant (CMOG). The Town currently receives $25,000/year (the maximum amount) through this grant. The funding envelope for this grant has not been increased in over 15 years, limiting the ability of community museums to offset increasing operational expenses. The CMOG is a crucial funding program for community museums in Ontario that supports key museum functions essential to the stability and success of the sector. Funding from this grant is used to support the operations of community museums, including staff salaries, museum maintenance, or for building and preserving collections, exhibitions, and educational programs. The Lincoln Museum and Cultural Centre is a community hub that is critical to the health and vibrancy of our community, and an increase in this funding will allow our museum to continue serving our community.

Read more HERE.

A study could help determine next steps in the development of Thunder Bay's waterfront at Pool 6, considering possibilities including housing and hotels along with a proposed science centre. The Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission (CEDC) is hiring a consultant to conduct a “best use” study of the city-owned Pool 6 lands for up to $100,000.
 

The study will look at existing uses of the property, which include a municipal administrative building and, notably, the Lakehead Transportation Museum, which has been leasing a parcel of the Pool 6 lands since 2017. The study won’t assume the two facilities remain in place in the long run, with its terms of reference explicitly stating the city building “can be relocated” but not directly addressing the museum’s status.

Read more HERE.

The Backus-Page House Museum has received a boost of almost $125,000 from the provincial government for additional workspaces and educational programs.

The museum in the Elgin County community of Tyrconnell and MPP Rob Flack announced the $124,200 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation. The renovations were completed in December.

“This funding will go a long way in building on the foundation of the rich heritage of this area while teaching and communicating to current and future generations,” Flack, who represents the riding of Elgin-Middlesex-London, said in a statement.

Read more HERE.

On Wednesday [February 1], local MPP Mike Schreiner attended the Guelph Black Heritage Society Black Heritage Month Flag Raising and Open House event. At this event, the GBHS celebrated the $100,000 Resilient Communities Fund grant they received from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF). 

"As the Member of Provincial Parliament for Guelph, I want to congratulate the Black Heritage Society of Guelph upon receiving the Resilient Communities Fund Grant," said Mike Schreiner, MPP for Guelph. "I have had the privilege of working alongside the Black Heritage Society on many occasions and am always impressed with the extent to which they go above and beyond to support Guelph's Black community and keep Guelph's rich Black heritage alive. This grant will allow them to continue serving the people of Guelph through their many initiatives. Thank you for your great work!"

The funds are enabling the GBHS to rebuild and recover from the impacts of COVID-19 by supporting staffing costs, engaging experts, and purchasing equipment to execute our strategic plan and support community outreach.

Read more HERE.

For all questions or inquiries please contact the OMA: community@museumsontario.ca 
or call 416-348-8672 / 1-866-662-8672.