Government of Canada on Tourism Recovery

Join Minister Lisa MacLeod for a Zoom webinar to discuss recent public health measures impacting Ontario's heritage, sport, tourism and culture industries. A briefing on regulatory changes and their impacts on our sectors will be presented by Assistant Deputy Ministers.

A Zoom link will be sent to all attendees after registration.

Attendees will be able to ask questions via the Q&A function in the Zoom webinar.

Register HERE.  

Effective December 18, 2021 at 12:01 a.m. Ontario intends to introduce a 50 per cent capacity limit to the following indoor areas of venues with a usual capacity of 1,000 or more: facilities used for sports and recreational fitness activities; entertainment facilities such as concert venues, theatres and cinemas; racing venues; meeting and event spaces; studio audiences in commercial film and television production; museums, galleries, aquariums, zoos, science centres, landmarks, historic sites, botanical gardens and similar attractions; casinos, bingo halls and other gaming establishments; and fair, rural exhibitions, and festivals.

This measure is being taken to reduce opportunities for close contact in high-risk indoor settings with large crowds and when face coverings/masks are not always worn.

Read the full News Release HERE. 
For updated information as it becomes available, visit the Government of Ontario website HERE.  

The document provides Canadians with a transparent report of the nation’s finances and updates Canadians on the government’s plan to finish the fight against COVID-19, support Canadians and Canadian businesses, and ensure a strong recovery for everyone. The government has introduced legislation to adapt pandemic support programs and target them to organizations that have been deeply affected by the pandemic. 

• The Tourism and Recovery Program would provide wage and rent subsidies up to 75% to organizations in the tourism and hospitality sectors. 
• The Hardest-Hit Business Recovery Program would provide wage and rent subsidies up to 50% to organizations that have faced deep losses. 
• The Local Lockdown Program would provide organizations that face new local COVID-19-related lockdowns with up to the maximum amount available through the wage and rent subsidy programs.
  • These programs would be available until May 7, 2022, with the proposed subsidy rates available until March 12, 2022. From March 13 to May 7, 2022, the support would decrease by half.
• The Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability Program is extended to March 31, 2022. This program was set to expire on December 31, 2021.
• The government proposes $60 million in 2022-23 to establish the new Canada Performing Arts Workers Resilience Fund. The government will provide Canadian Heritage with $2.3 million to administer the fund.

Read the News Release HERE. 
Read the full Update HERE. 

Non-profits, charities and Indigenous community organizations with frontline workers in Ontario may be eligible to receive free COVID-19 rapid antigen tests and support to implement a screening program for your personnel and the people you serve. If you're a charity, a non-profit or an Indigenous community organization with personnel (staff and volunteers) who work in close proximity to each other or have direct contact with community members, you can apply now!

Read more HERE. 

• Among delegates, 72 participated for the first time, and we were happy to welcome back 57 conference regulars.
• Colleagues in different stages of their career and in diverse roles gathered in the conference’s online venue, including 85 emerging museum professionals.
• Ontario’s heritage organizations are diverse in scope and mission, and this year we welcomed delegates from municipal museums, community museums, historic sites, art galleries, provincial or national museums, and other institutions.  
• A fully subsidized registration category was offered this year in recognition of the extraordinary circumstances facing the heritage sector this year. We are happy that 61 conference delegates chose this opportunity to attend. 

Throughout the conference, delegates embraced the opportunity to reimagine their practices and the path to recovery. The program sessions were a reflection of the current state of the sector and its future, such as reopening amidst a pandemic, rethinking and reimagining core missions and values, and learning from the public and communities we serve. The “Talking Change, Taking Charge” discussions were similarly about reimagination and looking forward. They were an opportunity to brainstorm and converse about the possibilities that a renewed funding model would bring, how to support a diverse workforce, and the digitalization of museums.

•  Our program featured 7 conference sessions and 6 celebratory videos, including the Awards of Excellence.
• The top rated session was the keynote with Micah Parzen: Museum of Us: Reimagining the Museum.
• With 150 views, our most viewed video was the Awards of Excellence – Projects. 

We have received overwhelmingly positive feedback and are grateful to all of our community members who have shared their experiences with us! About 90% of delegates expressed high levels of satisfaction with the virtual conference, and most would recommend the event to friends and colleagues. We are working towards making next year’s conference even better, so thank you for your feedback and suggestions. 
 
See you at the OMA Annual Conference in 2022!

Thank you again to everyone who participated in the OMA Annual Conference 2021! We are especially grateful to everyone who provided valuable feedback about the experience in our evaluation survey. We are now excited to announce the winner of the draw for a free registration to the OMA Annual Conference 2022...

The City of Toronto is pleased to announce that Armando Perla is the successful candidate in the recent competition for the Chief Curator at the Toronto History Museums, effective January 10, 2022. Currently an Assistant Professor of Decolonization and Race in Museums and Heritage (Teaching Stream) with the Master of Museum Studies, Faculty of Information at the University of Toronto, Armando Perla is a mestizo curator, activist, and consultant collaborating with museums, cultural institutions, and communities on issues of human rights and social inclusion in Canada and abroad.

With a strong international network built from collaboration with LGBTQI+ and BIPOC museum leaders, Perla was part of the founding team of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CMHR), where he worked as a curator for nine years, has collaborated with Canadian and foreign diplomats as well as government officials on a range of museum projects, and is a board member of both the Canadian Museums Association and the International Council of Museums' (ICOM) International Committee on Ethical Dilemmas (IC-Ethics).

The City of Toronto congratulates Perla on his appointment and welcomes him to the Toronto Public Services and Economic Development and Culture Division.

The CMA has announced the dates of its 75th National Conference, which will take place virtually on April 26 and 27, 2022. The CMA is looking forward to reconnecting with its members and exploring pertinent sissues affecting museums and cultural heritage. 

Read their announcement HERE. 

The updated program for Museums/Musées Canada's inaugural Summit is available with expanded descriptions. The Summit will take place in Kitchener from Sunday, January 16 to Wednesday, January 19, 2022. Reduced registration is available for the Next Generation (students and emerging arts and culture professionals) and Single Day Registration. Please note that there is a Pay Now or Pay Later option, though payment must be received in full before the start of the Summit. 

View the Program HERE. 
Register HERE. 

In association with Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals, the National Trust Conference will take place October 20-22, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario. Previously, conference themes have tackled pressing issues for Canada’s heritage movement, including community revitalization, heritage tourism, sustainable development, and climate change.

Read more HERE. 
 

Applications for Young Canada Works are open. The application deadline is January 21, 2022. Please note that the student program is no longer restricted to the summer months. You can claim student work hours for any time during the fiscal year.

Read more HERE. 

Online Event
Sunday, January 30, 2022
4:00pm – 5:30pm ET

Join Ontario Black History Society, in partnership with lead sponsor TD Bank, as they host their 34th annual Black History Month Kick-Off to recognize the histories and achievements of Black Canadians and fund raise for their organization. The theme this year is "Home."

Read more and register HERE. 

Free Livestreamed Webinar
Thursday, December 16, 2021
2:00pm ET

How do we use our objects to tell stories, create buy-in, and preserve culture on social media? Join this session to learn how to create impactful social media campaigns for day-to-day and special projects at your cultural institution. Building on previous social media strategy and social media tools workshops, this session will explore how to ideate, create, and launch campaigns that are creative, engaging, efficient, and effective no matter your team’s size.

Speaker: 
Jessica Johnson
Creative Strategist, Snap, Inc.

View the livestream HERE. 
Read more about the webinar HERE. 

Ki Futures is an international coaching and training network. The comprehensive program provides everything that you/your institution needs to become sustainable, from tools and guides to training and mentoring, as well as connecting you to local and global networks of sustainability leaders. Ki Futures will officially launch on 18 January, 2022 with their first Global Network Meeting, but they are already accepting applications for the program. 

Read more HERE.