From Living History to Living the History

Ontario has now entered a modified version of Step Two of the Roadmap to Reopen, effective Wednesday, January 5, 2022 at 12:01 a.m. for at least 21 days (until January 26, 2022), subject to trends in public health and health system indicators. 

This includes closing museums, galleries, zoos, science centres, landmarks, historic sites, botanical gardens and similar attractions, amusement parks and waterparks, tour and guide services and fairs, rural exhibitions, and festivals. Outdoor establishments permitted to open with restrictions and with spectator occupancy, where applicable, limited to 50 per cent capacity.

Where the aforementioned settings are concerned, the general summary of measures is as follows:

• Indoor use not permitted, with limited exceptions (e.g., washrooms, retail, purchase admission or for health and safety)
• Outdoor open; maximum capacity must be posted
• Capacity limited to 50% for outdoor seated events or activities within the attraction; maximum capacity of the event or activity must be posted
• Reservations required for outdoor seated events or activities
• Face coverings required on amusement rides or tour vehicles, with limited exceptions
• Must have a safety plan with additional requirements
• Concerts, events, performances or movies must follow same requirements for concert venues, theatres and cinemas

Now in effect from January 4, 2022, Ontario requires the use of the enhanced vaccine certificate with QR code and the Verify Ontario app in settings where proof of vaccination is required.

The QR code can be used digitally or by printing a paper copy. Individuals can download HERE their enhanced certificate with QR code. Individuals can visit their local library or can call the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at 1-833-943-3900 to have their vaccine certificate mailed to them. They can also visit a Service Ontario centre to receive a printed copy.

Organizations and businesses that are required to take part in Ontario’s proof-of-vaccination system will be advised to longer accept physician notes beginning January 10, 2022. Medical exemptions issued outside of Ontario are not eligible for an enhanced vaccine certificate. This new process will help combat fraud, offer greater protection of personal health information, and ease burden on businesses.

Read the full Backgrounder HERE. 

To support businesses that are most impacted by provincial public health measures, the government is expanding the new Ontario Business Costs Rebate Program (OBCRP). The new OBCRP program will support eligible businesses that are required to close or reduce capacity due to recently announced public health measures.

Eligible businesses will receive rebate payments for a portion of the property tax and energy costs they incur while subject to capacity limits. The rebate amount will be 50 per cent up to 100 per cent of these costs depending on the degree to which the business is subject to public heath restrictions.

• Eligible businesses required to reduce capacity to 50 per cent, such as smaller retail stores, will receive a rebate payment equivalent to 50 per cent of their property tax and energy costs.
• Eligible businesses required to close for indoor activities, such as restaurants and gyms, will receive a rebate payment equivalent to 100 per cent of their costs.

A full list of eligible business types will be made available in mid-January 2022. Online applications for this program will open in mid-January 2022, with payments to eligible businesses provided retroactive to December 19, 2021.

Read the full News Release HERE. 

Free Webinar
Tuesday, February 1, 2022
10:00am - 11:00am ET

The Pickering Museum Village has called itself a living history museum for many years. Lack of resources made the reality much different. An independent Master Site Use Study prompted a wake-up call in 2018. Beginning with a hard look at permanent exhibits, and what staff wanted the visitor experience to be, PMV staff began what they call a shift from living history to living the history. Two and half years and a pandemic later, Katrina Pyke and Ellen Tayles-Armstrong will share how it all started, where it is now, and what the next years look like. They will explore the need for museums to challenge the status quo and adapt to changing visitor expectations and patterns; how to shift a deeply rooted community museum culture; and how to accept that what the museum was doing in the past isn’t working. 

Following the presentation, there will be a Q&A moderated by Wendy Rowney from Black Creek Pioneer Village.

Speakers: Katrina Pyke and Ellen Tayles-Armstrong

Katrina Pyke and Ellen Tayles-Armstrong have over 45 combined years’ experience in the museum sector. Katrina's expertise is in hands-on experiential program development. Ellen's expertise is in finding new and innovative ways to exhibit history. Together, they have re-envisioned two heritage building interiors from static, authentic living history spaces that depended on staff to connect with the visitor, to dynamic, fun, interactive, self-directed installations where visitors can live the history. For years they have balanced preservation of the collection with hands-on programming, which they have carried through into these newly developed spaces.

Moderator: Wendy Rowney

• For festivals starting between September 1 and December 31 of 2022.

• For projects starting between April 1, 2022, and March 31, 2024. 

• For events that will occur during 2023.

• For festivals starting between January 1 and June 30 of 2023.

• For festivals starting between July 1 and August 31 of 2023.

The goal of the Redefining Canadian Art History Fellowship Program at the Art Canada Institute is to revisit and redefine the framework of art history in Canada through studies on Canadian and Indigenous artists whose lives and works are underrepresented. The Fellowship is intended to contribute to a fundamental re-working of the narrative of Canadian art history by incentivizing major research projects on the full range of visual culture across the country in all its rich diversity. $30,000 is awarded respectively to five individuals or small groups each year.

Deadline: January 8, 2022

Read more HERE. 

• increase opportunities for Canadians to participate in various commemorative activities and celebrations to mark Canada’s emergence from the COVID-19 pandemic;
• build a sense of pride and belonging to Canada by holding celebratory and commemorative activities that recognize people and achievements in the response to COVID-19; and
• support the revival of local economies through in person events.

Library and Archives Canada provides funding each year to documentary heritage organizations across the country. This funding helps to ensure that Canada's continuing memory is documented, preserved and available to the public. It can provide funding for specific projects that relate to either or both of these objectives:

• increase access to, and awareness of, Canada's local documentary heritage organizations and their holdings; and
• increase the capacity of local documentary heritage organizations to better sustain and preserve Canada's documentary heritage.

Deadline: 11:59pm PST, January 12, 2022

Read more HERE. 

Listen, Hear Our Voices is a Library and Archives Canada initiative to support Indigenous nations, governments and non-profit organizations in their efforts to:

• digitize existing documentary heritage related to Indigenous languages and cultures; and
• build the skills, knowledge and resources required to carry out this work in their communities.

Deadline: 12pm noon PST, January 28, 2022

Read more HERE. 

Online Workshop
Thursday, January 20, 2022
10:00am - 3:30pm ET

A painting in a gallery’s collection is not just a painting. It is connected to legal procedures, copyright laws, cultural laws, and has a much deeper history that a member of the general art viewing public would not necessarily be aware of. Art galleries and museums are bound to laws and regulations in all aspects of their collection, including copyright, intellectual property and reproduction rights. This workshop will be an in-depth course in art and cultural law, geared towards art gallery and museum professionals.  This workshop will also feature case studies about legal ownership and procedures for returning stolen artwork. At the end of the sessions, participants will have the ability to ask one-on-one questions receive guidance on specific issues at their institution.

Read more and register HERE. 

Bill 9, Non-Profit Sector Appreciation Week Act, 2021 declares that the third week in February each year is proclaimed as Non-Profit Sector Appreciation Week. The Bill, sponsored by MPP Daisy Wey, received Royal Assent on December 9, 2021.

Read Bill 9 HERE. 

After more than 30 years of service at the Welland Museum, long-time team member Penny Morningstar has retired. Her retirement marks the final leg of a career at the museum that began in 1989. In her position as General Manager and Curator, she was the driving force behind the creation and installation of incredible exhibits and programming, as well as the daily operation of the museum. Among a wide range of accomplishments, Morningstar was instrumental in building an ongoing dialogue with the Métis community in Niagara. This work resulted in the creation of a Métis permanent exhibit, which was developed and created by the Niagara Region Métis Council.

Morningstar has been recognized with a certificate of achievement from Dale Carnegie and has received numerous community involvement awards. These include recognition from the City of Welland, the Heritage Welland 1812 Bicentennial Committee, the Canada 150 committee and an acknowledgment from CERF Niagara for the museum’s partnership with Welland’s Francophone community. The OMA wishes her well in this new chapter and thanks her for her contributions to Ontario's museums!

Read more HERE.

On December 29, 2021, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, announced 135 appointments to the Order of Canada. The Order of Canada recognizes outstanding achievement, dedication to the community and service to the nation. More than 7,000 people from all sectors of society have been invested into the Order. Those who bear the Order’s iconic snowflake insignia have changed our nation’s measure of success and, through the sum of their accomplishments, have helped build a better Canada.  

For her leadership in recognizing and preserving Quebec’s and Canada’s industrial heritage, Louise Trottier, O.C., Curator Emeritus at Ingenium, has been appointed to the Order of Canada. 

For her long-standing contributions to the Canadian art scene, and for her promotion of Inuit art and culture, Patricia Feheley, C.M., Director of Feheley Fine Arts, has been appointed to the Order of Canada. 

For his commitment to the representation of Indigenous legal issues, and for his dedication to reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians, the Honourable Murray Sinclair, C.C., M.S.C., has been appointed to the Order of Canada.

Read more HERE. 

As museums across Ontario face the challenges of reopening safely and renewing relationships with your communities, the OMA is here for you. The OMA successfully advocated for federal emergency support funding through the Museums Assistance Program, the early and streamlined release of Community Museum Operating Grant (CMOG) funds in 2020 and 2021, and for an additional $2 million to support digital activities during pandemic closures. Your support, participation, and membership make our work possible.

Representing the interests of over 700 museums, galleries, and heritage sites across the province, the OMA offers regular webinars and professional development opportunities and resources for pandemic recovery. An OMA membership connects you with our network of over 1000 members, provides you with the tools and resources that support your professional practice, and keeps you informed of breaking news about funding opportunities and policy changes via the ONmuseums weekly newsletter and timely eNews alerts.

If you are already an OMA member, thank you! Please renew your membership when you receive an email reminder.

If you are not yet a member, please consider an individual, institutional, or commercial membership for yourself, your colleagues, or your institution. You can find information about member categories and benefits on our website.

You can make a donation to the OMA on our website or through Canada Helps. Every contribution adds to the collective strength of our sector. You can help us build a more resilient museum sector. Thank you for your support!