ONmuseums: Emancipation Day Events in Ontario

Additional businesses and public spaces will be reopening as the Ontario government allows the City of Toronto and Peel Region to move into Stage 3 of reopening the province on Friday, July 31 at 12:01 a.m. 

Windsor-Essex County Health Unit region will remain in Stage 2. Ontario will continue to monitor local trends of key public health indicators in the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit region and move it into Stage 3 when it is safe to do so. 

Ontario is also supportive of proposals made by the City of Toronto and Toronto Public Health relating to restaurants, bars and other food and drink establishments that are permitted to be open. For more information on the restrictions that will remain in place during Stage 3, as well as the public health and workplace safety restrictions necessary to keep people safe, visit Ontario.ca/reopen. 

Proposals from the City of Toronto and Toronto Public Health, if adopted, would further limit close contact and interaction in restaurants, bars, and other food or drink establishments. This includes further restrictions on movement/seating and maintaining client logs to support case and contact tracing and limit the spread of the virus.

Read the news release HERE.

The Estate of Donna Vera Evans Bushell has committed $425,000 to the Elgin County Museum to support the introduction of a new augmented reality app for St. Thomas and Port Stanley, add murals and historical signs along cycling trails across Elgin County, establish two new positions to boost the capacity of the Museum to both digitize archival collections and generate content for the new app, acquire more artefacts for the collection at the Museum and conserve existing pieces, and purchase tables, chairs and other amenities to build a welcoming outdoor learning environment for visiting students and community groups.

Manager of Museum and Archives for Elgin County, Mike Baker, said “this truly generous bequest will allow us to undertake a number of projects we would not otherwise be able to do. The digitization position will add many resources to the on-line material we already provide, while the cycling trails will give visitors another reason to tour our beautiful County. Finally, the Augmented Reality project is truly exciting as it will put history, literally, in the hands of residents and visitors alike.”

Read more HERE.

In March 2019 the Ontario Museum Association hosted a Webinar with Andrea Wilson, Curator, Craigleith Heritage Depot, and Tom Strnad, Producer, Mountain Goat Film Company Inc., about creating film and Virtual Reality (VR). 

Watch the recording HERE.
 

"Museums are at the heart of a just and knowledgeable society. They educate and inspire. They house our culture and history. They create a sense of community and belonging. They allow us to better understand our past, our present and shape our future. They spark conversations and reflection. They build empathy and understanding for each other and remind us how diversity makes us stronger."

Read the Strategic Plan HERE.

Heritage Ontario kicked off their Emancipation Day celebrations with an interview of Natasha Henry, an educator and speaker specializing in the development of learning materials that focus on the African Diaspora experience. She is the author of Emancipation Day: Celebrating Freedom in Canada and the President of the Ontario Black History Society.

Watch the recording HERE.

On July 31st, the OBHS will be hosting virtually its annual Emancipation Day celebration to commemorate the anniversary of the Slavery Abolition Act. 

August 1, 1834, marks the day in which the practice of the enslavement of African peoples in all British colonies came to an end. Through the tireless efforts of both the enslaved and free status Africans, as well as Black and white abolitionists, emancipation finally became a reality. 

Among other impressive speakers and presenters and a greeting by OBHS President Natasha Henry, Steven Cook, manager of Uncle Tom's Cabin, will give a special virtual tour of Uncle Tom’s Cabin Historic Site and showcase this Black History Museum located in Dresden, ON.

Read more and register HERE.
Watch a preview of the virtual tour of Uncle Tom's Historic Site HERE.

Emancipation Day represents both a Canadian and international celebration, as well as a movement that challenges racism in former British colonies across the globe. Join Dr. Cheryl Thompson and Rosemary Sadlier to explore the global roots of the movement, its local connection to Caribana and the Caribbean Festival, and the current petition and bill before parliament to have Emancipation Day acknowledged as a national day of recognition in Canada.

Read more and register HERE.

The Ontario Museum Association Certificate in Museum Studies (CMS) is the only museum studies training program in Ontario offered on a part-time basis for museum workers, both paid and volunteer. Courses are taught by practitioners in the field whose theoretical knowledge and practical experience helps participants to learn best practice and meet the Standards for Community Museums in Ontario.

Read the course descriptions of the nine required courses.

To read more about Exhibit Planning & Design, click HERE.
To read more about Education Programs, click HERE.
To see the full course calendar click HERE.
 

Today, Mayor John Tory announced that the City of Toronto is making multiple investments in Toronto’s Black arts and culture community and business sector to address the systemic economic, social and cultural exclusion facing Black communities in Toronto.

This year, the City will make the following investments in arts, heritage and creative industries to confront anti-Black Racism:

• Support key Black heritage organizations through the re-allocation of $300,000 in funding, along with technical assistance and access to safe, affordable and accessible space at City-run museums and heritage sites
• As part of the City’s initiatives to address anti-Black racism, the Toronto History Museums will reopen with a new programming philosophy of anti-oppressive practice, advocacy and storytelling to connect the public to art, creativity and innovation to work with Black communities and creatives in reshaping culture and build room for self-reflection and accountability
• Commit $300,000 to expand workforce development initiatives with key industry partners that accelerate the career pathways for Black youth in creative industries with a focus on screen-based industries (such as film, television, and on-demand, commercial and digital content), including management roles
• Reallocate an additional $300,000 to support the career development of Black professionals in arts and culture with a focus on connecting community-based training programs and post-secondary institutions with sustainable employment opportunities
• Work with the Toronto Arts Council to identify $300,000 in reallocated 2020 funding and ongoing funding moving forward to support the Black arts community with initiatives designed through consultation with the Black arts community
• Ensure that City funding for arts, heritage and cultural organizations is prioritized for organizations that reflect the diversity of this city in their leadership and operations, supports smaller and often newer organizations to increase their reach and impact, and addresses social and economic exclusion

Read more HERE.

As the CCA begins to embark on a new strategic plan, they want to hear from you to ensure their plan reflects the arts sector's current reality and looks ahead to how they can continue to support and help reimagine the arts for the benefit of all Canadians. 

The survey will close on August 21, 2020. 

Read more and complete the survey HERE.