 |
Bill 108- Museums and Conservation Authorities
Following the passing of Bill 108- the More Homes, More Choice Act, 2019, the Honourable Jeff Yurek, Minister of Environment, Conservation, and Parks wrote a letter to Ontario's 36 Conservation Authorities informing of a return to activities related to "core mandate". This letter has led some Conservation Authorities to examine how the work of their museums fit into “core mandate”, and how Bill 108 may influence museum funding moving forward.
In response, on September 27th, Ontario Museum Association President Petal Furness sent a letter to Minister Yurek, encouraging consultation with the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport and stating the value of museums and historic sites connected to Ontario’s Conservation Authorities for visitors and tourists. Museums in Conservation Authorities offer learning activities that bring thousands of people to special events in rural areas in off-peak tourist seasons.
“Conservation Authorities that make heritage and cultural experiences a part of their functions have significant impacts for their communities and their vitality. If requiring Conservation Authorities to re-focus on their “core mandate” means a loss of these vital places and programs, the people of Ontario will be losing a valuable part of their communities.”
The OMA is following up with museums connected to Conservation Authorities, and has offered consultation alongside the Ministries of Environment, Conservation and Parks; and Tourism, Culture and Sport.
Read the full letter HERE
Read more HERE
|
|
 |
|
Museums and the Federal Election:
Inviting Responses from Party Leaders
Election Day is October 21st, 2019
Canada’s national, provincial, and territorial museum associations, including the OMA, have sent joint letters to the leaders of six federal parties highlighting the need for:
- A review and modernization of the National Museum Policy
- A review of funding streams for museums and an expansion of the Museums Assistance Program to ensure more sustainable funding
- A simplification of the funding process, especially for small museums
The letters also ask leaders to respond to two questions:
- What are your views on the importance and role of museums?
- How would you respond to the other key recommendations above?
The OMA will keep members informed of responses to the letters, via our social media, website, and our ONmuseums Newsletters. We encourage members to use the resources below, so our sector may speak with one voice to all candidates.
Resources for the Federal Election:
Museum Associations joint media release HERE.
Museums Matter infographic HERE.
Letters to the Party Leaders HERE.
Elections Canada Guide HERE.
OMA Resources:
Ontario's Museums OMA Flyer HERE. |
|
|
Museums in Federal Election News
Media Coverage:
|
|
|
|
Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program Webinars
Program application deadline: November 12, 2019
The Community, Culture and Recreation Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure program will be hosting webinars for those interested in applying. The webinars are divided by the governing authority of the applying organization:
Municipalities:
- Date: Tuesday, October 15, 2019
- Time: 10:00am to 11:30am EST
- Sign up HERE
Non-Profit Organizations:
- Date: Tuesday, October 15, 2019
- Time: 2:00pm to 3:30pm EST
- Sign up HERE
First Nations & Indigenous Communities:
- Date: Friday, October 18, 2019
- Time: 10:00am to 11:30am EST
- Sign up HERE
The Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) is a cost-shared infrastructure funding program between the federal government, provinces and territories, and municipalities and other recipients. This program will see up to $30 billion in combined federal, provincial and other partner funding, under four priority areas, including Community, Culture and Recreation.
The Community, Culture and Recreation stream supports projects that improve access to and / or quality of community, cultural, and recreation priority infrastructure projects. Priority is given to projects that are community-oriented, non-commercial and open to the public. Projects must be completed prior to 2027-28.
Read more about the grant HERE. |
|
 |
|
Harbour Master, Peter Berry, left, and Sandwich Teen Action Group executive director, John Elliott, unveil the Prosperty Place sign at the unveiling of Port Windsor’s Outdoor Marine Museum, Thursday, September 26, 2019.
Dax Melmer / Windsor Star
|
|
|
Windsor Unveils New Marine Museum
Prosperity Place, a new outdoor museum in Windsor's west end, will honour 10,000 years of local indigenous and European settlement, trade and marine commerce through educational billboards, stone canoes, and a seven-foot-tall anchor from a lake freighter that once traversed the Great Lakes.
Read more HERE
|
|
 |
|
MPP Billy Pang and OMA Council at Markham Museum September 20
Billy Pang, MPP for Markham—Unionville and Parliamentary Assistant (Tourism) to the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport, joined the OMA Council for lunch at Markham Museum on September 20th. MPP Pang bought greetings from his constituency office and spoke with OMA Councillors and representatives from the Markham community about the value of museums, galleries, and historic sites for Ontario's tourism landscape. The lunch was generously supported by the Markham Museum. Ontario's museums are vital tourism assets in the province, welcoming 19.4 million in-person visits per year. Read more HERE |
|
|
Regional Museum Networks and Data Collection
|
|
 |
|
Ontario's Regional Museum Networks (RMNs) have been working with the OMA to collect submitted applications to this year's Community Museum Operating Grant (CMOG), to be able to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats in the sector.
Thank you to all who have submitted!
It's not too late to share your application! Please contact your RMN representative or send a copy to community@museumsontario.ca.
Read more about RMNs HERE.
|
|
 |
|
Museum Impact Survey Conference Session
- How many languages are spoken in Ontario museums?
- How many museum workers have part-time or seasonal positions?
- How do Ontario's museums define themselves?
Following the launch at Conference 2018 and subsequent work by members of the OMA Council and Regional Museum Networks, a session at the OMA Annual Conference 2019 in Brantford will present findings of the Museum Impact Survey.
Modernizing Community Museum Funding
An update on the findings of the Museum Impact Survey and the review of other sector data (CMOG/HODG) results to inform renewed community museum funding will be presented by the OMA's Modernizing Community Museum Funding Working Group. Register for Conference HERE.
|
|
Upcoming OMA Dates
October 11: Deadline to mail postcards for Confessions of a Museum Professional (read more HERE) October 23: OMA Pre-Conference Study Tours (register HERE) October 24-25: OMA Annual Conference (register HERE) December 4-5: Symposium on Family Learning, Inclusion and the Value of Play in Museums ( more information)
|
|
|
|
