[BCMA] NEWS RELEASE: BC MUSEUMS ASSOCIATION CELEBRATES THE BEST & BRIGHTEST OF THE MUSEUM SECTOR

[Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv.]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 24, 2018





*BC MUSEUMS ASSOCIATION CELEBRATES THE BEST & BRIGHTEST OF THE MUSEUM
SECTOR*

*Awards given out for community engagement, exhibitions, distinguished
service and innovation*



*VICTORIA, BC – *The BC Museums Association (BCMA) handed out its Awards
for Outstanding Achievement last night in Kelowna as part of its annual
conference. This year’s sold-out conference attracted museum professionals
and industry representatives from across the province who came to explore
issues around the theme of *Innovation & Technology: Keeping Pace with
Acceleration*. The BCMA annual awards recognize institutions and
individuals who exemplify excellence in the province’s museums, galleries
and history community.



“This year’s recipients really showcase the breadth of amazing things
happening in BC’s museum sector,” says BCMA Executive Director Erica
Mattson. “From community involvement to digital programming to volunteer
engagement, BC continues to be at the forefront of museums in Canada.”



The *Nikkei National Museum* received the *Award of Merit, Excellence in
Community Engagement*

for its commemorative programming, exhibits and publications marking the 75
th anniversary of Japanese Canadian Internment and the 30th anniversary of
Japanese Canadian Redress. The Museum worked closely with survivors and
their descendants of both detainment/internment locations, as well as
helped rally the community to obtain official highway signage denoting
spots of significance.



The *Reach Gallery Museum* in Abbotsford received the* Award of Merit,
Excellence in Exhibitions *for its Grand Theft Terra Firma exhibit by
artists David Campion and Sandra Shields. The exhibit combines popular
culture, namely gaming and humour, with original source material to
consider colonization specific to the experiences in S’ólh Téméxw, now
commonly known as the Fraser Valley.



The *Mayne Island Museum* went home with the *Award of Merit, Excellence in
Collections *for the John Aitken glass plate negative digitization project,
which preserved more than 300 historical images of 19th and early 20th
century Mayne Island and made them available online as high-resolution
images.



Several individuals were also recognized for their extraordinary
contributions.



*Marl Brown, *Curator, Fort Nelson Heritage Museum, received the*
Distinguished Service Award *for his passion and dedication to founding,
maintaining and growing the Fort Nelson Heritage Museum. As a mechanic with
the Canadian army, Brown started collecting items in the 1950s with the
intent of preserving the past for future generations. He founded the Fort
Nelson Historical Society in 1977 and worked tirelessly to eventually open
the museum in 1987. At 86 years young, he is still the first person at the
museum in the morning and the last one to leave at night.



*Sherri Robinson*, a volunteer at the Esquimalt Municipal Archives,
received the *Museum Service and Stewardship Award* for her extensive
knowledge of the community of Esquimalt and for her dedication to the
documentation and preservation of the municipality’s history.



*Rachael Bell-Irving*, Curriculum Programs Coordinator, Ocean Wise received
the *Innovation Award* for her work on education.ocean.org. This online
learning space inspires the global community to increase its understanding,
wonder and connection to our oceans. The Innovation Award is generously
sponsored by NGX Interactive.



A full list of winners, honourable mentions and nominees is available at
museumsassn.bc.ca



-30-



*About the BC Museums Association:*

Founded in 1957, the British Columbia Museums Association (BCMA) creates a
bright future for British Columbia’s museum, gallery, and related heritage
communities through networking, advocacy, innovation, and professional
development. It delivers programs and services to the benefit of its
members and the sector at large, acting as the cultural and heritage
information hub for British Columbia while providing a unified voice for
the institutions, trustees, professional staff and volunteers.



*Contact:*

Erica Mattson, Executive Director, BCMA

Tel: 250-356-5694

emattson at museumsassn.bc.ca
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