MUSÉE BYTOWN MUSEUM ANNUAL REPORT 2019 | RAPPORT ANNUEL 2019

Presented at the Annual General Meeting Présenté à l’assemblée générale annuelle 2020

Table of Contents

2019-2020 The BYTOWN MUSEUM Board of Directors page 2

2019-2020 The BYTOWN MUSEUM Permanent Staff page 2

President’s Report page 3-4

Executive Director’s Activity Report pages 5 -25

Treasurer’s Summary Report page 26

Audited Financial Statements (separate cover)

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The BYTOWN MUSEUM Board of Directors 2019 -2020

Sue Pitchforth - President Chelsea Tao - Treasurer Danielle Boily - Secretary Allison Smith – Vice-President Marion Sandilands Laila Djiwa Jean-Luc Pilon Anastasia Pivnicki Nhanci Wright Megan Wallace

The BYTOWN MUSEUM Board of Directors 2020 -2021 Sue Pitchforth - President Chelsea Tao - Treasurer Danielle Boily - Secretary Marion Sandilands - Vice-President Anastasia Pivnicki Janette Brodeur

BYTOWN MUSEUM Permanent Staff Robin Etherington Executive Director (2012-2020) Rebecca Webb Revenue and Operations Manager (2019-2020) Grant Vogl Collections and Exhibitions Manager (2011-2020) Stephen Mattiussi Visitor Experience Manager (2019-2020) Matthew Hertendy Marketing & Communications Coordinator (2019-2020) Jessica Ozorak former Program Manager (2018 - 2019) Claire Tauvette former Marketing & Communications Coordinator (2018-2019) Erin Bernauer Collections Database Officer Contract positions (2014-2020) Rachel Whittington Programming Intern (April-August 2019) Keirsten Smith Youth Council Coordinator Intern (September 2018-March 2019) Oluwafayoslami Solola Youth Council Coordinator Intern (September 2019-March 2020) Shannon Davies Programming Assistant Intern (January –April 2020)

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President’s Report

2019 has been a year of successes, changes and challenges! We were in our 102nd year and our Bytown Museum is as important as ever in our community.

General Highlights:

 It is amazing to see that 70,000 museum visits were enjoyed in person - even with flooding, access challenges and construction constraints. Our visitors had to work a bit harder to find us but they did!  The Bytown Museum is excited to have a new, updated Vision, Mission & Mandate to share with our community. You’ll find it included in our AGM Annual Report.  Updated fresh, marketing materials were produced for the gift shop, facility rentals and school programming.  Our social media presence continues to grow and reach out to the younger community through Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Advocacy:

Advocacy was a major focus for our Executive Director and Board President and the Board.

In 2019 we:

 Met with and developed relationships with government officials in local, provincial and federal jurisdictions.  Reached out to local partners in the community such at Ottawa Rotary Clubs and other organizations.  Had face to face meetings with Parks Canada and the National Capital Commission.  Made a presentation to the City of Ottawa’s Budget Committee during budget deliberations. Our goal was to thank City Council for their financial support and to highlight some of our achievements and challenges.  Our proactive approach to advocacy will continue in 2020.

HR/Policy/Governance

 Assisted in hiring new Revenue and Operations Manager, a key leadership position at the Museum  Supported ED in reviewing all employee job descriptions including ED job description  Ongoing review of organizational policies (in truth, I don't think the Committee actually approved any policies in 2019 -- the drug & substance policy was drafted and reviewed largely in 2019 but we didn't approve it until 2020; the HR Policy was overhauled mostly in 2019 and approved in 2020)  Provided advice and support as requested to ED on HR matters

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Financial:

 Foundation has been officially dissolved. All paperwork has been concluded.  Financial Investment Policy was developed and implemented.  Helped to move the Museum’s investment fund from RBC to Scotiabank, in order to streamline operational and administrative requirements.  Helped set up new bank accounts at Scotiabank, and in doing so, reduced bank fees o Met with the Museum’s external auditors, to further foster an already excellent working relationship.  Advised on the 2020 budget process and approved the 2020 Budget

Fundraising:

 Developed and approved a strategic fund development plan for the Bytown Museum 2020 - 2022  Casino Du Lac Leamy Sound of Light Fireworks - a huge success - increase in attendance and sponsorships.  Board provided some grant writing opportunities for the Executive Director to follow up.

Looking Ahead to 2020

 New Board Members around the table - putting more structure in place for Board Members and succession planning for the Board  Continue the ongoing review of policies and procedures  Work on the update of the Strategic Plan and begin to implement actions, moving us forward  Implement actions from Fundraising Plan  Charity Makeover on Kitchen will commence in 2020  Continue to provide support for Robin and her team

I want to take this opportunity to thank the entire Board of Directors for their dedication, for their energy and hard work throughout the year. We also want to thank Nhanci Wright for serving on the Board with passion and skill - she will be missed around the table.

Thank you to Robin and her amazing team who bring our Bytown Museum to life each day. You are all such a dedicated, talented and passionate group of individuals.

And thank you, to our dedicated Museum Members whom we value and appreciate so much. Thank you for being a part of our success.

We look forward to welcoming you to your Community Museum during its 103rd year serving the community of Ottawa.

Respectfully submitted by Susane Pitchforth, President of the Board of Directors

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Kichi Odenaw Odàwàng kì Executive Director’s Activity Report ombàkonigàde ega wìkàd kà mìgiwàniwang Màmìwininì The MUSÉE BYTOWN MUSEUM recognizes that the Anishinàbe-wakìng. Museum is on the Traditional Lands of the Algonquin Peoples, and expresses its appreciation to the Kichi Odenaw Odàwàng Anishinabe Peoples. onisidotànàwà ashidj ogàtinànàwà akì kaye Chief Kirby Whiteduck from Pikwàkanagàn First Nation ogikàdjìyàwàn Màmìwininì (Golden Lake) has visited the Museum and vetted the Anishinàben, inen odànike label copy for the First Nations display. In 2018, Robin mishòmisiwàbanen kaye Etherington visited the Elders of Kitigan Zibi and in turn ogòkomisiwàbanen weshkàd the Elders visited the BYTOWN MUSEUM. kà-dedjig ondaje tanakìwining kàgige Truth and Reconciliation for the Museum is a serious and kì nàgwak kaye nàgadjichigàdeg long-tern goal and activity. The Elders have asked us to nànàj ako nongom iyo abinàs. incorporate the Algonquin Peoples’ history and stories into the displays in the permanent galleries, as we systematically update them over the next few years. The City of Ottawa is built on They support our plan to have a local Algonquin artist unceded Algonquin paint a mural depicting their stories and history as you Anishinabe territory. go up the stairs to the second floor and as a new backdrop for the First Nations display. We are The peoples of the Algonquin researching funding opportunities for this important Anishinabe Nation have lived initiative. on this territory for millennia. Their culture and presence The Museum mounted a Parks Canada travelling have nurtured and continue exhibition on the Métis in 2019 and we partnered with to nurture this place. the Métis Nation of Ontario for Winterlude programming, as well as the ice sculpture demonstration The City of Ottawa honours the was Métis themed. peoples and the land of the Algonquin Anishinabe Nation. The Museum has had First Nations, Métis and Inuit performers for its Winterlude and summer programs over the past many years. La Ville d’Ottawa se trouve sur un territoire non cédé de la In 2019, the Board of Directors and Management Nation Algonquine updated the Museum’s Mandate to emphasize the Anishinabe. “material and cultural heritage of the Ottawa region’s Indigenous, multicultural and diverse history.” Les peuples de la Nation Algonquine Anishinabe ont habité ce territoire durant des 2019 was a notable year! We faced several challenges millénaires. Leur culture et which reduced attendance to 70,000 visitors. The leur présence n’ont jamais challenges included the 2019 flood that closed the cessé de nourrir ces terres. pathway around Parliament Hill and the Ottawa River; the NAC construction which restricted ready access to

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the Museum, the fencing of Parliament Hill and the closing of Wellington Street stairs around Canada Day, to name a few difficulties that resulted in fewer visitors. In spite of this, there is the continual attraction the Museum has for local people and visitors to Ottawa. However, the Museum experienced a decrease in its self-earned revenue generation. It did successfully control costs, with the result of a balanced 2019 budget. The comprehensive policy manual is constantly updated. For example in 2019 the Museum updated its Financial Investment Policy. The Museum worked on an updated Employment and Human Resources Policy and developed a Drug and Substance Policy in light of new federal legislation. They were Board approved in the Spring of 2020. The Museum staff put in place many of the goals and actions articulated in Its Strategic Plan – ‘Strengthening Connections 2015-2020:’ continually updating the new website, the new virtual tour, heightened and popular social media communication and marketing, as well as critical maintenance of the audio tour guide system. The Museum offers superb youth programs that are curriculum based. It is diligently cleaning up collection records, photographing the collection and uploading digital records on to the website for public access. Currently there are 5,060 records and 2,469 images on line for you to research and enjoy. The Museum is constantly cultivating partnerships for programs and revenue streams. Long-lasting stakeholder agreements are in place as your community museum engaged in special programs and extraordinary projects. We partnered with the City of Ottawa, Parks Canada, Department of Canadian Heritage, Canadian Museum of History, Downtown Rideau and Byward Market BIAs, Embassies and local businesses and colleague organizations and partners to ensure successful promotion of the Museum and its special initiatives, such as in 2018 and 2019 with Casino du Lac Leamy Fireworks as a fundraiser for your community museum.

The Museum thanks the City of Ottawa for the annual operating grant and partnership for digital collections management, supporting the Ottawa Museums and Archives Collection portal and MINISIS/M3 database. The Museum’s Service Agreement with the City for 2019- 2021, was renewed in 2019. It entailed a phenomenal amount of work on the part of Museum staff and a review by outside evaluators. The City of Ottawa’s operating grant allows the MUSÉE BYTOWN MUSEUM to work for our Community by way of timely exhibitions, collection management, highly developed school and youth programs and fun special events, as well as Gift Shop services and Facility Rentals. Of special note, in the crisis of Covid-19, the City released the second instalment in April 2020 instead of in June.

The Museum works hard to successfully apply for the annual Province of Ontario “Community Museum Operational Grant.” In order to receive the CMOG grant, the Museum is in compliance with provincial museum standards. The requirements entail policy development, a current and solid Strategic Plan, best business practice in financial management and governance, as well as collections management, programming and exhibitions. As you know, the Museum is constantly updating its policies, reviewing its financial management procedures, proactively engages in professional development for all staff and the Board of Directors, and provides all programming and exhibitions in both official languages.

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The Museum again thanks the Historical Society of Ottawa (HSO) who managed the Museum for many years and actively promotes its events. In March 2019, Mr. Grant Vogl Our Mission was guest speaker at the monthly HSO meeting and in

January 2020, Robin Etherington was a guest speaker. The Bytown Museum is Ottawa’s

museum, exploring the stories and The Museum partners with Parks Canada, who is values of an evolving city and its responsible for the maintenance of the Commissariat residents from its First Peoples Building and the Rideau Canal site. The Museum has a through the early days as Bytown to renewed 2019-2024 Licence of Occupation. It also has an present day Ottawa. The Museum is annual Operational Agreement with Parks Canada, which committed to engaging our visitors affords use of our outside patio area, outdoor operations and community in discovery and and greater joint activities on site such as ‘Lock Talks’ and dialogue as we aim to deepen the special events-May long weekend and the opening of the many connections within and Rideau Canal, Doors Open Ottawa in June, Canada Day and between our diverse communities. the Casino du Lac-Leamy Sound of Light 2019 (Les grands feux du Casino du Lac-Leamy) in August. Our Mandate

The Board and Management, staff and volunteers are fortunate to work for the oldest community museum in The Bytown Museum's mandate is to Ottawa. The Women’s Canadian Historical Society of collect, preserve, study and make Ottawa started the collection in 1898 and founded the accessible, in the museum and Museum in 1917. Since 1951, it has occupied the online, the material and cultural Commissariat Building on the National Historical Site and heritage of the Ottawa region's UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Rideau Canal. In 2019 Indigenous, multicultural and diverse the Museum turned 102. A remarkable accomplishment for history. a community level museum! Our Vision Museum staff realized outstanding exhibitions, crowd pleasing programs, new and renewed partnerships, The Bytown Museum will enable the fantastic volunteer recruitment, revolutionized marketing residents of Ottawa and visitors to strategy and tactics, such as enhanced social media the city to gain an appreciation of the presence and a constantly updated new website, several identity of, and pride in Ottawa’s rich successful grant applications, updates of its model policies story. Through its collections, and procedures to be compliant with national and exhibitions, programs and online provincial museum standards and Federal Corporations Act, access to museum-based strong financial management procedures and best business information, the Museum aspires to practices, strengthened revenue generation, a systematic be a model of excellence in migration of over 5,000 collection records and over 2,400 furthering knowledge and pride of photographs to a contemporary online collection place among diverse visitors of all management system for public access, the continued ages. realization of the youth led Youth Council, and good annual visitation numbers in spite of the flood and access difficulties.

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MUSÉE BYTOWN MUSEUM continuously excels at being on the cutting edge of 21st century technology and museology. Canada and the world at large are dramatically changing with regard to social policy and use of technology. These constant and quite frankly striking changes inform how we are engaging with our respective stakeholders, partners, users and visitors. The current trends that are dramatically challenging museums, galleries, government services and businesses entail the ‘Truth and Reconciliation’ Report’s recommendations, ever changing technology, demographic shifts - youth, aging population, diverse population and recent immigration. As of March 2020, a global pandemic is seriously redefining social behaviour and expectations of museum services and access. For the BYTOWN MUSEUM, this demands digitizing the collection and making it accessible via the Internet, updating the website for accessibility on mobile devices, proactively using social media for marketing, sharing the collection, awareness campaigns and incorporating virtual tours and video monitors throughout galleries and public areas that show ongoing programming opportunities. Digitizing the collection records and images contributes to social media messaging, marketing materials, local and global research efforts, and adds to the presence of the Museum nationally and internationally. For example, with the 2020 pandemic, visitors can access the Museum via its virtual tour, audio tours in six languages, newly video-ed museum and school tours, and the 5,000 collection records and images online.

We receive information and loan requests from everywhere. The Community Gallery is open for all distinct communities and cultural organizations in Ottawa to mount their own displays and tell their own stories. Ottawa, as is Canada at large, is multi-cultural and every group and every ethnicity that makes up Ottawa has their own story about the same event and historical personage. This makes for exciting discussions, programs and exhibitions.

Over a year ago we launched a virtual tour of the Museum. It was developed in partnership with the team at “Point 3D Imagining Ottawa.” It is displayed on an interactive touch-screen kiosk on the second floor of the museum to facilitate accessibility to the displays on the third floor. And it is also hosted on the Museum’s website: https://bytownmuseum.com/virtual- tour/ , as well as on Google Street View. Already in 2019 we updated the virtual tour to include our special exhibition “The Gallant Thousand: Ottawa and the South African War” and are using it in new and innovative ways. We plan to use the service to ‘archive’ all future special exhibitions in order to extend their engagement beyond the physical display.

Temporary Exhibitions

Mr. Grant Vogl, Collections and Exhibitions Manager, curated excellent exhibitions.

2019: Museum partnered with Parks Canada for a travelling exhibition: Parks Canada’s ‘The Métis: Beyond Fiddles and Sashes.’ January 23 to April 28, 2019.

‘The Gallant Thousand: Ottawa and the South African War’ is a poignant exhibition presented by the BYTOWN MUSEUM to mark the 120th anniversary since the beginning of the South African (Boer) War in 1899. The Bytown Gunners Museum showed interest in the exhibition and the collection. The Gunners were located in the Commissariat Building from 1855 to the

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end of the 1870s and they served in the Boer War. May 17, 2019 to April 12, 2020. Please note, we partnered with Algonquin College on conservation, Guelph Museums for a digital image loan, and Mark Etherington and Mary Danyluk made the model.

Note: due to Covid-19, our well-planned exhibition schedule for over five years is being re- thought, as the Museum is closed most of 2020. All exhibitions will be pushed out a year.

2020 -2021: A Local Canvas: Paintings from the Bytown Museum Collection will showcase some of the unique and eclectic works of art held in the Bytown Museum’s collections. The focus of this exhibition will be: local sites, people, and artists. The impetus for this exhibition is the ongoing digitization of the Museum’s artefact collection, specifically the paintings collection.

2021-2022: ‘What’s in a Name? The History of Ottawa Streets’ will explore the history of Ottawa through street names. Who were they named for and why? Have they changed?

2022-2023: FIGHT! Violence, Gang Warfare and Lawlessness in Early Bytown will be a new exciting and graphic novel approach temporary exhibition which explores the veritable street fight that was daily life in early Bytown! Wanna Fight?

2023-2024: Exploring our Digital Collections – photographic exhibition Viewing the BYTOWN MUSEUM’s collection and Ottawa’s history via the Museum’s digitized resources.

2024-2025: The History of Nursing in Ottawa Will feature recently acquired and long-held items from our primary collection. Focus on biographical sketches, formal nurse training, and informal medical care in the Canal period etc.

2026: The Bicentennial Anniversary of the Founding of Bytown. Please note that where the BYTOWN MUSEUM is, is where Bytown, i.e. Ottawa started. Let’s celebrate together Ottawa 200th Anniversary – as a city, as a community and as the Capital of Canada!

Community Gallery

The Community Gallery program affords community groups, embassies, cultural organizations and local artists and photographers the opportunity to tell their stories. The Community Gallery – a uniquely Ottawa space located in the former cooper’s workshop, is an excellent venue to showcase the stories and perspectives of the diverse peoples who call Ottawa home. We welcome all interested individuals, community and cultural groups, embassies and Ottawa artists and photographers to apply for the program: (http://bytownmuseum.com/exhibitions/community-gallery/

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February 2 – May 12, 2019: Camp Woolsey: Memories of Ottawa Girl Guide Camp

May 17 - September 2, 2019: Austria Embassy exhibition – “Eugen Kedl: A Tribute to Northern Canada”

September 13, 2019 to April 26, 2020 (extended): THE GLEBE IS OVERRATED

Hungarian Heritage in Canada. 2020-2021 In partnership with the Embassy of the Republic of Hungary in Ottawa, this exhibition will highlight the history of Hungarian-Canadians from the 1880s, and will be based on the images and information from the Embassy’s new heritage website.

Emily Rose Michaud: Reflections on Water 2021 A local artist’s show featuring 44 graphite drawings that highlight the power and presence of water specific to the watersheds of the National Capital Region. Focused on topographical maps of the various communities of the Ottawa River.

Gary Blundell & Victoria Ward: Sourcing the Canal 2021-2022 Will include original artworks based on trips the artists made to Ontario resource based communities that would have used railways, the Ottawa River and Rideau Canal to transport goods from where they were originally collected to locations for processing and sale.

Permanent Exhibitions

In 2019, updates occurred within the Permanent Galleries. They included:

New updates to our virtual tour program to include our special exhibition “The Gallant Thousand: Ottawa and the South African War,” the accessible kiosk and several 3rd floor renovations.

The Gallant Thousand temporary exhibition will inform an update of the permanent gallery display in 2020/2021. Mr. Vogl is consistently planning systematic updates of the displays over the next five years. Research is also being done on how to incorporate Indigenous history/story-telling into the permanent gallery displays, as well as how to achieve a mural on the second floor painted by a local Algonquin artist. New acquisitions are also informing updates to the ‘Lumber Town’ display, as well as planned artefact rotations, update label copy and professional re-framing of works throughout the museum.

Social Media and Website

The Museum uses social media effectively to share photographs and programming information on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The Museum was popular and well “followed’ via its social media platforms (Twitter, Facebook and Instagram) in 2019.

In 2019, the BYTOWN MUSEUM had a total of 12,345 followers with an increase across all three of our media platforms: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. At the end of 2019 the

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BYTOWN MUSEUM now has 6,956 Facebook followers with an increase of 12.65% from 2018, 4,046 Twitter followers with an increase of 9.3% from 2018, and 3,500 Instagram followers with an increase of 42% from 2018. Our ever-popular use of ‘memes’ on social media has also attracted and engages new audiences, and our channels have been the subject of two graduate-level thesis papers on museums and social media. We are constantly lauded by local and national museums as a model for social media content and engagement.

Website Statistics: In the second half of 2019, the BYTOWN MUSEUM started using Google Analytics to help monitor statistics on our website and to pick up more detailed data, such as areas of interest, preferred language and location.

At the end of 2019, our website had 27,354 unique visits, which is a 4.95% increase over 2018.

Our E-Newsletter subscription base is over 1,125. This is down from last year; however we cleaned our emails that were no longer functional. In 2020, we are rebuilding our distribution capacity.

Get Social with us!

www.bytownmuseum.ca | www.museebytown.ca

Museum Collection

Collections management and research are critical to all exhibition, programming and marketing activities. The artefacts are woven into the exhibitions and the images are essential for exciting programs and animated marketing of the Museum. The task entails maintaining the storage of over 10,000 artefacts and updating their records. In 2019 staff updated records and photographed artefacts in order to upload them on to the online database and making them accessible to the public. Ms. Erin Bernauer has been the front line worker on this project. Currently, there are 5,050 records digitized and uploaded on to MINISIS for public access; 2,469 have associated images. Hundreds of additional artefacts were photographed and digitized in 2019 and their images will be uploaded in 2020. The public accesses the Museum’s records for research and enjoyment purposes. The MINISIS ‘M3 online database augments the Museum’s relevancy in the 21st century and for our technology savvy youth and future oriented community. The ultimate goal is to photograph the entire collection and digitize all of the records in order to make them available to our community of Ottawa and people around the world. The Museum has received grants to accomplish this all important project. In fact, we just received a Community Foundation of Ottawa grant to assist us in photographing several artefacts in 2020.

This all important work is dependent on grants and donations. Please donate to the BYTOWN MUSEUM and recommend local companies to sponsor the Museum’s initiative to be a leading 21st century museum.

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The Museum painstakingly works to ensure that the conservation of the collection occurs on a regular basis. Most of the collection is housed at the Diefenbunker Canada’s Cold War Museum. The storage area and the museum galleries are constantly monitored.

Throughout 2019 the Museum did a great deal of conservation work on the collection. Such work is exemplified by the following:  7 paintings, 3 photographs and 1 major artefact underwent conservation treatment

The ‘collection mandate,’ is from the beginning of Bytown/Ottawa to present day. In 2019, the Museum acquired seventeen important and interesting artefacts for its primary collection. These items included:  An exciting collection of photographs, pins, rings and personal items relating to two Ottawa nurses, Elizabeth and Effie Curry  A collection of historic and Ottawa manufactured bricks, previously in the hands of the National Research Council of Canada  A small collection of clothing items relating to the family of Robert Bell, founder of the Bytown and Prescott Railway and the Ottawa Citizen

The BYTOWN MUSEUM does not actively seek new acquisitions, nor does it have an acquisitions budget per se. However, we consider any and all offers of donation equally. All offers are examined and accepted or rejected based on the recommendations of the Collections and Exhibitions Manager and guided by the Collections Management Policy. Recommendations are reviewed by the Acquisitions Committee and final approval is granted by the Board of Directors as recommended by the Collections and Exhibitions Manager and the Executive Director.

The Board and Management are reviewing a City sponsored ‘needs assessment’ study of storage requirements for all collections in Ottawa. The need for a City sponsored storage facility was identified. The Museum seriously needs modern storage facilities and collections work space. As do all of the City and community museums in Ottawa. If this is not feasible for the City of Ottawa to provide, then the Museum will need to consider commercial storage facility to better house the precious collection that represents the history of Ottawa. Realistically, this is a long term project that will entail grants from all three levels of government, a capital fundraising campaign and a five year implementation plan.

Museum staff field numerous research and image requests about an artifact or an historical event or figure of Ottawa. In 2019, 524 requests for information were addressed by Mr. Vogl, who also provided historical information and graphic inspiration for media and social media. For example, 89 images were uploaded for use in media, TV and research papers.

Of great distinction is the work the Museum is doing by way of loans. In 2019 the Museum did the following loans:

The Canadian Museum of History (CMH-Ottawa) – “Hockey in Canada: More Than Just a Game” (Bytown and New Edinburgh Shintie Medal). It was returned in March 2019.

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The Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 (Halifax) – “Permanent Exhibition:” An extension of a current loan of a tow chain and shackle used during the construction of the Rideau Canal

The D’Arcy McGee Heritage Centre (Carlingford, Ireland): a replica of McGee’s Death Hand and other items and photographs.

The CMH requested that the Museum provide it with a long-term loan of important artefacts for its new ‘Canada Hall’ that opened in 2017. This loan ensures that over a million local and international visitors see the BYTOWN MUSEUM’s name and artefacts.

Programming and Events

Our summer programming such as Let Us Entertain You, school tours, CLICK! Youth Program and the Youth Council were fantastic throughout 2019 and the Fall-Winter programs, such as Thanksgiving and Christmas Family events.

In September, our new Manager of Visitor Experience, Mr. Stephen Mattiussi started. Steve immediately reached out to schools and youth groups and updated programming materials. Because of his work, the Museum has a dramatic increase of school tours and CLICK! programming for 2020. He also assisted with the supervision of summer students, P/T staff and volunteers, along with two interns.

2019 was a hugely busy year for programming. Some of our most popular annual programming included: Winterlude 2019, Doors Open Ottawa, Canada Day, and Thursday evening entertainment throughout July and August (Let Us Entertain You). All of this in addition to our numerous school and CLICK! tours and public programming like the Colours of Fall: Colouring Competition and Christmas crafts for children.

BYTOWN MUSEUM partnered with many different local and national organizations and businesses for extraordinary events: Winterlude (Downtown Rideau BIA and Department of Canadian Heritage) Summer Programs, the Lac du Leamy Sound of Light Fireworks, and Remembrance Day activities (Department of Veterans Affairs) to name a few.

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Fireworks at the BYTOWN MUSEUM

2019 Programs and Special Events:  Winterlude 2019 partnering with Canadian Heritage & Downtown Rideau BIA (February);  EASTER EGG-STRAVAGANZA (April)  May Long Weekend and opening of the Summer Season  Doors Open Ottawa (June);  Canada Day on July 1;  Let Us Entertain You Thursdays (July and August)  Casino du Lac Leamy Sound and Light Show in partnership with Parks Canada and Casino du Lac Leamy (August)  Cultural Days (September)  Colours of the Fall: Leaf Colouring Competition  Remembrance Day Wreath and Postcards for Peace  Haunted Walks Halloween Season ( May-June; October and December)  Christmas Craft-ernoons (November –December)

The Museum continually updates its school and youth programming. The school programs/tours are offered in both official languages and are curriculum based. The Museum is attracting students from both Ottawa and Gatineau. We also welcome school groups from the Maritimes, Alberta, and Manitoba and all over Ontario and Quebec. A new and popular program is “Confederation: Have Your Say’ that allows students to learn about how Canada came about and to debate Confederation. Our tours are: LockTalks, History Explorers, Builders of the City, Discover Ottawa’s History, Ottawa’s Best Kept Secrets and Architecture Tour.

While school tours and youth programs are at the heart of the museum’s programming focus, our various tours are delivered to a variety of groups each year. Seniors, ESL students, youth and adults with learning difficulties, and tour groups form outside Canada all benefit from those wonderful tour offerings. We encourage many different types of groups to enjoy their community museum. https://bytownmuseum.com/get-engaged/group-visits-and-tours/

The Museum partners with the Department of Canadian Heritage to deliver its youth program “CLICK!” This unique program affords grades 7-10 students from across Canada to explore their country’s capital and its role in Canadian history. CLICK! Program brought in 1,218 students to the museum in 2019, in addition to our program bookings. The contract with the Department of Canadian Heritage for its CLICK! Youth program has been renewed to March 31, 2022.

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The Museum’s exceptional Youth Council continues to do great initiatives. In 2019 they wrote blogs on important historical people and places of Ottawa and completed a mural of Ottawa history, based on the Rideau Canal – it looks spectacular. It is mounted on the second floor of the Museum. They also researched the possibility of doing podcasts.

Youth Council Painting Their Mural of Rideau Canal

Visibility and Visitation

2018 again saw over 90,000 people visiting our Museum.

However in 2019, visitation was down to 70,000. This is due to the flood in the spring that stopped people cycling and walking by the Museum and boats being on the Canal and River until June; the National Arts Centre construction and the new Canada Day security measures that blocked ready access to the Museum on Canada Day and week. In addition, the renovation work of Centre Block on Parliament Hill caused power outages in the summer.

The Museum continues to enhance its visitation and visitor experience: 2019 -70,000 visitors; 2018 - 90,000 visitors; 2017- 90,000 visitors; 2016 - 100,500 visitors; 2015 - 84,000 people; 2014 - 63,000; 2013 - 58,000; 2012 - 51,000 and 2011 - 42,000 visitors. In addition, we have 1000s of people on site who viewed our programming outside and enjoyed our sit down area with lemonade, coffee and ice cream. These people are not counted in our official statistics, although they enjoy Museum services. And we have 1000s of people visiting our Museum via our website, Virtual Tour, audio tours and using our digitized collection.

Deliberate and robust uses of social media and heightened marketing and diligent work with partners have definitely made your community museum visible and relevant locally, nationally and around the world. Staff work hard to partner via the Museum’s programs, collection management endevours, exhibitions, marketing initiatives and operations to further expand the reach of the Museum. The Museum has a phenomenal reputation throughout the community and among our colleague museums/galleries (local and national) for its consistently great social media messaging and community engagement. The “friends’/’hits’ on our social media vehicles (Twitter/Facebook/Instagram) are excellent. In fact, the BYTOWN MUSEUM is being noted for its innovative social media messaging and new tours and children’s crafts online in response to the challenges caused by Covid-19.

Staff members are continually interviewed for newspaper articles and TV and radio programs, and write articles and/or are quoted in publications. They also give talks and lectures: community colleges, Ottawa library, Historical Society of Ottawa, local Clubs and Conferences.

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Promotions

In 2019, Mr. Matthew Hertendy, our new Marketing and Communications Coordinator (P/T), continually created outstanding social media coverage and updates the new website. Matthew also creates the e-newsletters, flyers and brochures. In 2020 he is working with the Manager of Revenue and Operations, Ms. Rebecca Webb and with Steve Mattiussi, to develop new marketing materials for the Gift Shop, outdoor operations, facility rentals, as well as for the school tours, summer programming -‘Let Us Entertain You’ and the exhibitions.

Media and social media publicity for the popular temporary and community gallery exhibitions, programming and special events was extensive in 2019. Tourisme Outaouais, Downtown Rideau and Byward Market BIAs, the Ottawa Board of Trade, Ottawa Tourism ‘FAM’ tours to the Museum, Ottawa Museums Network and Capital Heritage Connexion|La Connexion patrimoine de la capitale’s marketing of local museums, Ottawa’s newspapers, TV and radio outlets, Tourism representations, publications, social media, the website, Trip Advisor and visitors’ personal ‘blogs,’ positioned your community museum on everyone’s top ten list. The Museum won TripExpert's 2018 Experts’ Choice Award; and was shortlisted for Ottawa Tourism’s 2018 Award for its social media/online fundraising campaign. In 2017 and 2018, it was shortlisted for Ontario Attractions Award in the Top Small Museums category. In 2019 it was shortlisted for Family & Visitor Attraction Awards with LUX Life and it was awarded a 2019 Experts' Choice Award.

In 2019, the Museum was extremely active with media coverage: WHERE map, travel blogs, Summer Fun Guide, five video interviews (Irish Famine Voice Roadshow, Rogers Daytime), TV interviews – Rogers and CTV Moring Live, 1 radio interview (CBC All in A day), 1 narrative interview (TVO Documentary), 1 feature article (CMA MUSE Magazine: “100 Years of History in Every Can”), 3 invited lectures (HSO, Goulbourn HS, Irish Genealogy Group).

Membership

The BYTOWN MUSEUM held ‘member events’ in 2019, such as the Lumberjack Breakfast. The Breakfast in late November is our way to thank members, volunteers and stakeholders. The Museum also sends an e-newsletter (E-Blast) to inform all Museum Members of the activities and events of their community museum.

In 2019, the Museum had 35 Museum Members: Lifetime, Renewed and New.

Please become a Member of your remarkable Community Museum that has served the community for 102 years as of 2019. Invite your family, friends and colleagues to become a Museum Member in 2020. BYTOWN MUSEUM Membership is a great gift for everyone.

And as part of your annual membership application, please donate so we can continue to serve our incomparable community of Ottawa. Again the priority projects needing donations are: Digitizing the Collection for public access and the Youth Council – engaging young people in Ottawa history and heritage, as well as learning life skills for their future careers. We need $1,000 sponsorship for the renovation of the staff kitchen – we need a new refrigerator,

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microwave, table and chairs, and kitchenware.

In 2020, Matthew is taking the lead to update the Museum’s Membership materials and campaign.

Volunteers

The Museum is fortunate to have astonishing volunteers who help with everything e.g., special events, cataloguing the period costumes, researching policies and helping with office tasks and museum cleaning, as well as volunteering for the Board and for the Youth Council. We have about 45 regular volunteers, who completed close to 1,000 hours of volunteer work (regular, Youth Council and Board volunteers). We are always looking for new volunteers. Please become a volunteer and support your local community museum.

Board of Directors and Governance

The BYTOWN MUSEUM is a federally registered charity, not-for-profit organization. It completed the new federal Corporation Act’s compliance requirements in 2014, by realizing the articles of continuance and updated By-Laws. The volunteer Board of Directors is a governance board with responsibility for the museum’s finances, policies, fundraising efforts, advocacy and strategic planning. The Board meets on a regular basis and for special events, such as the Lumberjack Breakfast for volunteers and partners and the Annual General Meeting. They serve on a number of committees. The Board and Management work hard on the Strategic Plan and staff has successfully accomplished most the goals recommended in it, as well as policy development and renewal.

Board and Management are working on another major goal of the Strategic Plan: fundraising geared to priority areas of the Museum’s work and to make the Museum a 21st century cultural asset in Ottawa. In 2019 the Board and Management successfully worked with consultants to develop a realistic long term fundraising plan: A Strategic Fund Development Plan for the Musée Bytown Museum 2020-2022 (September 2019).

Summer Staff

In addition to an astonishing permanent professional staff, the Museum received summer student grants, which allowed us to hire marvellous summer students in 2019: Courtney Roy, Maxime Aubrey Robillard, Amber Ruddock, Andrea Rodriguez, Pascale Malenfant, Isabelle Sauvé, Chloe Van Zyverden, Andrew Kenney, Nathan Lord and Jenna Gasper. They professionally welcomed the big number of visitors for the Museum throughout the summer of 2019. Amber Ruddock, Andrea Rodriguez, Nathan Lord and Chloe Van Zyverden worked P/T for special events and reception area over the Fall and Winter.

Thank you! You are great and make valuable contributions to the Museum’s activities and services for the community and all of our visitors.

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Contract Personnel

We received a Museum Assistance Program grant (Federal) in 2017-2018 and a Community Foundation of Ottawa grant in 2018 -2019 that allowed the Museum to hire Ms. Erin Bernauer, a contract person for the collections management upgrade project. The 2019 Fireworks fundraising event afforded us an opportunity to retain Erin throughout 2019 and into 2020.

We received a Young Canada Works Internship grant in 2019-2020 to allow the Museum to further enhance the Youth Council (YoCo) by hiring an intern to oversee our Youth Council. The Youth Council accomplished important projects in 2019 and into 2020: a mural depicting the Ottawa Locks, a number of well researched ‘blogs’ on their webpage and researching a ‘podcast.’ The Museum’s Young Canada Works Intern for 2019-2020 was Mr. Oluwafayoslami Solola.

We continually research and apply for additional grants and funding to keep these critical initiatives going. The Youth Council is for the future political, business and societal leaders of our community and country. And the digitization project makes our Museum relevant in the 21st century.

To our young people in the community, please do not hesitate to volunteer on the Youth Council and the museum in general and to all of you, please donate to help us enhance the Youth Council program and our digitization project.

With sincere gratitude for all of their work, we thank Ms. Wendi Mosher (Mosher Bookkeeping), Mr. Tony Sistakis, and Mr. Mal LoMonaco, who respectively provide the Museum with excellent contract bookkeeping, computer/IT and carpentry services.

Partnerships

Because of our wonderful partners, old friends and new ones, the Museum has increased capacity to serve our community with more museum services, enhanced programming in both official languages, innovative marketing and social media, as well as add human resources and technology and equipment to all aspects of the operation.

2019 Partners:  Kichessippi Beer Co. produced a 100th Anniversary beer-“Commissariat Old Stock Ale” for the Museum and sponsors receptions. Note: the beer is now part of its regular line up. We also worked closely with Kichessippi Beer Co. on the development and branding of their ‘Stoney Monday’ IPA and ‘Corktown’ Irish Stout.  Haunted Walks (great haunted tours of the Museum)  Bean Around Town sponsors coffee for our Lumberjack Breakfast  Down Rideau BIA sponsored Museum’s Winterlude programming and Fireworks  Marchés d’Ottawa Markets sponsored the Fireworks and cross-promotion  Byward Market BIA (cross promotion and support for tourism enhancement)  Aqua Taxi (sell their tickets and cross promotion)  Ottawa Boat Cruises (sell their tickets and cross promotion)

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 Ottawa Tourism (promotes the Museum and brings us their FAM tours)  Department of Canadian Heritage (CLICK! youth program and Winterlude)  City of Ottawa (MINISIS database project and operating funding)  Algonquin College, Applied Museums Studies Program (conservation work, exhibition research and interns and the Construction Program - a 3D model of the Museum’s building  Capital Heritage Connexion (Heritage Day and cross promotion)  Ottawa Museums Network (marketing and advocacy)

Revenue Streams

The BYTOWN MUSEUM has a robust Gift Shop and Cafe service. The Museum is always introducing new product lines for local people, school children and tourists, as well as Bean Around Town freshly brewed coffee, Mary Shortbread Cookies, and ‘WhattaSandwich’ food items and maple food items all remain popular. The ice cream carts and lemonade stand were active well into the Fall of 2019 with outstanding sales and returning customers. Ms. Rebecca Webb, our Revenue and Operations Manager, continues to research and promote new souvenirs and services throughout 2019 and now for 2020. She is training staff on excellent customer service and is partnering with a number of suppliers and colleague organizations/business for the best products for our customers.

The Museum offers facility rentals and is becoming a very popular meeting place – as a unique space for business meetings, training sessions and ‘get-togethers.’ In 2019, the Museum reviewed how we offer and promote ‘facility rentals’ and plan to be more active in promoting the service, including a ‘virtual tour’ of a facility rental set-up. The Museum sells the tickets for the boat lines on the Ottawa River and Rideau Canal, and rents space to Haunted Walks for their Haunted Walks program and guide training. The Museum also delivers the CLICK! Program for the department of Canadian Heritage (contract).

The Museum offers an image reproduction service which allows the public to purchase one- time copyright to images from the Museum’s collections for publications, websites or personal use. This is in conjunction with the digitization project which will ultimately allow access to the thousands of unique photographs and artefacts from our collection.

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!

We would like to thank all those who have contributed their time, expertise, efforts and financial support to help the BYTOWN MUSEUM excel over the past year.

DONATIONS

The Museum’s 2019-2020 PATRONS are:

Bruce Elliott Chelsea Tao Laila Djiwa P.K. Pal Christophe Rivet Margaret Hamilton Margaret Caron Robin Etherington

Note: a number of the Museum’s patrons and donors wish to remain anonymous.

Many people renewed their annual Museum Membership.

The Museum’s 2019-2020 SPONSORS are:  Kichesippi Beer Co.  Beans Around Town  Downtown Rideau BIA  Marchés d’Ottawa Markets  Gowling WLG  Consulate of Chile  Marcil Lavallée,  National Congress of Italian Canadians  Rotary Club of Ottawa  Randall’s Paint Ottawa

A great deal of work on donations and sponsorships occurred in 2019 and will take place in 2020 to prepare the Museum to actively fundraise. We accept donations of all sizes: in the donation box at reception desk, with your Museum Membership renewal, as a sponsor for a program or operational activity. For large donations/sponsorships, the Museum offers ‘naming rights’ to all galleries and to programs, such as Let Us Entertain You Thursday and the premier viewing of Les Grand Feux, Casino Lac Leamy Sound of Light Fireworks in August 2020. Staff developed a unique online fundraising campaign for the Museum’s 100th Anniversary month- October. The campaign raised ca. $5,000.00. We would like to do it again in 2020.

Robin Etherington registered the Museum with the “Donate-A-Car” program. Please donate your used car to the Museum via: https://donatecar.ca/ . You receive a tax receipt and the Museum receives the value of your car as a donation.

The Museum is registered with CanadaHelps and donations arrive via this vehicle. It is listed on our website: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/the-bytown-museum/

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Staff also led a fundraising event, the ‘Fireworks,’ on site in August 2019. After covering all of the costs, the Museum still raised over $20,000.00, which is more than we raised in 2018. These funds were dedicated to the Museum’s “digitization project.” The Museum, in partnership with Parks Canada and the Casino du Lac Leamy, plans to do the Fireworks fundraiser again in August 2021. Please support your local community museum by purchasing a ticket to enjoy our spectacular fireworks.

In 2019, the Museum received $ 3,980.43 in donations and $4,300.00 in cash sponsorships. Other sponsorships were in-kind.

As all of you know, the BYTOWN MUSEUM needs donations and sponsorships in order to complete critical and ongoing initiatives, such as the digitization project, the Youth Council, an upgraded computer-IT system, and support for the exhibition development, programming delivery and overall collections management.

The Board is organizing a ‘Charity Kitchen Makeover’ for the Museum in 2020. All sponsorships, donations and volunteers will be gratefully accepted. The kitchen and washrooms have not been renovated for at least 35 years. We need a new refrigerator, microwave, cabinets, table and chairs, and cutlery and dishes.

GRANTS

Grants are critical for the Museum.

2019 – 2020 grants:  City of Ottawa Operational Grant ($322, 000.00) - a decrease from 2018’s grant  Province of Ontario CMOG grant ($26,317.00 - has not increased in well over 10 years)  Federal Government - Young Canada Works (to hire summer students)  Federal Government - Canada Summer Jobs (to hire summer students)  Provincial Summer Experience Program (to hire summer students)  Federal Government-Museum Assistance Program 2018-2019 (digitization initiative)  City of Ottawa/OMN translation-conservation grant: $6,666.00 (assist to translate website, marketing, programming and exhibition materials and the Annual Report, as well as critical conservation work).  Community Foundation of Ottawa: (Youth Council in 2016-2017: $10,000 and Digitization project in 2017-2018 and 2018-2019: $10,000 each funding year; 2019-2020: $10,000.00 to photograph a number of special artefacts for collection management purposes).  Downtown Rideau BIA grant ( 2018 - 2019: Chill Factor activities; $1,500.00)  City of Ottawa Cultural Facility Grant (three new computers in 2019; $3,000.00)  City of Ottawa Capacity Building Grant (a Fundraising Plan 2019-2022; $11,070.00)

Operations

A major priority in 2019 was to adhere to and add to the comprehensive ‘policy manual’ and achieve the goals in the 2015-2020 Strategic Plan. Ca. 90% of the goals in the Strategic Plan have been achieved and an update of the Plan will occur in 2020 -2021. In 2019-2020,

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Management and the Board updated the Financial Investment Policy and the Employment and Human Resources Policy (due to the new Provincial Labour Law) and developed a ‘Drug and Substance Abuse Policy (given the legalization of cannabis by the Federal Government). They are updating the Workplace Harassment Policy and Program in 2020.

In addition, financial management procedures are constantly reviewed. In 2019, the Museum’s Bookkeeper and the Board Treasurer worked with Senior Management to review financial statements and develop annual budgets. The Board dissolved the Foundation and transferred the Foundation funds from RBC to Scotiabank, the Museum’s bank. It serves as a reserve fund/account. Due to Covid-19, it is a good financial management practice that the Museum has a small reserve to ensure operations can continue into 2021.

Another important component of operations entails professional development for staff. Staff attend webinars and workshops, e.g., Indigenous history and situation, project management, revenue generation, Provincial Labour Laws, Workplace Harassment, Federal Cannabis Law, grant writing, communications, website design, Excel spreadsheet and First Aid, CPR and AED training. In 2019 and 2020 management staff took online management courses at Algonquin College and attended the Carter’s Legal Firm’s annual workshop on legal requirements for charities and not-for-profit organizations. Board and staff in taking workshops on governance.

The other side of the coin is that management teaches and mentors interns & students. Staff actively serve as guest lecturers at colleges and conferences; and facilitate knowledge transfer to colleagues about revenue generation, policy development, collections management and operations.

Facility Management

Staff maintain the interior of the Museum: they perform cleaning and minor maintenance/repairs. Parks Canada is responsible for the overall and specific maintenance of the building and site. In 2019 a number of maintenance issues were addressed to ensure that the building is safe. Both the Museum Management and Parks Canada take Occupational Health and Safety seriously. The building and site are regularly inspected for trip hazards, regular fire alarm system, HVAC and elevator inspections. Please note that significant repairs need to happen in the building: floors, doors and windows and exterior and interior stone walls are in bad shape. The Museum is trying to do a kitchen and washrooms makeover in 2020, as they have not been upgraded for 35 years. In 2017, the Museum painted all of the walls for its 100th anniversary. Parks Canada’s exhibition on the first floor needs updating. The site itself also needs repairs. Canal Lane is full of pot holes, which are a challenge for cyclists and walkers alike; and the Wellington Street stairs need major repair, as does the retaining wall and the wall close to Major’s Hill. Lighting and heating are a challenge, especially during winter months.

Landlord and Tenant

The building is owned and maintained by Parks Canada (Federal Government). The Museum is a tenant. However, the BYTOWN MUSEUM and Parks Canada partner on a several initiatives to

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enhance both the building and visitor experiences, such as programming along the Rideau Canal. The Parks Canada’s ‘License of Occupation’ for the BYTOWN MUSEUM is a five year agreement, now to December of 2024. Annually, the Museum and Parks Canada co-sign an ‘Operations Agreement’ to better use the site, for such purposes as ice cream and lemonade sales and programming on site. The Museum pays Parks Canada 8% of all revenues from its outdoor operations. During the negotiation for the new Licence of Occupation, the Museum asked Parks Canada to reinvest those monies into the Commissariat Building (floors, doors, windows, etc.).

In addition, Parks Canada and the Museum worked together to resolve access to the site during National Art Centre’s construction at the top of the hill during 2017 through 2019. Access to the site due to NAC construction, coupled with the RCMP double fencing the site and blocking Wellington Street stairway during Canada Day weekend (or any other time they consider a security risk), results in significant losses of visitors and revenue for the Museum.

Much work needs to occur to maintain and upgrade the building for contemporary museum use, as well as maintaining it to the UNESCO heritage standards of a World Heritage Site. Museum Management works with Parks Canada throughout 2019-2020 to enhance services on site and ensure all extraordinary events at the Museum and on site will be successful.

Forward Looking

The next 100 years of serving the community of Ottawa will be significant, as Ottawa and the world around us are in constant change. That is vividly apparent during the current Covid-19 global crisis. The situation will forever change human behaviour and global expectations for dealing with a worldwide emergency, as well as the global economy.

Ottawa is a one million in population urban centre. The needs are changing, including cultural heritage requirements – heritage conservation, cultural programming, digital access to all museum services (programs, exhibitions, collections, gift shop). Planning for such constant change is more judicious than ever before. We have a five year exhibition plan and are rejuvenating our programs and special events and partnerships with schools and youth tour operators. The collection management project is robust and on track for completion, entailing research of the artefacts and uploading records and images to the on line database. We are building on the success our school programming to further engage our community’s young people. Due to Covid-19, the Museum is placing tours and curriculum based school tours online for use by the public and school children and teachers. This activity will not stop after the pandemic is over. In fact, it has permanently changed how the Museum can and will interact with its community and visitors. Online programming will work hand-in-hand with onsite tours and programming moving forward.

The revenue streams are strong and ever evolving. Operations (financial and HR management) are good and the Museum will continue to update policies and procedures in 2020. It needs to address the reality of cyber security and is monitoring the current financial situation due to Covid-19. The Museum’s Board of Directors is recruiting for 2020-2021. They are working with Management to ensure solid advocacy and fundraising for the Museum, and governance for

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the Board, as well as keeping the Strategic Plan current and future oriented. In addition, both the Board and Management will proactively do an ‘organization review’ to ensure that the Museum remains vibrant, economically sustainable and relevant to the community and to the cultural world at large. Staff continually updates the website and marketing materials and tactics, including social media and new technologies.

Your community museum, MUSÉE BYTOWN MUSEUM, faces challenges in spite of being robust and proactive. The seemingly constant decrease in municipal, provincial and federal grants for museums are causing a strain on the budget. For example, the Province has not increased community museums’ funding (CMOG) for over 10 years. The City of Ottawa did not increase the 2019 and 2020 operating grant; in fact they reduced the grant amount. The lack of an updated federal museum policy and an upgraded Museums Assistance Program since the 1970s continues to result in limited museum leadership at the national level.

These are coupled with physical challenges of the site that needs serious repairs and that the Museum constantly experiences access problems due to the construction around the area. In addition, our membership is decreasing and along with all registered charities, donors are limited and all charities are competing for the same donation and sponsorship sources. The Covid-19 crisis will increase the strain of less government funding for culture and cultural heritage resources and the focus of limited donor funds on the social rather than the cultural needs of our society.

Fundraising, Donations, Sponsorships and Partnerships are more important than ever!

In Conclusion

I emphasize what an astonishing thrill and honour it is to serve the community of Ottawa as Executive Director of one of the most progressive community museums in Ontario and in Canada. The Board of Directors, staff, volunteers, stakeholders and partners are working diligently to make your ‘103 year old’ Community Museum successful as a community centre for Ottawa’s cultural diversity and ever proactive youth. It is acknowledged as a fun destination for tourists and as a local place ‘to be.’ It excels in offering outstanding exhibitions, collections access, programs and customer service. It is one of the top UNESCO World Heritage Sites and consistently is awarded or noted in travel ‘blogs’ and tourism articles. The City of Ottawa supports its culture and the community certainly supports the BYTOWN MUSEUM, as it enters its second century of serving our ever changing and diverse neighborhoods and community people.

MUSÉE BYTOWN MUSEUM is a very special and astonishing museum. It is a small community museum, yet fills enormous space in Ottawa’s cultural tourism and cultural heritage landscape. It speaks of local history but in the context of National history and International affairs. It integrates current technologies and business practices into its operations and services to ensure that all of you have access to its collections, exhibitions and programming and that your children and grand-children will always enjoy its school programs and family events and educational exhibitions. Your Community Museum provides star-studded leadership in the local, national and global cultural communities!

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Confucius said “may you live in interesting times.”

Indeed we are living in interesting times. So put on your dancing shoes, clear your throats for raucous singing; and joyfully let’s support our 103 year old fantastic community museum:

BE A PRO-ACTIVE MUSEUM MEMBER

BE AN ACTIVE VOLUNTEER

BE A GENEROUS DONOR

COME OFTEN & ENJOY YOUR COMMUNITY MUSEUM

Respectfully submitted by Robin Etherington, Executive Director

The Museum has a Great Staff who works as a Team!

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Treasurer’s Summary Report

2019 was a challenging year. Many things were out of the Museum’s control: springtime flooding, funding cuts, infrastructure and construction around the Museum, just to name a few. These led to a sizeable decrease in revenue compared to 2018. There were a few unexpected expenses that also had to be addressed, such as replacing old computers.

However, the Museum and its staff rose to the challenge. It is a testament to the resourcefulness and dedication of Robin and her team that the Museum, despite all of the setbacks of 2019, was able to finish the year with a surplus.

Looking ahead to 2020, it is uncertain times. However, I am confident that management, with support from the Board and the Members of the Museum, will steer the Museum in the right direction.

Respectfully submitted by Chelsea Tao, Treasurer

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