2015 to the Community to the ANNUAL REPORT LOUGHEED HOUSE NATIONAL & PROVINCIAL HISTORIC SITE & MUSEUM KIRSTIN EVENDEN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REMARKS 2015 was a special year at Lougheed House as we celebrated our 10th anniversary of Lougheed House National & Provincial Historic Site and our 20th Anniversary of the Lougheed House Conservation Society. These anniversaries were an opportunity to reflect on all that the Society has accomplished in creating and growing Lougheed House as a dynamic cultural hub in the heart of our city. 2015 also marked the first year of our 2015-17 Programming and Strategic Initiatives Plan as we rolled out new opportunities to for the community to be a part of Lougheed House. We continued to evolve our organization to ensure its ongoing sustainability, in a time of economic uncertainty in Alberta. As a non-profit organization responsible for ensuring Lougheed House continues to thrive in the future, we raised approximately 41% of revenues through fundraising, donations, earned income and grants. We managed our expenses carefully, invested in key priorities, sourced new development revenues, and pursued a new fundraising initiative. This past year we also continued to reach out to the community to seek feedback on what our visitors want to see when they visit and engage with Lougheed House. Lougheed House works closely with a number of partners to maintain and care for the Historic Site and we are grateful to the Government of Alberta, a key stakeholder and supporter in the care and operation of Lougheed House through the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and the Ministry of Infrastructure. Thank you also to the City of Calgary for the maintenance of the eastern portion of Beaulieu Gardens. Thank you to all of our Lougheed House members, volunteers, donors, supporters, Board and staff. You actively support and are responsible for Lougheed House’s success – one which reflects a true partnership in community and which could not be fruitful without you. As we move forward to celebrate our 125th Anniversary in 2016, we are grateful for your commitment to our shared success. – Kirstin Evenden, Executive Director “I love that this building was an actual house...seeing all the vintage dresses made me imagine the lady of the House and her daughter getting ready back in the day.” - Lougheed House Visitor KIRSTIN EVENDEN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR GERRY MEEK CHAIRMAN CHAIRMAN’S REMARKS Organizations, like individuals, mark the passage of time to remember special moments and experiences. Over the course of the past year, Lougheed House has experienced many special moments as it continues to deepen and share its story and turn new pages in its continuing evolution and growth. During the past year, much has been attempted and much has been accomplished and there are many achievements to celebrate. These include: the introduction of a number of new and highly successful program initiatives, an increase in both the usage and the visibility and profile of the House in the larger community, the launch of new planning initiatives, a number of successful grant applications and the continuing careful management of the financial operations of the House. These achievements reflect the considerable efforts of many willing hands and caring hearts. In this regard, I would like to especially acknowledge the leadership and efforts of our Executive Director, Kirstin Evenden, our General Manager, Cathy Olson and their hard working team and our tireless and dedicated volunteers. I would also like to acknowledge and thank our funders, especially the Province of Alberta, our donors, our sponsors, our restaurant partner and community supporters for their continuing help and support. My thanks go as well to my fellow Boards members for their considerable efforts and unfailing support. In looking ahead, the coming year will be a very challenging one in view of the present economic downturn which is deeply affecting our entire province. It will also be a very special one as the House formally marks and celebrates its 125th anniversary with a number of special events and activities. Please come and help us to celebrate this remarkable milestone and become part of the action and involved, as we continue to fashion the next stages in our continuing and deeply fascinating story. – Gerry Meek, Chairman, Lougheed House Conservation Society Board of Directors “It was an honour to be the first Artist-in-Residence in Lougheed House’s 124 year history...the work I produced has since been exhibited and published internationally – thank you” - derek beaulieu, Calgary’s Poet Laureate STRATEGIC PRIORITY 1 Revitalizing Programming & Enhancing the Visitor Experience 13, 927 - Total attendance; remained on a par with 2014, however, our actual general admissions ticket sales grew by 10%, reflecting an increase of visitors to Lougheed House for exhibitions, programs and tours. 80,000 - The approximate number of visitors who enjoyed the Gardens at Lougheed House. 612 - The number of interpretive tours provided to visitors, an increase of 41% over last year. Our audio tours were enjoyed by 1482 visitors. 1155 - The number of students who enjoyed a hands-on immersive experience with heritage. 5641 guests enjoyed Lougheed House through 87 corporate and private events. Exhibitions at Lougheed House Reflect Our Time and the History of This Place The Turner Valley Gas Plant Portfolio: Photographs by George Webber January 21st - March 22nd, 2015. This exhibition of renowned Calgary based photographer George Webber’s recent work showcased his fascination with the formal beauty of this industrial site with historic links to Lougheed House. Your Town is Our Town March 25th - June 14th, 2015. This exhibit, curated by Swerve founder Shelley Youngblut, featured ten years of Swerve photography about Calgary showcasing twenty local photographers. Daring Deco: 1920s Women’s Fashion June 24th - October 11th, 2015. From the flapper dress to the vamp look, styles that defined the late 1920s were featured. The exhibit included dresses worn by significant Albertan women, such as Irene Parlby of the Famous Five, and told the story of a changing social landscape. The exhibition travelled to the Red Deer Museum, in late 2015. Proudly They Served: Canadian Women’s Army Corps October 21st, 2015 - January 31st, 2016. Lougheed House served as a local residence and centre for the Canadian Women’s Army Corps (CWAC) during WWII. On the 70th anniversary of WWII, this exhibition told the story of CWAC women who worked as switchboard operators, cipher decoders, drivers, cooks and clerks. Collections featured in the exhibition include artifacts, oral histories and photographs from the Lougheed House Conservation Society, the Military Museums, the Glenbow Archives and a private collection. Immersive Experiences! Programming Highlights We continue to build Lougheed House as a relevant and dynamic cultural hub for Calgary and offered numerous opportunities for the community to engage in stories, and connect with each other, in unexpected ways. From special immersive performances, to hands-on workshops, ‘tea and talks’, historic neighbourhood walks, and community events, Lougheed House provided a unique place for the community to gather in dialogue and discover something new. Lougheed House was also a participant in a number of community events and festivities, including Doors Open YYC, Alberta Culture Days, and Historic Calgary Week. Why Cities Matter - An important panel discussion connecting cities, urban space, arts and culture, with poet derek beaulieu, Simon Brault, Director and CEO, Canada Council for the Arts, Janet Eremenko, Community Facilitation & Engagement Specialist at Vibrant Communities Calgary, and Moderator/Curator Shelley Youngblut. In partnership with Calgary Arts Development and Wordfest, Lougheed House hosted a dialogue and panel exploring cities, urban space, and arts and culture and engaged audiences in a discussion about how we can continue to grow Calgary as a dynamic, creative and innovative city prepared for the challenges of the 21st century. Lougheed House Christmas - The Calgary Design Group decked the halls of Lougheed House, inspired by turn-of-the-century style. Visitors voted in the annual gingerbread house contest, experienced Lougheed House’s Santa, as well as maple taffy and entertainment on Family Saturdays December 5th and 12th. Steven Methot staged a unique one-man “reading” of A Christmas Carol as Charles Dickens with musical accompaniment by Natalie Manzer on the Celtic Harp. School and Educational Programs for Students - This year we provided 853 Calgary Kindergarten to Grade 6 students with hands-on learning and curriculum-based experiences through our school programs. We also provided educational programs to 302 members of a variety of community groups, including people with disabilities, ESL students and local youth clubs. STRATEGIC PRIORITY 2 Building Profile and Connection Profile of Lougheed House grew 39.5% in media exposure and website use increased by 32%. Twitter followers increased 12%; retweets were up 11% and favorites by 86%. Facebook followers have increased by 30% and the rate of engagement with posts is up 1.4%. We engaged in 16 programming partnerships with artist and cultural groups. Lougheed House became a National Trust of Canada Partner this year. Beaulieu at Beaulieu - Lougheed House hosts its First Artist in Residence The first artistic residency at Lougheed House featured Calgary’s Poet Laureate, derek beaulieu,