PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation Board of Governors April 2017 – March 2018 ______
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The Authentic Island Story... one museum, seven sites! Annual Report 2017 - 2018 March 31, 2018 Honourable Jordan Brown Minister of Education, Early Learning and Culture Dear Minister Brown: I am pleased to submit the Annual Report of the Prince Edward Island Museum and Heritage Foundation for the fiscal year April 1, 2017 to March 31, 2018. This past year has been challenging with many staffing changes, yet this report reveals that business was looked after. We acknowledge and thank all staff members who have retired and have served us well over many years. As well, current staff members, volunteers and “Friends” groups deserve recognition for their great work and commitment. Because of these individuals, the seven sites across the province have continued to provide an enriched experience for Islanders and visitors alike. Our Board recognizes the need to sustain the knowledge system and interpretation of material culture for Islanders. We have appreciated meeting times and ongoing discussion with your Department concerning ways to reshape perception of both natural and heritage values. Board members recognize the importance of being leaders of culture and heritage on PEI, and with our blend of vision and patience, our hope is to secure and ensure long- term sustainability of museums in our province. PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation staff and Board have always had to make difficult financial decisions. Our mission has been to prioritize and balance these challenges with the need to preserve. Our Board of Directors will continue to promote, respect and recognize those across our Island who take great pride in community and work diligently for the preservation of heritage. We look forward to continued meetings with government officials and acknowledge the growing financial efforts of the Government of PEI in this regard. During the time period of this report, our focus has been on natural history as well as technology. As Board members and staff discussed our role in education and ways to bring history and heritage alive in the classroom, we began investigation into digitization and virtual reality. As well, development of educational programs at our sites is ongoing. We are all stewards of Prince Edward Island. Our immediate concern is methods of preservation, due diligence and how we care for Prince Edward Island’s natural and cultural history and artifacts. Respectfully submitted, Carolyn I. McKillop, Chair PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation March 31, 2018 Ms. Carolyn McKillop Chair, PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation 2 Kent Street Charlottetown, PE C1A 1M6 Dear Ms. McKillop: I respectively submit this report of activities of the Prince Edward Island Museum and Heritage Foundation for the fiscal year April 1, 2017 – March 31, 2018. This fiscal year our museums witnessed the strongest visitation in many years totaling over 80,000 visitors. Canada 150 celebrations, increased school visits, greater cruise ship traffic and exceptional summer weather are seen as contributing factors. The department’s Cultural Action Plan and associated new budget allocations address a number of key outcomes related to preserving and documenting our collections. These initiatives applying new technologies will provide significantly better access to historical collections and information to the public and school audiences in the future. Renewed capital funding was directed to the Stanley Lindsay House and other Orwell buildings, security fencing at the Elmira Railway Museum and renovated/upgraded offices and infrastructure at our Collections facility. The technical support and guidance we receive from TIE staff is acknowledged and appreciated. Financial guidance, investment and broad support by the Department of Education, Early Learning and Culture make our heritage work possible and is critical to sustaining our operations and meeting our Provincial mandate. The continued support we receive from volunteers at each of our sites is recognized. Many of our events and programming would not be possible without their participation and dedication. I would like to thank you, as Board Chair, and members of the Board for their continued support, interest and guidance throughout the year on various projects. It is always a pleasure working together to present and preserve Island heritage. Respectively submitted, David L. Keenlyside, PhD Executive Director TABLE OF CONTENTS Museum & Heritage: Vision, Mission, Mandate and Goal �����������������������������������������������������������������������6 PEI Museum Board of Governors �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������7 PEI Museum & Heritage Foundation Organizational Chart 2017-2018 ...................................................8 The Organization – Executive Director’s Report �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������9 Site Visitation ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������13 The Museum Sites �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������14 Acadian Museum of Prince Edward Island / Le Musée acadien de l’Île-du-Prince-Édouard �����������������14 Green Park Shipbuilding Museum & Historic Yeo House ���������������������������������������������������������������������22 Elmira Railway Museum ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������23 Basin Head Fisheries Museum ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������25 Eptek Art & Culture Centre ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������23 Orwell Corner Historic Village ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������28 Beaconsfield Historic House �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������31 The Collection �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������34 Provincial Heritage Programs �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������39 Heritage Places Recognition Program ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������41 Government House Committee ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������44 Institute for Architectural Studies and Conservation ...............................................................................45 Heritage Awards ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������46 Audited Financial Statements �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������48 PEI Museum and Heritage Annual Report 2018 5 PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation Vision, Mission, Mandate and Goal _______________________________________________________________________ Vision To help Islanders play an active and informed role in shaping their world by encouraging an understanding and appreciation of Prince Edward Island’s cultural and natural heritage. Mission To preserve the heritage of Prince Edward Island for present and future generations. The Prince Edward Island and Heritage Foundation, as Prince Edward Island’s Provincial Museum, is the principal repository and steward of evidence that documents or represents the cultural and natural history of our Province and its people. Mandate and Goal ● The purpose of the Museum shall be to study, collect, preserve, interpret and protect the human and natural history of Prince Edward Island for the use, benefit and enjoyment of the people of the Province. (Museum Act 1983, c.34, s.4.) ● To acquire and share knowledge of Island history, cultural and natural world with Islanders and visitors. ● To encourage discovery, appreciation and understanding of Prince Edward Island and to inspire Islanders and their visitors to explore and understand the world around them. PEI Museum and Heritage Annual Report 2018 6 PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation Board of Governors April 2017 – March 2018 _______________________________________________________________________ Carolyn McKillop, Chair Appointed July 2014 Re-appointed July 2017 Marilyn MacDonald Appointed January 2013 Re-appointed January 2016 Anne Richard Appointed July 2014 Eddie Rice Appointed May 2016 Retired Fall 2017 Elizabeth Noonan Appointed May 2016 Judi Allen Appointed April 2017 Robert Nicholson Appointed May 2016 Vivian Beer Appointed April 2017 PEI Museum and Heritage Annual Report 2018 7 PEI Museum & Heritage Foundation PEIOrganizational Museum & Heritage Chart Foundation2017-18 Organizational Chart 2017-2018 Registrar Lesley Caseley Museum Maintenance (50%) Alan Watts Rachel Lapointe Basin Head Site Manager Elizabeth MacDonald (c) Harris Ford Lynne Morrow (c) | Membership Judy Barrett (c) Curatorial Assistant Nikkie Gallant Laura Mills Brandi Coughlin (c) Orwell Farmer Kevin MacLean Orwell Site Manager Jason MacNeil PEI Museum and Heritage Annual Report 2018 8 THE ORGANIZATION MUSEUM STAFF This past year witnessed many museum