KELOWNA, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - June 16, 2015) - Department of Canadian Heritage

The Kelowna Museums Society will broaden its conservation skills thanks to $8,942 in funding through the Museums Assistance Program. The Honourable Ron Cannan, Member of Parliament (Kelowna-Lake Country), announced this today on behalf of the Honourable Shelly Glover, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages.

This funding will enable the Society to partner with multiple heritage organizations to present a series of workshops to foster specialized conservation practices for textile, paper and object collections. The workshops will be held at the Ursula Surtees Regional Conservation Laboratory in Kelowna-the only facility of its kind in British Columbia outside of the Lower Mainland.

The project will build and strengthen regional conservation knowledge by bringing together staff from the Kelowna Museums Society, as well as from the Sncəwips Heritage Museum in Westbank and the SS Sicamous Paddle Wheeler and Heritage Park in Penticton.

In addition, the Society will host one workshop specifically for the general public to provide information on conservation of household artefacts.

Quick Facts

• The Kelowna Museums Society was founded in 1951 as the Okanagan Museum and Archives Society.
• The Society operates four museums: the Okanagan Heritage Museum, the BC Orchard Industry Museum, the Okanagan Military Museum and the BC Wine Museum. It also operates the Central Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame and the historic Laurel Packinghouse.
• The Ursula Surtees Regional Conservation Laboratory officially opened in 2001. It is named after Ursula Surtees, who served as a long-standing curator and director of the Kelowna Museums Society.
• The Museums Assistance Program provides funding to Canadian museums and related institutions for projects that foster excellence in museum activities and that facilitate access to the treasures of our collective heritage.

Quotes

"Our Government recognizes the important role that museums play in the life of Canadians. They offer us a place to learn about and share our collective history, thereby enriching our quality of life. Conservation is at the very heart of all museums. These workshops are tremendously valuable in making sure that our stories are preserved for future generations."

- The Honourable Shelly Glover, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages

"Our investment will enable the Okanagan's heritage and curatorial community to come together to share their experiences and hone their knowledge of specialized conservation, ensuring our region's museums remain as rich, vibrant and unique as our landscape."

- The Honourable Ron Cannan, Member of Parliament (Kelowna-Lake Country)

"We are delighted to have the opportunity to share conservation techniques with museums and individuals from around the province. The Ursula Surtees Regional Conservation Laboratory is the only one of its kind in the Okanagan and, as such, it is a special resource that deserves our support. This funding will help further our mandate to care for the regions' artifacts and provide new learning opportunities in the field of conservation."

- Amanda Snyder, Curatorial Manager, Kelowna Museums Society

"This support will build the capacity of museums in the region, including Kelowna Museums, to be better stewards of the historical resources we hold in trust for our communities. Indeed, anyone who looks after historical material, be it family heirlooms or club memorabilia, will find a helpful workshop in this series. Ultimately, there will be more to pass on to the next generation. Tangible heritage links one generation to the next."

- Linda Digby, Executive Director, Kelowna Museums Society

Associated Links

Kelowna Museums Society

Museums Assistance Program

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