Public Consultations on the PEI Museum Systems, March 2007

Blog editor's note - This report published by the Institute of Island Studies at UPEI in 2007. The consultation across PEI was undertaken by the Institute for the Province of Prince Edward Island.

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Public Consultations on the PEI Museum Systems, March 2007

Introduction A Brief History of Museums on PEI

1889 -– 1969: The Early Years

Prince Edward Islanders have been collecting specimens and artifacts in hopes of establishing a provincial museum since the founding of the PEI Natural History Society in 1889. In 1901, 131 prominent and influential Islanders signed a petition to the Lieutenant-Governor in Council that included a recommendation for the formation of a museum similar to those being established in the provinces of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick (Lord 1982). Periodically throughout the 20th century, Prince Edward Islanders have expressed the need for an educational and cultural institution to accommodate exhibit and storage space, artifact conservation and interpretation, education/public activity, and research. However, the early twentieth century turned out to be characterized by “a continuing series of further missed opportunities” (Lord 1982:6) including an attempt to develop an art museum in the 1930s, and the demise and then revival (in 1953) of the Historical Society. The second half of the 20th century witnessed a flurry of activity, often attached to centennial projects. In 1956 the Island’s first museum, the Garden of the Gulf Museum, was established in Montague. The centennial of the Charlottetown Conference in 1964 brought the opening of the Confederation Centre of the Arts in Charlottetown. Although originally intended to house a museum, this facility has been and remains primarily an art gallery, library and theatre complex. At the community level there was a drive to establish local heritage institutions, for example the Musée Acadien in Miscouche, the Village Acadien at Mont Carmel, a privately run museum in Alberton and an O’Leary Museum (a Centennial project in 1967) among others. The vision of a centrally located museum of natural history was frequently proposed (Lord 1982, Martin 1983; Diomeda Consultants 1986; MacDonald 1987).

1970: Consolidation of the Management of Historic Sites and Artifacts

In light of this activity, the PEI Heritage Foundation was founded in 1970 and was given responsibility for a number of historic sites. In 1975 the government set in place a small grant program for the community museums that lay outside of this network. During this period, several new thematic museums were developed within the provincial system, for example the Fisheries Museum at Basin Head. Despite all efforts, by the end of the 1970s there remained a serious gap in the PEI system: there was no central, provincial museum to provide the overall context of the Island’s natural and cultural history. To this day (2007) we are the only province among all the provinces and territories of Canada that lacks a major, provincially representative museum that could provide core exhibitions, research, conservation, curatorial and educational services to support the Island’s natural and cultural heritage. Since its inception the provincial museum system has accumulated a significant collection of artifacts. More than 30,000 are on display in the various historic sites, while an estimated 53,000 are held at the museum collection storage and research facility in Charlottetown known as “the Artifactory”. This collection includes fine and decorative arts; archaeological and natural history specimens, and cultural artifacts from the earliest Mi’kmaq inhabitants, early colonists (Acadian, Irish, English, and Scots) and many of the more recently arrived settlers. These artifacts relate to areas of Island history such as shipbuilding, fishing, farming, railroads, commerce, religion, domestic life and various professions. They have been gathered from concerned citizens on our Island and beyond, who chose to contribute to the knowledge and quality of Island life for future generations. While not on public display, these artifacts are accessed by researchers and they form an important resource for scholars of history, biology, archaeology, cultural studies, commerce and fine arts, among others. The frequent interactions among professional staff (curators, conservators and exhibition designers), researchers and the collection is extremely important - indeed essential - for discovering the many stories and threads of evidence attached to each artifact. It is this collaborative effort that enriches our understanding of cultural and ecological history and builds the basis for interpretation and educational displays. Professional staff and researchers approach any one piece from different perspectives. Through a process of discovery, artifacts become not only indicators of past conditions but the means of connecting our development choices of the past to present issues and to future challenges and opportunities.

1982: The Lord Report Critiques PEI’s Museum System

A 1982 report by museologist Barry Lord, The Museums of PEI, written for the Island Studies Committee at the University of Prince Edward Island, provided 75 recommendations that “present a coherent, integrated programme for the development of museums and heritage sites on PEI, aimed at achieving a genuinely decentralized system of sites with a central facility….”. Many of these recommendations remain relevant today. The Lord report recognized the tremendous value of the small museums, whether in the PEI provincial system or run by community volunteers. But he noted that the provincial system was weak. Budget constraints and management decisions had undermined the functionality and local support base of individual sites. Moving to shorter open seasons to save money had eroded the educational role of the museums because teachers could no longer take classes to the sites in the fall. This also had resulted in reduced overall visitor numbers and made the system even less viable in financial terms. Lord determined that a centrally located museum of culture and natural history was essential. It would be open year round for education purposes and could provide a focal point and support services to the rest of the system. He saw this museum as logically being placed in or to the west of Charlottetown so as to be central to the museum system, accessible to schools, close to the main population base of PEI and also close to museum professionals, researchers and students at UPEI, Holland College, the Provincial Archives and the Confederation Centre of the Arts.

1982: The Issue of Storage for the Museum Collection

In 1982, the PEI Heritage Foundation had recently purchased an industrial building which they named “the Artifactory” to serve as the storage, conservation, cataloguing and research facility for the museums system. This is where staff of the provincial museums and historic sites still come (in 2007) to borrow artifacts for their interpretive displays. The storage of a museum collection differs fundamentally from commercial or domestic goods tucked away. Artifacts are irreplaceable and so require a controlled storage environment. A museum collection is also constantly in use for on-going study and exhibition purposes. While recognizing the fundamental need for a such a facility, Lord critiqued the way in which the decision was made, noting that in the absence of a fully developed strategic plan for the system, “alternatives and implications were not fully considered” (Lord 1982:54). “Simply stated” he continued, “ the opportunity was missed to put this amassed capital and operating resource towards the accomplishment of an even greater project than the Artifactory, a building that might have offered secure and environmentally controlled display space as well as storage and workshop facilities – in other words, the rudiments of a provincial museum. This would have necessitated passing up the opportunity of the present Artifactory building, in the hope of finding another more appropriate for display; or else waiting to build”. Furthermore, “the decision to buy and proceed with the Artifactory is a cardinal instance of the tendency to react to opportunity or crisis, rather than weighing all aspects of a decision as part of an on-going planning process, in light of a fully articulated Statement of Intent that clarifies priorities in relation to such difficult decision-making.” Finally, Lord recognized “that the Artifactory is addressed to real needs, and that it does represent a net gain for the Island’s museum community. If it can now be linked to a display facility to be known as the provincial museum of man and nature, its utility as storage space, preparation workshop and conservation laboratory will be fully realized”.

1983: The Museums and Heritage Foundation

Following the release of the Lord report, an organizational review was performed (L. Martin 1983), precipitating changes in the system, including the devolution of more control to a number of local boards attached to historic sites. The Heritage Foundation was rechristened the PEI Museums and Heritage Foundation (PEI MHF) when a new Museum Act was passed in 1983. The Museum Act states: “the purpose of the Museum shall be to study, collect, preserve, interpret, and protect the human and natural heritage of Prince Edward Island for the use, benefit and enjoyment of the people of the province”. Unfortunately, this expanded mandate was not matched with the type of enhanced funding required to develop capacity for collection and interpretation of natural history specimens. Nor were there sufficient resources to develop inclusive cultural collections reflecting the increasing diversity of the Island’s people. As of 2007, none of the provincial sites are dedicated to aboriginal culture or natural history, and most are open only from late May to early September. Currently, the PEI Museums and Heritage Foundation oversees seven small museums and historical sites scattered across the Island. Each site deals with a particular aspect of our culture and history. The provincial government also provides a portion of the operating costs of the Community Museums Association which draws its membership from and offers limited services to many museums and interpretive sites across PEI that do not fall within either the provincial or federal government jurisdictions. This is an annual ‘cap in hand ’ grant, meaning it must be specifically requested year in and year out.

2006: The Issue of Museum Collection Storage Re-emerges

Since 1980, the PEI artifact collection has been “temporarily” warehoused in the Artifactory, a steel storage building located in the industrial park of West Royalty, Charlottetown. This building has environmental controls but it has on occasion been subject to insect infestation and dampness from leaks in bad weather. At this point the chief concern is that it is also seriously overcrowded. For many years the Museums and Heritage Foundation Board has requested action from the provincial government to develop a state of the art facility for storage and research, but the province has never seen fit to prioritize this need, nor has federal assistance been forthcoming. In the autumn of 2006, however, a proposal came forward from the Northumberland Community Development Corporation (NCDC). At the suggestion of the provincial government, the NCDC had applied to the regional economic development fund, ACOA (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency), to develop a new, expanded storage facility for the museums collection in the village of Murray River on the southeastern end of the Island. They also proposed adding rentable retail space to the front of the facility to provide a pleasing “streetscape” element for the village. Faced with the choice of moving the artifacts out of the capital and into Murray River or doing without a new facility, the Museum and Heritage Foundation Board accepted the proposal. This was made known to the Foundation membership by letter just prior to the Foundation’s Annual General Meeting in mid-March 2007. As that letter from the Chairman of the Board explained: “

When the Province offered the Museum a purpose-built collection storage facility, the Board of Governors considered the proposal very carefully as certain factors were not negotiable. The building would be available only in Murray River through a project by the Northumberland Community Development Corporation.”

Through the winter months of 2006-07, the proposed move was a matter of debate in the Legislative Assembly, in an editorial in the Guardian newspaper, and in letters to editors of Island newspapers. These elements of public debate were collected by a private citizen and made available on a website, peimuseum.blogspot.com The mandate of the Institute of Island Studies at UPEI includes the facilitation of public discussion on topical matters of public policy. In response to public concerns expressed through its Advisory Council, the Institute let it be known in January 2007 that public meetings would be organized with the intent of gathering public opinion to forward to the relevant decision-makers. Letters inviting the collaboration of the province and the PEI Museums and Heritage Foundation were delivered to the Premier and the Minister of Community and Cultural Affairs as well as to the Chairman of the Board and in-coming Executive Director of the Foundation. A guest editorial written by the IIS Advisory Council’s Museum Committee was published in the Guardian newspaper outlining the reasons behind this initiative (Appendix 6).

The Public Consultations of March 2007 Forum Intent, Logistics and Process

In response to public concerns, three meetings (one per county) were called to provide members of the public with a forum where they could discuss PEI museums and heritage conservation (see schedule, Appendix 3). The Institute of Island Studies has no permanent staff other than the Director, Dr Irené Novaczek. For this initiative, the Director called on volunteers from the IIS Advisory Council (museum committee) and their colleagues in the broader museums and heritage community to act as facilitators and resource persons for the public meetings (see biographies, Appendix 3). The consultation planning came together very quickly through the month of February 2007. The IIS museum committee members agreed that public consultation was a matter of urgency, as it seemed that irrevocable commitments concerning the museums collection were imminent. Meeting dates in early March were set and advertised, and letters of invitation were sent to all PEI MLAs and MPs. At the start of each meeting, participants were welcomed by the Director of IIS, who explained the role of the Institute as a facilitator for public engagement in policy issues. Participants were also informed that their input would be recorded and reported. They were invited to sign up to receive a final report from the IIS, and to pick up a two page backgrounder (Appendix 4). Following this introduction, the volunteer facilitator for the evening took over while Dr Novaczek moved into the position of recorder. The facilitator introduced three panellists drawn from the PEI museums and heritage community who provided brief comments on the history of the museum system, how museums operate, and the value of museums to the local community. Then, working in groups of 6-8 people, participants responded to three questions:

1. What do you want your provincial museum system to be? 2. How do we ensure public involvement and consultation when major decisions are made concerning PEI museums and heritage? 3. Do we need a moratorium on the proposed move of the museum storage facility?

Each small group nominated a recorder to take notes. After a half-hour of discussion, each group reported back in a plenary session, focusing on their key points of consensus. Written notes from each group were collected up and individuals were invited to also submit their individual written answers to the questions if they felt that any important details were missed. After the small group reports concluded the facilitator opened up the floor for comments and general discussion. These were also recorded. Other input came in to the IIS by letter, email and telephone; all were duly recorded and are reflected in this report.

Attendance

Attendance at the public meetings was strong: 83 in Charlottetown, 32 in Miscouche and 16 in St Peters (not counting panellists, facilitators or media). People came from all corners of the province. In Charlottetown for example, although the crowd was predominantly local, participants also came in from more than 8 different rural communities, as far away as Richmond in the west and Greenwich in the east. Thirty individuals sent in detailed responses to the forum questions, which were handed in at the meetings (14), mailed or faxed in (2), communicated by phone (1) or sent by email (12). The IIS also received two formal submissions from culture and heritage organisations: the PEI Multicultural Council (Appendix 1) and the PEI Scottish Settlers Historical Society (Appendix 2) and notice of a resolution by the DeSable Women’s Institute to the District #7 Women’s Institute Convention (Appendix 5).

Results of the Public Consultation Desired Shape of the PEI Museum System The Hub and Spokes Model

The overwhelming majority of participants supported a “Hub and Spokes” model for the future museum system. The “spokes” would be the seven PEI Museums and Heritage Foundation sites scattered across the Island, supported by a new, centrally located “hub” in the form of a provincial museum. Henceforth this hub shall be referred to as the Provincial Museum, whereas the hub plus spokes will be referred to as the PEI museums system. Participants agreed that optimally, the hub will house storage and year-round display of our cultural and natural history collections; provide convenient access to artifacts; and offer conservation and curatorial services, research resources and publishing capacity. The Provincial Museum will serve and support the smaller historic sites and museums, including community museums, and it will be a site where ordinary Islanders can come for help with the conservation and understanding of their family heirlooms. With the exception of only two or three individuals, people felt that museum collection storage belongs with and is integral to the efficient and professional operation of such a Provincial Museum. Perceived deficiencies in the current system which would be corrected by a Provincial Museum include the telling of the unique natural history of PEI; Mi’kmaq history; the stories of many early and more recent settler groups; and the many sweeping overviews of political, social and economic development that our small museums lack the capacity to tell. These themes are echoed in the submissions from the PEI Multicultural Council (Appendix 1) and the PEI Scottish Settlers Historical Society (Appendix 2). Some members of one discussion group in Miscouche rejected the idea of a new Provincial Museum because they perceived this as an “either / or” proposition that would take resources away from the existing small museums. It was pointed out by several working groups that PEI’s small museums are already under-resourced. The majority of participants in all three meetings called on the government to make appropriate investments in recognition of the importance of culture and heritage to the Island’s education system, identity, civic pride, social capital, wellbeing and economy. People agreed that a Provincial Museum should not come at the expense of smaller sites and museums. Rather, the hub should direct business out to the spokes and facilitate their access to training, publications and the curatorial and conservation services that they need. It was pointed out that the British Columbia museum system is a good “hub and spokes” model.

Economic Benefits

Economic benefits of a Provincial Museum were seen to be linked to the expanding appetite for cultural tourism in North America. As one submission noted:

“"According to the Travel Industry Association of America, visitors to historic and cultural attractions spend, on average, $631 (USD) per trip compared to $457 (USD) for all U.S. travelers, and they spend an average of 4.7 nights away from home as compared to 3.4 nights for all other travelers. But for these visitors to come money must actually be put into the "product" as was noted in Prince Edward Island’s Strategy for Tourism Competitiveness. It is time to ask the people directly involved in our province’s heritage preservation, what do you need? And to follow the old adage: sometimes you need to spend money to make money."” (Participant W1)

Having a core museum close to where tourists currently tend to congregate was also seen to be a positive contribution for revitalization of Charlottetown. A Provincial Museum could make the entire system more economically viable by directing visitors out to the many smaller museums across the Island. People envisaged a highly coordinated and mutually supportive system of sites, effectively packaged and promoted to schools and visitors as well as to its primary target – Island citizens.

Loss and Invisibility of Island Heritage and Artifacts

Concern over what has already been lost to off-Island collectors lent urgency to the discussion. Many participants felt that we are running out of time and opportunities to fill the gaps in the museum artifact collection. This is reflected well in the following submission:

“"Because much of the Island’s heritage has disappeared and little documentation exists for that which remains it is becoming more and more difficult to present a representative picture of the past. We need to act now to create a provincial museum that will take responsibility for the preservation, documentation, interpretation and diffusion of the Island’s natural and cultural history."” (Participant W8)

Islanders consulted were very clear about what type of Provincial Museum they need, and why such an institution is critical to the future well-being of the province. In every meeting people spoke of the shame they have felt when they discovered that museums in other provinces have important Island artifacts and stories on display that are not available in this province. People also related their discomfort when having to explain to visitors that we have no Provincial Museum that can provide the big picture of natural and cultural history – what people often referred to as “the story of the land”. People were expressing a diminished sense of identity and citizenship within Canada. They described a certain alienation from their sense of place and history, as exemplified by the following submission:

“"Last month I visited the Redpath Museum on the McGill campus in Montreal. There among the minerals, fossils and mummies was a fossil footprint of some unknown reptile - - from Charlottetown! It was an amazing moment. I didn’t know we had fossils on the Island. I felt something like the Greeks must feel when they visit London to view the Elgin marbles.”" (Participant W6)

Others expressed grave concern that the mandate of the Museums and Heritage Foundation was not being advanced, and that the wishes of donors to have their valuables displayed and used for research and education were not being honoured. “

"I received a call at home from a woman I did not know. She was a 96 year old widow living in a nursing home. She could no longer read or write but had to have someone help her with these things. Her mind, on the other hand was as sharp as ever. It broke my heart when she started talking about how sad it made her that these artifacts are not on display. She said: ‘Over the years I have contributed many things to the PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation. These things were very precious to me and I am truly sad that our young people cannot see them’ ". (Participant W1)

Education of Island School Children and University Students

A paramount concern at all meetings was the evident limitations to the education and experience of Island students in the areas of cultural and natural history. The perceived need is for a state of the art Provincial Museum that would be open year round and centrally located to serve as a key resource for the education of young people.

“"Our son recently had research to do for a Social Studies project which would have greatly benefited from additional local information. Since there was no museum, he was limited to the library and online, and did not get the Island perspective. He did a heritage project two years ago with a knowledgeable neighbour in his nineties. Now that neighbour has moved out of his house, and the family found it very difficult that there is no museum for his treasure trove of Island history. The small regional museums are fine. We have visited most of them, but they don’t tell the whole story."” (Participant W5)

Integration of Museum Functions with Community Needs

Other benefits of a Provincial Museum that were suggested would stem from having a facility integrated with the community. As well as permanent and temporary museum exhibitions, a Provincial Museum could provide resources for schools, educational programs, meeting space, consulting services in artifact conservation, research infrastructure to support, for example, genealogical investigations, a gallery for the display of local art and exhibitions of artisanal crafts.

"The vision of the Provincial Museum is that of a dynamic, welcoming, accessible, attractive, relevant and inclusive facility that will provide an overview of PEI’s cultural and natural histories. “The ideal museum is a secular establishment where civic issues can be broached and objects encountered by people interested in reflecting, while relaxing and socializing… The goal of such an institution is not to become another purveyor of nostalgia, but a safe theatre of conscience where the search for truth is an ongoing one. Supporters of a provincial museum describe it as an integrated, multi-functional, cross generational and cross cultural centre of engagement where visitors interact with different voices and experiences.”" (Participant W8)

Year-round access for students was seen as particularly important. Convenient access by the majority of Island residents, reasonable proximity to well-visited tourist attractions, and accessibility for the very young, the very old and the disabled were also considered key for unctionality and economic sustainability.

Staffing

Another high priority issue was staffing. Those intimately familiar with the current museums system pointed to problems of limited staff and resources. One experienced PEI heritage professional noted that.

"“Over the past twenty five years essential positions have disappeared or were never created. Staff outreach to audiences is stretched thin; they are too caught up in administration and fundraising.... The collection is the reason a museum exists. It holds the stories but trained staff must bring the stories to life.... Museums must be seen as essential infrastructure, not just tourist venues."” (Participant W12)

The museum and heritage community members who attended the meetings are highly supportive of the mandate of the Museums and Heritage Foundation and especially proud of and grateful for the excellent work that is done by the Foundation’s professional staff, especially considering their limited numbers and resources. It was a priority for participants that any new museum should be adequately staffed with specialists and trained professionals; that these staff have every opportunity to collaborate with researchers and others in their field; and that their workplace is safe, pleasant, supportive and progressive. The importance of the research function of a museum storage facility was underlined. There was concern over the fact that many Islanders, including decision-makers, may not clearly understand the many things that a fully functional, professional museum does. People spoke of the importance of the core support work that goes on behind the scenes, for example the curatorial work that is performed with collections in storage.

Planning and Sustainability

Participants stressed the need to ensure the active support of the public for museums by involving them in planning and consultation, as well as the need to attract adequate and sustained financial support from all levels of government and from corporate sponsors. One discussion group promoted the idea that individual museums should be more business-like. Other groups were more cautious of burdening museums with ambitious fundraising targets, and recommended using a broad suite of indicators of success rather than simply counting visitor numbers and earnings. They pointed out the many public services that museums can perform given appropriate levels of core funding. This is one of many complex issues requiring further thought and discussion.

Location, Location, Location

The optimal location of a Provincial Museum was discussed in each meeting, although it was not a focal point. People generally felt that a location should be selected through a transparent planning process, using criteria dictated by standard museum practice and the demographic and economic realities of PEI. All but a few individuals favoured a geographically central location in or near the capital city (e.g. Stratford to Cornwall area).

A Challenge That Can Unite Us

Finally, whether they came from Charlottetown, Summerside, a village or a rural area, participants were insistent that the issue of a Provincial Museum is important for all Islanders. It was agreed that it is time for the Island’s museum and heritage community members to work together for the benefit of the province as a whole. In all three counties the majority of participants firmly rejected attempts to frame the issue as a rural vs. urban contest.

Public Involvement in Decision-making for Museums and Heritage

In discussing the question “How do we ensure public involvement and consultation when major decisions are made concerning PEI museums and heritage?” most discussion groups began by affirming the legitimate role of citizens in decision-making affecting heritage conservation and education. They viewed the provincial collection of artifacts and their attached histories as the common wealth and legacy of Islanders.

“"The artifacts belong to the people – politicians should not be making decisions about them without broad public consultation.”" (Charlottetown plenary discussion)

People gained personal insights as they exchanged views during the consultations. They came up with advice on how to encourage and enable public involvement in the museums system. This advice was directed to their provincial government, to the Museums and Heritage Foundation Board and to fellow Islanders interested in culture and heritage. The key points that emerged are arranged in descending order according to the level of support from participants. All of these recommendations were stressed by at least 10 different people during the meetings, and some were brought up by as many as 40 persons.

Participants’ advice to the provincial government

1. Undertake a review of provincial museum policies and operations 2. Hold province-wide consultations on the provincial museum system to extend the IISsponsored consultations 3. Review the Museums Act and include a specific mandate for public consultation (e.g. as for the Heritage Places designation process) 4. Improve cultural and regional representation on the PEI Museums and Heritage Foundation Board 5. Hold public forums on important issues affecting PEI’s natural and cultural heritage

In addition to these broadly endorsed recommendations, various individuals suggested increasing the size of the Board so that more community museums could be represented; changing from an appointed Museums Board to an elected one; keeping Board positions fully filled; and making the Board more publicly accountable. One individual cautioned that too much consultation could impede action. Others called for setting up a panel of heritage professionals to consider the potential and viability of a fully professional Provincial Museum.

Participants’ advice to the Museums and Heritage Foundation Board

1. Encourage debate and feedback and capture positive energy; Consult with members and other cultural and heritage organizations before making major decisions, so that decisions are more effective in the long term 2. Develop a larger & more empowered membership, and communicate better and more frequently with your members 3. Educate the public so that museums grow from the bottom up. Communicate more with the public around activities, and issues of concern. Use the media more effectively 4. Consult with the interested public before making key decisions. Be clear on the pros/cons of decisions, giving all the appropriate information so all are clear on their responsibilities and actions 5. Transcend politics; “be there” for Islanders; claim your power 6. Create a vision, develop a comprehensive plan and open it up for discussion 7. Ensure that museum professionals guide decisions, not politicians 8. Overhaul the Museum Board’s governance model. (The Canadian Museums Association recommends the Carver Model of Board Governance – which would focus the board on the institution’s mandate)

In addition to these broadly endorsed recommendations individuals also suggested that the Board should : be careful to ensure good relations with the professional staff; build capacity to see the big picture, beyond the parochial interests of the 30+ sites around the island; establish criteria for decision-making then stick with them; target youth with information, workshops etc and get their input; take a different approach to fundraising; make historic sites more accessible to schools, more relevant and more attractive to boost visitor numbers; and improve capacity for educational programming for schools. Participants in Charlottetown noted that a Provincial Museum would provide a concrete focal point for public engagement. It was also pointed out that the Museum staff should be enabled to assess the provincial collection for its representational content and then work to fill the gaps through donations and purchases, before it is too late.

Participants’ advice to the broader museums and heritage community

1. Don’t allow debate to fracture us into rural vs. urban– we need to set aside parochial interests and work together for a central, provincial institution 2. Build conduits to decision-makers; be more vocal; write letters; call your MLAs and let them know you care about museums and heritage and want a proper long range plan 3. Make this an election issue and let prospective MLAs hear about it at the door.

Concerned Islanders were encouraged to stay committed to the museum system and to communicate more with the general public to foster interest and involvement in preservation and interpretation of heritage. Historic sites and small museums were encouraged to develop an active, inclusive means of sharing news, and facilitating informed discussion of ongoing issues. One means of sharing information that was suggested was by “blogging”, that is, using web-based sites for dialogue.

Proposed Development of a New Museum Storage Facility in Murray River

In response to the question “Do we need a moratorium on the proposed move of the museum storage facility?”, only a small handful of participants said no. The vast majority of participants called for a moratorium on the move, to provide the in-coming Executive Director of the Museums and Heritage Foundation time to assess the museum system, consult with the membership and other heritage organisations, and develop a strategic plan for the museum system. Many participants expressed disappointment that the decision to move the museums collection out of Charlottetown had been made without consultation with the broader museum community. Others expressed disgust with what they saw as political interference in what should have been a decision based strictly on the long term well being of the museum system. People feared that if the museum collections in storage went to Murray River this would make it difficult if not impossible to develop a Provincial Museum in a central location. They pointed out that routine and necessary collaboration of staff with museum professionals in related institutions and access for researchers based in Charlottetown would be at the very least, constrained. From the perspective of small museums in the western end of the island, having to access artifacts from Murray River represents a significant challenge in view of their limited staff time and financial resources. They pointed out that developing an exhibit is often a process requiring repeated trips into the storage facility and close collaboration with curators, conservators and collections management staff. All those calling for a moratorium looked to the PEI Museums and Heritage Foundation to engage and consult the public in seeking some resolution that could enhance and not detract from a future Provincial Museum development. Some participants advised that if, after due consideration and consultation, the move to Murray River was deemed irrevocable, the Board should address the identified constraints and problems, and then focus on improving policy, process and planning. Others stated their conviction that it would be better to give up the current opportunity, address the maintenance needs of the existing Artifactory and wait until an integrated Provincial Museum development was possible. Reasons given by those supporting the move to Murray River were twofold. Several individuals saw the move as a way to shore up the local economy of that village. Others voiced their scepticism that the move was already a done deal and was so politicized that it could not now be reversed. They argued that a new and enlarged storage facility was necessary, and this was the only option available, so people should give up and focus attention on development of a Provincial Museum, even if it had to be separate from the storage and research facility. It was pointed out by a heritage professional that a museum separated from its study and display collections in storage would not be a fully professional, working institution.

Conclusions

Although a modest attempt at public consultation, these three meetings served to amply demonstrate the depth and breadth of concern among Islanders for museums and heritage. Attendance was large; discussion was thoughtful, sincere and at times impassioned. Many participants were paid up members of the Museums and Heritage Foundation; others were connected to community museums; some were new to the topic and were stimulated to purchase memberships in order to participate in the AGM of the Museum and Heritage Foundation, which followed closely on the consultation. Discontent with the recent decision to move the museum storage to Murray River was strong and pervasive, as was the positive desire for a centrally located Provincial Museum that could fill critical gaps in the province’s system. Participants expressed understanding and sympathy for the Museums and Heritage Foundation Board because it was felt that the provincial government had placed them in a difficult position, having to chose between moving the storage facility out of Charlottetown or doing without a new facility. They also expressed deep regret that the Board had not turned to the membership for advice and support that might have placed them in a better position to argue for a more acceptable resolution to the storage problem. At the AGM of the PEI Museums and Heritage Foundation on March 14, 2007 members voted in favour of a) placing a moratorium on the move of artifact storage to Murray River, and b) taking time to assess the PEI Museums and Heritage system, consult the membership and develop a comprehensive and strategic plan for the Island’s museums. A third resolution recommended filling vacant places on the Board of Governors from a list of nominees proposed by members at each AGM.

Acknowledgements

The Institute of Island Studies thanks the volunteers who made these consultations possible; the forum participants for sharing their views, concerns and creative ideas for improving provincial museums; the host communities for providing meeting venues; and the Museum and Heritage Foundation staff for their unflagging good will. It is our hope that this report will assist the process of developing a plan to move forward with sustainable improvements to the museum system that will protect and enhance the heritage that so many Islanders hold so dear.

Final Word

We leave the last word to a forum participant:

“"People want the province to be noble and courageous; to articulate a strong vision and commitment; to plan carefully, then move forward with a properly structured, mandated and funded Provincial Museum. To get this, the people will have to have a strong, united voice."” (Charlottetown forum general discussion)

References

Diomedea Consultants 1986. A Planning and Development Study for the PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation. PEI Museum & Heritage Foundation. Hennessey, C. 2007 (in progress). The Search for a Provincial Museum. Lord, B. 1982. The Museums of Prince Edward Island, a Programme for Development. A Report to the Island Studies Committee, UPEI, 198 pp. MacDonald, B. 1987. Recommendations on the Development of a Natural History Branch within the PEI Museum and Heritage System. Prepared for the Natural History Museum Advisory Committee. Martin, K. 1983. Inventory of Natural Science Specimens of PEI. UPEI Dept Extension and PEI Dept. Community and Cultural Affairs. Martin, L. 1983. Recommendations on the Structure, Function and Development of a PEI Provincial Museum. PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation.

The Search for a Provincial Museum

Catherine G. Hennessey - January 2006


One might say that the battle to preserve this Island’s heritage has arrived at its 125 year anniversary date. In September 1881 an historical society was formed in Charlottetown and before that year ended “suitable apartments in the provincial building” were made available for holding meetings and storing their collection. By the next year discussions were being held to consider a permanent exhibition with thoughts of a provincial museum; however little seemed to have happened except the odd lecture and a few letters of support to the editor. In 1890 when a Natural History Society was formed, the editorials saw a connection and began, once again, to support the idea of a museum. Although they, too, collected some materials, the museum idea petered out.


In 1905 Mayor of Charlottetown, F.F .Kelly and his council had granted the Natural History and Antiquarian Society a room in the Market House for the establishment of a museum “such as is found in the capitals of all the other Provinces ...”. History is a little vague on just how it developed or was supported because the movement suffered another media gap. It likely had something to do with World War I.

It took a visitor from British Guiana to start the ball a rolling again in 1922. The community picked up the idea and the suggestion was made that Government House be converted into a museum. About this time Historic Sites and Monuments Board had been established and were about to launch into their plaquing program and the National Archives arrived in town to put on an exhibition of “interesting documents, maps and sketches pertaining to the Island” at Old Home Week. These activities obviously created some embarrassment to the Islanders. During the winter of 1927, Chester McLure, MLA addressed the St. James Literary Society on The Influence of Art, Literature and Historic Associations. That evening he elaborated on the idea of a Provincial Library, Museum and Art Gallery. There was another flurry of support in the local newspapers. One writer noted that what was needed was a “good central site and a building to hold a good large library and museum .... “

It is hard to judge how much of all this splash was a set up for the announcement that came in April 1928. Almost a decade after the death of Robert Harris and fifteen years after the death of Willie, the Harris family made a proposal to the city. They were prepared to present over $60,000 worth of paintings to the City of Charlottetown and $20,000 toward a building that would house a Art Gallery, a Library, an archives and a museum if the city would allow it to be built on Queen Square on the comer of Queen and Grafton Streets and IF the city and the province would contribute an equal amount. The Harris’s also would establish a $20,000 endowment for the care of the gallery and the paintings. The meeting at City Hall was large and enthusiastic. The project moved ahead and The Harris Memorial Library opened on Queen Square on March the 10th 1930 and the Art Gallery on August the 4th 1930. The newspaper noted “Charlottetown will for generations to come, cherish, in this building the memory of its gifted son. The new art gallery will become the Mecca and the shrine of lovers of art the world over and our people for all years to come will point with pride to the building ...” The museum section had more difficulty and the extended role of a provincial archives was still unclear. It took a decade before it was clearly recognized that the museum and the archives were not going to materialize in this building.

An effort was made to revive the Prince Edward Island Historical Society to address the problem, and pushed somewhat by former Islander Rev. Edwin Simpson who was living in Wisconsin, a group of prominent Islanders under the auspices of His Honour Lieut-Governor B. W.LePage formed a committee to look into the establishment of a Provincial Museum. Simpson had noted in a letter to the editor that “dumb forgetfulness of the past has had too long a hold on Prince Edward Island” and he did not give up on that either. Soon after the war was over he was back visiting the Island with all his missionary zeal. There is nothing like outside criticism to start the fuses of Islanders. With the end of the war more thought was given to enriching the lives of Islanders. A Childrens’ Art Centre and an Arts and Crafts Guild were under discussion. A field worker from the National Art Gallery spent the good part of a year encouraging the formation of the guild. With the city providing space in the Market House and some dollars and along with the Kinsmen giving financial support, an art centre was formed under the direction of Frances Johnston of London Ontario. It was a big success and operated successfully for over eight years. The Art Society worked with renewed vigour as well and the Little Theatre Guild had a membership of over 400 members.

Out of the blue, a lobby to build a museum in Cavendish brought out this wonderful letter from
Carrie E. Holman in Summerside: [1948]



In November 1949 the lODE held an exhibition of “Articles of Historic Interest” in the Clover Club at the Canadian Legion on Grafton Street.. It was termed a magnificent exhibition and certainly helped to encourage government support for a museum. It turned out to the first of what would become an annual effort for a number of years.




















The Massey Commission, a Royal Commission on the Development of Arts, Sciences and Letters was established in August 1949. Government had directed them to look into “activities generally which are designed to enrich our national life and our own consciousness of our national heritage ...” They held hearings at City Hall in January 1950. A number of significant papers had been sent in advance and discussions were held on their content. The one of most interest was the one presented by the Prince Edward Island Adult Education Council. That body represented The Little Theatre, the libraries, the Arts and Crafts Guild, Drama Festival, Music Festival and the Art Society. One point that was made clear was that we needed help to train persons to work in the museum fields. With the usual optimism the reported noted “We anticipate the building of Prince Edward Island's first art centre and provincial museum within the next few years, and this will raise the problem of procuring additional trained persons to carry out its programs. Individuals who have both the technical training and the leadership qualities necessary to work successfully with community groups are not readily found ....”

The Prince of Wales paper advocated a new building for the campus that would be a headquarters for local cultural activities and include everything. “The most cultural building for Prince Edward Island would be a combination archives, museum, library and art centre ... the happiness and progress of a people depend so much on its cultural heritage.”

The final report of the Massey Commission was presented in June 1951. “The report was a strange mixture of mourning for an age that was rapidly passing and of excitement at the era of professional mass culture that lay ahead.” The outcome was the founding of the Canada Council, the creation of a National Library, etc., but most importantly it led to more funding for the arts across the country.

The exposure to the arts with the visit of the Massey Commission brought about a finny of activity. Summerside began to lobby to have the provincial museum in their town and Bramwell Chandler, Preston Ellis, the IODE and the newly-organized Historical Society continued a search for historic material and treasures that might well be presented to a museum. Alas, alack, Premier Jones made firm that a Provincial Museum was simply not in the cards - unless government heard more interest from the people.

At this point Prince Edward Island was on the threshold of our “centennialitis”. In 1955 Charlottetown celebrated its one hundred years of incorporation. In 1964 we celebrated the one hundred year anniversary of the Fathers of Confederation Meeting in Charlottetown. In 1967 Canada celebrated its one hundred years of Confederation and in 1973 Prince Edward Island celebrated its centennial of entry into Confederation. The celebration of such events built pride and recognition among Canadians. We were coming into our own and Prince Edward Island was right there with the rest.


Charlottetown’ s centennial focussed in many ways on our history but more seriously showed just how little we had actually done to preserve and share what it was that was distinctive about us. Mayor David Stewart and his centennial committee in an effort to correct the situation created a small museum at Fort Edward while the Historical Society published their first volume of “Historic Highlights” and set their sights on acquiring the soon to be vacated Post Office on Queen Square for a museum. They went as far as announcing that they would be opening in the spring of 1957. By this time A.W. Matheson was Premier and Mayor Stewart had a couple more years to serve as a very supportive mayor.

The Historical Society was on a high. They brought over Austin Squires, curator of the New Brunswick Museum to speak on “Why Have Museums”. He began by saying how delighted museum people across the land would be to have a museum established on PEI. We were still the only province without a provincial museum and that has not changed to this day. The many points that he stressed are still vital today; exhibits that are unique to our regent should be the focus size is not important - quality and treatment of the display items are the important matters, preserving the relics and passing them on to those who follow, the successful museum is a very effective instrument of mass education etc. etc .. He repeated the goals that are still repeated today that museums are to preserve knowledge, to create new knowledge and to disseminate knowledge. AND they are icebergs, in other words not everything shows.

Sadly not all things worked out as planned. The old Post Office became the interim home of the Royal Bank while they built their new building - now the Arts Guild. They would not move to their new building until January 1958. To add fat to the fire, the Montague Board of Trade with Gilbert Clements in the lead, opened a museum in their old post office and pushed to have it declared the PEl Provincial Museum. An interesting battle took pace in the press between Gilbert and the Historical Society who I think considered the Montague group as upstarts.

In some what of a response to the cultural push Mayor David Stewart procured the support of City Council to hire architect Jimmie Toombs to review and then prepared preliminary plans to turn the top floor of the market building into a civic auditorium with the possibility that substantial financial funding could be secured from outside the province ... likely they thought, from the newly founded Canada Council. Stewart had already seem to it that the Arts and Crafts Guild had space in the building.


The year 1958 was a significant one, directly and indirectly, for the cultural causes. Edwin Johnstone took over as mayor in January 1958. That was good. He was a strong supporter of the arts and would play a significant role during his term of office. [1958-1960]. Frank MacKinnon was appointed to the first board of the Canada Council and gave a significant talk to the Canadian Club on the importance of the arts in our lives and a number of Hungarian Refugees arrived in Charlottetown adding greatly to the cultural scene. The Royal Bank moved into their new building and other in-house uses were found for the old post office and while the cultural groups in the city continued to work together for a fire-proof gallery, museum etc .. The final act was played out with the burning to the ground of the Old Market House in April. That fire brought to an end the small art gallery space and the Arts and Crafts Centre and the plans for a civic auditorium!

The Art Society members high tailed it to City Hall and the province even before the coals were cold.

His worship Mayor Johnstone and Members of the City Council.
We, the members of the Art Society of Prince Edward Island extend our sympathy to the City in the great loss by fire of the Market Building.

We wish to thank the City Council of the past four years for the use of a room in the aforesaid building, in which to work and hold our meetings.

We also wish to thank the former City Council for giving us, in our dire need, the privilege of using Civic Centre tor the purpose of showing exhibitions of paintings and the present Council for continuing the courtesy. Especially do we wish to thank Messrs. Foster, Gaudet, Fullerton, and Commissionaire Llewellyn for their very direct assistance and cooperation at all times.

Whereas, in the light of these past public spirited acts, and whereas, the Prince Edward Island Art Society and the Historical Society are praying our Government to recommend to the Federal Government that Prince Edward Island be granted a Public Art Gallery and Museum as a Centennial Memorial,

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that our City Council be humbly requested to hold the Market Building for the anticipated fire-proof Art Gallery and Museum Building.
Charlottetown
Prince Edward Island April 30th 1958
Mrs W. Banfield Ellis, President Prince Edward Island Art Society

Mrs D.R. George, President Prince Edward Island Historical Society

One of the other serious affects of the market fire was the fact that the Library and Harris Gallery was heated from that building. That problem brought into focus a number of other issues. The library was suffering from its success and needed more space, the legislative library and archival material in the basement were not meeting the needs of those departments and the Harris Gallery was in a serious state of neglect. An article in an August issue of the Montreal Star by prominent art critic Robert Ayre stated clearly and embarrassingly the conditions, “O God, O Charlottetown.”

The volunteer groups never gave up working for the arts in Charlottetown and by June 1958 they brought forth a plan for a $300,000 building on the old market building site. It would provide market space, an auditorium and an art gallery. The library would remain where it was and there was no mention of a museum at that point. A committee was struck and Dr. Frank MacKinnon and Mrs. Bayfield Ellis were appointed the chairs. It is at this time we see the nucleus of the Confederation Centre beginning to appear. Every effort was made to get community support speeches were made to every group, editorials and letters to the editor filled the papers. [well almost] Dr. Frank as the Island member on Canada Council and president of APEC was perfectly situated to glean outside support.

In October 1959 Mayor Edwin Johnstone tied the idea of the “new civic auditorium with smaller rooms for Little Theatre groups, a museum, archives, library, art gallery, tourist bureau, bus terminal, offices for the railway, steamships and airlines and should have sufficient underground space to solve the parking problem in the downtown” with a Confederation Memorial concept. Many say he was the first to do so. [That argument goes on, but I know that Adrien Arsenault and Edwin were good friends and when Edwin asked Adrien how we should celebrate 1964, they
talked about that memorial]. He went on to suggests that the building could be constructed from plans submitted by the leading architects of the world. Those words sounded as if they had come directly from his good friend Father Adrien. If only Frank Gehry was active then. The Mayor also had other dreams of celebrating the 1964 Centennial; “the provisions of such a structure along with a complete facelifting of Victoria Park, Government Pond and Government Buildings was necessary if there were to be a proper celebration here in 1964 of Confederation”.

By the time we reached the 60's the '64 Centennial committee had been established and the Confederation Memorial planning had moved behind closed doors - the closed doors of the '64 Centennial committee board room. The story of the Confederation Centre of the Arts hardly needs repeating except to say that when the scope of the project was announced in February 1961 it appeared to be the answer to all the cultural needs of the community. The speakers’ circuit continued - more and more by one person - Dr. Frank MacKinnon who continued to promise all desires in the field of culture were about to be fulfilled.

After the Confederation Centre opened in May 1964 with extra-ordinary support from the volunteer sector of the community - who after all had been convinced that everything they had worked for was about to be realized - it took awhile for realization to sink in. The important point to be made was that the Centre was a National Complex directed by a National Board. At least that was the line because that line would help finance a complex that was beyond the means of the Island community. That line still exists today. Yes it should be a National Complex and it should be funded accordingly. It is a memorial to the founding fathers of our country and they should expect national responsibility. It is big question as to how the community can expect it to solve the provincial cultural and heritage needs or if it should. Is there not enough to say on that National Mandate to leave us out looking after our provincial needs ourselves or must we consolidate. It is important to point out that the library, complicated by the Harris gift and the demolition of the Harris Memorial Library and Art Gallery, fitted into the Confederation Centre complex with a mandate of its own and not under the national board - somewhat just a tenant.

The size of the theatre at the Confederation Centre, the mandate it choose and later the impact of a union house made it impossible to answer the needs of the amateur theatrical community. It has however provide fine professional entertainment and given wonderful opportunities to many to learn the theatre arts. It has without doubt opened up theatre as a career for many Island young people. To answer the local needs a number of venues have since been developed across the island and in the last year we have seen the much improved Arts Guild, in Charlottetown added to the list.

The Harris Library and Art Gallery as I have said was demolished to shape the site for the Confederation Centre after an agreement was entered into with the Harris family. The Art Gallery took over the professional care of the Harris Collection and it also introduced us to many other artists. It has clearly provided a program that has enriched the lives of Islanders. There are those in the community; however that still believe that we need a Provincial Art Gallery, a place that would specialize in exhibiting our own artist’s work and develop a collection of their work. The Province did begin about twenty years ago an Island Collection that they use in their offices etc .. It has usually been chosen by a jury and it has developed considerable merit. I am unsure of its care and cataloguing.

The PEl Art Society who play a major role in the lobbying for better facilities were not even invited to the Gallery opening by Governor General Vincent Massey. Some of the members, however took the high road and were the very pulse of the Women’s Committee of the Gallery. They held monthly meeting, educational sessions, established the Art in the Schools program and the Art Rental to name just a few of their activities. They were truly the link with the community that the centre needed.

The Library and the Archives moved into the space at Confederation Centre in late 1964, but eventually the archives expanded its role and moved into the third floor of the Coles Building after it was refurbished after the 1976 fire and when the court house moved to the waterfront. The archives today is close to outgrowing its space and has already sought storage in a building in Hazelbrook. In addition, rumours continue as to how the library would be better of in a more accessible space . It is a very well used library and the numbers are astounding.

The museum never did develop and really there was little space in the complex for one. That is not to say that the art gallery has not held exhibitions on Island history matters and the Historical Society and later the Heritage Foundation did help [and continues to help]. An exhibition that they shaped when CMA came to town still stands out as a worthy effort. The Camera Club’s exhibition on Historical subjects still is made use of today. But back in the 60's it became clear that the Confederation Centre of the Arts was not going to accept the mandate to collect, preserve and exhibit Island history. The Historical Society was tired and divided. The moaning was so tiresome. It was exasperating to say the least to attend the meetings and debate what was to be done about the situation. It became more evident that if we wished to do something to preserve our past it was up to ourselves. Some decided to role up their sleeves and work on their own. Montague Museum continued, Eileen Oulton opened her museum in her barn in Alberton, St. Antoinette, with the help of Acadian Historical Society, opened the Miscouche Museum and some of us just did research.

The change of government in 1966 provided a new broom and in the government were a number of ministers who had more sympathy for Island history that had been experienced in the past. We were also on the threshold of Canada’s 1967 Centennial. Canadians matured a lot that year. In November 1969 the premier called a meeting of heritage minded people from all over the Island. There was much talk of things lost and bemoaning of nothing being done. The second meeting Ruth MacKenize, Irene Rogers and myself were asked to make a presentation. At that meeting we spoke and showed slides of the many treasures we still had around us and how the sites of importance were spread out all over the Island. That was in the face of the country being in the midst of village building - Upper Canada Village in Ontario, Kings Landing in New Brunswick etc. At another ta1k later we elaborated on how we should take the tack of leaving buildings where they were and create a net work of heritage site with a good strong headquarters to help support them.

Those meetings led to establishment of the Prince Edward Island Heritage Foundation. The act was dated June 1970 and gave responsibility to that organization to develop a policy to conserve and preserve, encourage and guide the Island’s historical resources. The board created was a geographical, political and religious mix that immediately began the long awaited tasks of addressing heritage matter. They opened an office in January 1972 in the Burke Building on Kent Street and I was the first Executive Director. Our main task was to set about connecting with Islanders and building pride in their heritage.

We were just getting our breath when the ‘73 Centennial Committee called for proposals for Capital Projects that would create a legacy. Proposals came in from all over the Island - rinks, ice making equipment, a swimming pool and, yes, even some museums. We, of course, put in proposals. It was a huge decision for the Centennial Committee and they suffered much lobbying. Finally Irwin Jenkins, Fred Hyndman and Jack McAndrew, all members of the Centennial Committee, were appointed to bring a decision to the board. The decision was made in favour of heritage matters and that net work of sites that we talked about a few years before really did get shaped. The Foundation itself, was giving money to acquire a headquarters and just as important, an Endowment Fund was established to help preserve our heritage. Although the decisions divided the Island Community, we proceeded to role up our sleeves and go to work. It was a very busy ten months. We acquired Beaconsfield and refurnished it in time for Queen Elizabeth to official open it on July 2, 1973.

Beaconsfield was not ideal for our needs, but it had a strong provincial presence since it was the Nurses’ Residence for the PEI Hospital for many years before. It had good office spaces and we made good use of the double drawing rooms for exhibitions. We held some pretty good exhibitions there. A few years later the need for storage area had become ridiculous and so the push came to acquire a storage area. The Artifactory in West Royalty Industrial Park was acquired after much planning and filled that need although its weaknesses were clear almost from the start. Our dream to make it a visual storage space never really materialized.

Today almost thirty six years since the Heritage Foundation Act was proclaimed we are again at another threshold. The Foundation Act has been changed to be now known as the Museum and Heritage Foundation the staff are civil servants Beaconsfield has been converted into a house museum with the office space moved into the third floor the Artifactory is over crowded and leaking the network of sites all need upgrading the genealogical activities have moved into the Provincial Archives the Community Museums Assoc. is operating as a separate entity there is no newsletter and the matter of membership is unclear. It is under the direction of an acting director and the professional staff that one might expect to find in a museum is sparse. We can hardly hold our heads high over what we might refer to as our provincial museum.

Other matters have been added to the mix. Founder’s Hall was built with more dollars than the Museum and Heritage has collectively over the years ever put together for programming new museum dreams are rampant and the need for more storage at the archives and at the Confederation Centre Art Gallery are necessary and the preservation of our natural landscapes and buildings especially our churches are all in need of thoughtful leadership. One might say we are a problem developed by our success.

Needless to say, having been involved in the preservation of our culture and heritage for over about 40 years I find myself reviewing our past decisions and wondering. I do believe we have many of the bones in place to build on and we should not let them disappear or let go of the ideas expressed by caring people over the years. I brought many of them out in this paper. I cannot let go of the idea that this Island is worthy of having a strong central body that will as the Heritage Foundation intended to preserve, research and interpret our culture for ourselves and then to share that richness with our visitors. I have come to believe that this can only happen with a centrally located “museum” - whatever that means in 2006. What it means to me is a staff with some professional training who have the ability to multitask. It might mean being taken into the fold by others or by taking others into the fold. It should not mean that there would not be exhibitions held in other venues across the province or even the city. What it should mean is that historic artifacts would be catalogued, studied and preserved and often exhibited, by people trained to do so. It should mean too, that dedicated people who will give time and energy to the cause will be assisted in their efforts by trained persons. It would be a partnership in the best possible way.

Yes, there might be permanent exhibition spaces but more likely there would be changing exhibitions that could travel to different parts of the island and if interest was shown to places like Calgary, Hamilton etc. where Islanders are hungry for home ties. The subjects that could be tackled are endless.

The opening of The Rooms in St. John’s Newfoundland has made me envious.

To move this matter forward will require the combined efforts of the City of Charlottetown, the Province, the Museum & Heritage Foundation and other dedicated believers. Our neighbours have been very helpful in the past - the Nova Scotia Museum, the New Brunswick Museum as has the Canadian Museum Association, and the Museum Assistance Program. Lack of dollars is not the issue at the moment - the shaping of the dream is. We are still the only province in the country without a provincial museum - it seems to me there is a moral responsibility on all levels of government to correct this matter in this our Capital City.

In the words of the Newfoundlanders advertizing The Rooms - they call it the Portal to the Heritage and Culture of their province - WE NEED A PORTAL.

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