[BCMA] Congratulations to this year’s BCMA Awards for Outstanding Achievement Winners!

[Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv]

*BC MUSEUMS ASSOCIATION 50th ANNIVERSARY AWARDS: *

*CELEBRATING INNOVATION, SOCIAL IMPACT, AND BRAVE VOICES*





*VICTORIA, BC **– *Museum, gallery, heritage professionals and volunteers
from every corner of British Columbia came together for the BC Museums
Association’s (BCMA) 50th anniversary Awards for Outstanding Achievement on
October 28, 2021. This virtual event recognized institutions and
individuals who embody excellence in the province’s museums, galleries, and
heritage sector, who dedicate their careers to making a difference in their
communities, and who challenge us to never stop growing and evolving.



“The past two years have been unbelievably challenging for museums but
looking at the nominees and winners gives me hope that the future of BC’s
heritage sector will be a bright one," says Ryan Hunt, BCMA’s Executive
Director. "Congratulations to all of the 2021 recipients.”

*Adrienne Silver and the team** at St**ó:L**ō Aboriginal Skills &
Employment Training (SASET)* received the *Award of Merit: Excellence in
Social Action.* SASET makes it possible for museums to engage Indigenous
youth in a transformative way and be the change through hiring practices.
SASET creates positive social impact through the generous method of
reciprocity in their work; not only do they provide funding, but they
provide ongoing support to all parties and ensure that they build
relationships with the organizations they fund.



*The Reach Gallery Museum and contributors* received the *Award of Merit:
Excellence in Community Engagement *for *SEM**Á:TH XO:TSA: Great-Gramma**’s
Lake* storybook. Key contributors include: Thetáx Chris Silver, Xémontélót
Carrielynn Victor, Kris Foulds, and Laura Schneider. The Reach’s Semá:th Xo:tsa
project, in partnership with Stó:lō collaborators, resulted in the
publication of a children’s book, exhibition and community programs about
the drainage of Sumas Lake in 1924. The project renounces the celebratory
settler narrative to focus on the enduring and profound impact drainage had
on the lives and livelihood of the Stó:lō people.



*University of Victoria and Partner Organizations *received the *Award of
Merit: Innovative Practice* for* Landscapes of Injustice*, a partnership of
museums, community, and academics that sheds new light on the history of
racism in Canada.  Partner organizations include: Canadian Museum of
Immigration, Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre, Nikkei National Museum,
Royal BC Museum, University of Alberta, University of Winnipeg, Simon
Fraser University, Vancouver Japanese Language School and Japanese Hall,
National Association of Japanese Canadians, Library and Archives Canada,
and Ryerson University.


* The Bateman Foundation* received this year’s *People**’s Choice Award*
for their Wellness Program which supported the mental wellbeing of their
community by providing free therapeutic art programming. Facilitated by art
therapist Kaitlin McManus, the programs were aimed at helping those
experiencing anxiety and depression in the wake of COVID-19 by allowing
participants to express themselves through mindful art making.



The following *Honourable Mentions *were also awarded by the BCMA Awards
Committee:



*The Pacific Museum of Earth *for pivoting so successfully during the
COVID-19 pandemic, expanding their reach, and becoming a role model to
larger institutions.



*Sncewips Heritage Museum* for celebrating Indigenous culture and heritage
through fun, fresh, and engaging online video content during the COVID-19
pandemic.



The* Council of the Haida Nation, Haida Gwaii Museum, and School District
50* for their *iPads for Elders* program which helped equalize access to
technology among the islands’ senior citizens.



The* Museum of Anthropology & Contributing Artists* for *Playing with Fire:
Ceramics of the Extraordinary*, an exhibition that brought attention to
social, economic, political issues and challenges. Contributing artists
include: Judy Chartrand, Gathie Falk, Ian Johnston, Glenn Lewis, Bill
Rennie, Brendan Tang, Ying-Yueh Chuang, Jeremy Hatch, David Lambert, Alwyn O
’Brien, and Debra Sloan.

Individuals were also recognized for their extraordinary contributions.



*Colleen Palumbo*, formerly of the Golden & District Historical Society,
received a *Distinguished Service Award* which honours an individual who
has made a unique and outstanding contribution on a regional, provincial,
or national basis over an extended period of time. Colleen recently retired
after 30 years of operating the Golden Museum and Archives. She nurtured
the museum into a community-oriented, inclusive, accessible organization.

*Sdahl K**’awaas Lucy Bell,* Haida Repatriation Committee, received the *Museum
Stewardship Award* which recognizes an outstanding effort and contribution
with a lasting impact to the sector. In her nomination, Bell was described
as having “rocked the entire world of the GLAM sector on the West Coast
[causing] a ripple effect to enact meaningful change and motivate others to
be enactors of change”.



A full list of winners, honourable mentions and nominees is available on
our website <https://museum.bc.ca/2021-bcma-awards-nominees/>.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.museum.bc.ca/pipermail/listserv-museum.bc.ca/attachments/20211101/fabbd739/attachment.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: BCMA Awards 2021 News Release.pdf
Type: application/pdf
Size: 357513 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://lists.museum.bc.ca/pipermail/listserv-museum.bc.ca/attachments/20211101/fabbd739/attachment.pdf>