Museum Volunteer Award
In partnership with the Canadian Federation of Friends of Museums.
Museum Volunteer Award: Group
Aging Artfully Advisory Group | Art Gallery of Alberta
Seniors Take Over Day. Photo — Dante.
What began as a focus group in 2022 has blossomed into so much more for the Art Gallery of Alberta. The Aging Artfully Advisory Group was formed in 2022 to assist the AGA in understanding the needs of their senior visitors and has continued to play a pivotal role in the implementation of senior-specific programs.
After their first successful “Cinema for Seniors” matinee, the group planned a special “Seniors Takeover Day” where the AGA welcomed 940 seniors from around Edmonton, in no small part thanks to the incredible outreach of Aging Artfully. Their programming features a wide range of workshops, film screenings, and tours designed to benefit seniors interested in the arts. Their efforts have proved invaluable in creating a welcoming space for seniors, who were especially hit hard by social isolation during the peak of COVID-19 and who are looking for ways to immerse themselves in a vibrant arts community.
Members of Aging Artfully are themselves seniors, looking to contribute to the social and artistic lives of their peers, the gallery and the larger community. Keeping their events accessible to all levels of financial and physical capability means that seniors around Edmonton are able to come together, learn about art in all its forms, and rebuild a sense of community.
Museum Volunteer Award: Individual
Doug Berrigan | LaHave Islands Marine Museum
Doug Berrigan is being recognized for his exceptional contributions to the LaHave Islands Marine Museum, a small volunteer operated museum located on Bell Island, Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia. He has been President for the past 24 years and his achievements with the museum have far surpassed his tenure, transforming the museum into a place that fosters both history and community.
Doug was originally from the LaHave Islands and his first seven years of schooling was at the one room school on Bell Island at a time when they had no electricity and the only means of transportation was by boat. Following retirement in Toronto after a successful banking career he returned to Nova Scotia and immediately started to provide volunteer services to the Museum Society. His background in finance and administration provided the organization with the skill-set they were looking for in the President position. This was also of assistance in dealing with grant applications and getting the museum on a secure financial footing. He has been deeply committed to ensuring the museum’s success and the provision of community events such as weekly coffee hours for locals and visitors.
Indeed, his work has extended far beyond president-related activities. Physical work has included such things as painting and general maintenance of the building; landscaping, and installing a wheel chair ramp for accessibility and work of all kinds to improve the visitor experience and long-lasting future of the museum. He has also had great success in locating and securing artifacts from near and far which have enhanced the museum’s collection.
Doug’s tireless work is not limited to just the operating season. During the off-season he uses his woodworking skills to make crafts such as whirlie gigs and model dories that he donates to the museum’s gift shop.
Doug has simply been a good ambassador for the museum and a beautiful Nova Scotia community.
“I was pleasantly surprised to be selected as the recipient of this award and am humbled to receive this award as I know there are many other deserving volunteers who put in a lot of hours and effort into helping their community museums be successful.”
— Doug Berrigan, President of LaHave Islands Marine Museum
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