Participants in the 7th Annual Municipal Heritage Forum, gathered at Knox Church in Old Strathcona, September 20th, 2013.
On behalf of our whole Municipal Heritage Services team, we would like to express our sincere thanks to all those of you who participated in this year’s Municipal Heritage Forum at the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village and in the Old Strathcona Provincial Historic Area. The weather was gorgeous, we had fun together, and learned a lot about “The ABCs of Conservation.”
Your contribution really helped to make the 7th Annual Municipal Heritage Forum a very positive event. We couldn’t have done it without you all! Whether you were presenting or just there to connect and share your local knowledge and experience, it all made a big difference.
You should see some of the great content from “The ABCs of Conservation,” including HD video of some of the Forum presentations, featured here on RETROactive over the next few weeks.
Founded four decades ago, the Alberta Historical Resources Foundation has evolved into a complex agency that serves a range of stakeholders in many ways. The foundation is the primary source of Government of Alberta funding for heritage projects. The foundation focuses on a few key objectives:
providing financial and program support to individuals and organizations engaged in researching, preserving, and promoting greater appreciation for Alberta’s heritage;
naming geographical features in the province;
staging events that support the heritage community; and
acting as an appeal body for certain decisions made in Alberta Culture.
Members are appointed for terms of up to three years. The board meets four times per year for about a day and a half per meeting at locations around the province. Board members are also occasionally asked to attend events within the heritage community.
Interested individuals can submit their applications through the Government of Alberta Careers website. The posting number is 1019525. The competition closes on October 3, 2013.
Should you have any questions about the board positions, please contact Matthew Wangler, Executive Director of the Alberta Historical Resources Foundation. Mr. Wangler can be reached at 780-438-8503 (toll-free by first dialing 310-0000) or matthew.wangler@gov.ab.ca. We look forward to hearing from you.
Written by: Matthew Wangler, Executive Director, Alberta Historical Resources Foundation
My name is Allan Rowe, and I am the new Historic Places Research Officer. Following the example set by my colleagues, I’m taking a moment to introduce myself.
I am originally from British Columbia, born in White Rock and raised in the beautiful Okanagan Valley. Halfway through my grade twelve year, I made the fateful decision to change my upcoming college major from computer information systems to history, and I haven’t looked back. I completed my BA in history at the University of British Columbia in 1994, and followed up with a Public History Diploma at Simon Fraser University. It was during that time that I got my first taste of heritage work as a summer student at a small British Columbian museum. In my case, it was the Elphinstone Pioneer Museum (now the Sunshine Coast Museum and Archives) where I spent the summer of 1996 answering tourists’ questions about The Beachcombers (we were located just up the road from Molly’s Reach – apparently The Beachcombers was a huge hit in Japan).
Unable to find permanent work in the heritage sector, I spent two tedious years working in corporate cell phone distribution (ugh), until the muse of history called me back to service and I received my MA in Canadian History from SFU in 2000. I then moved to Edmonton to pursue my Ph.D. at the University of Alberta, and during my time as a graduate student, I was fortunate enough to work with Historic Places Stewardship on several occasions, mostly working on heritage markers and assisting with the Alberta Heritage Survey Program. I finished my Ph.D. in history in 2008 and taught Canadian, Irish and American history, most recently at Keyano College in Fort McMurray. Though I enjoyed my time as a history instructor, I have always been fascinated by the heritage sector, and I was thrilled when I was given the opportunity to join the Historic Places Stewardship team in Edmonton.
On the personal side of things, I am blessed with a great wife and three amazing daughters, whose own interests range from bird-watching to dog-sledding to Shakespeare. I enjoy cooking (with mixed success) and continuing to learn as much history as possible. I remain a staunch Vancouver Canucks fan, and I welcome everyone’s scorn and derision.
I’m excited to join the team and I look forward to meeting everyone in person.
Written by: Allan Rowe, Historic Places Research Officer.
The Municipal Heritage Forum 2013 begins in a few days!
We just finalized the agenda. Here, hot off the (electronic) press, is the event program and a list of the breakout sessions offered. Please be green and don’t print these documents if you’re attending the forum. We’ll provide you with copies of each when you register.
Matthew, Val and I look forward to seeing many of you on Thursday and Friday.
And, if you can’t attend, don’t fret, We’ll recap the highlights on the blog over the next several weeks.
Written by: Michael Thome, Municipal Heritage Services Officer
We are thrilled at the eager response to our upcoming Municipal Heritage Forum – the “ABC’s of Conservation,” taking place September 19-20th. That’s two weeks away! It’s going to be a great time of learning, inspiration, and fun. Registrations have been pouring in, and there are limited spaces remaining. Be sure to register online ASAP to reserve your place! The Forum is free of charge to all attendees.
Registration will close September 12th, or before if we reach our capacity.
There are also opportunities to participate in the Forum:
Show and Tell opportunities at the Forum
Municipality Show & Tell: Medicine Hat Heritage Resources Committee at Forum 2012
Has your community been involved in some really compelling heritage work this year? Is there a conservation project you are eager to share with others?
Back by popular demand, this year will feature our community “show and tell” sessions on both Thursday September 19th at the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village and Friday September 20th at Knox Church in Old Strathcona. While we have already lined up some excellent updates from communities, we do have room for a few more, and would like to give you this opportunity to get involved and showcase your community’s good work.
“Show and tell” presentations should be:
No more than 15 minutes long
Fun
Accompanied a few slides or images – a picture’s worth a 1000 words!
Can be about facing community heritage challenges, not just success stories;
About a heritage project undertaken within the last year – it can be completed, or a work-in-progress.
If you are interested in “showing and telling,” your heritage happenings, contact Matthew Francis at matthew.francis@gov.ab.ca or (780) 438-8502, toll-free by first dialing 310-0000.
RETROactive 