REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR COMPREHENSIVE HERITAGE STUDY

A request for proposals for a comprehensive heritage study is now underway on PEI.
Details of the RFP are outlined on the Province of PEI procurement website.

1. Purpose of Study

The purpose of this study is to review the heritage sector of the province and to make recommendations to the Department of Communities, Cultural Affairs and Labour as to the appropriate role to be played by the Government of Prince Edward Island in responding to the needs of the sector.

2. Introduction

The Prince Edward Island Department of Communities, Cultural Affairs and Labour is seeking a consultant to undertake a comprehensive heritage study for the province.

The study will be one of the foundations of a heritage strategy which will be developed. The role of government with regard to the heritage of Prince Edward Island has developed over a number of years without a comprehensive framework. Capitalizing on specific initiatives and opportunities, the present institutions, programs and activities of government cover a wide range of heritage areas but lack cohesion and policy foundation. While the province has many institutions, organizations and activities of which it is proud, there are some heritage areas which are not addressed well or, in some cases, not addressed at all. Faced with significant needs for capital development, programing assistance and other heritage activity, the province is seeking to develop a more rational approach to management of heritage and heritage resources in the
province.

For the purpose of this study, “heritage” is defined to include the following:

Tangible cultural heritage - including, but not limited to, artifacts, buildings, cultural landscape and records;

Intangible cultural heritage - including, but not limited to, folklore, language, oral history and customs; and

Natural heritage - the land, sea, air, and flora and fauna of the province.

The Government of Prince Edward Island has a shared responsibility for heritage. It shares obligations with other levels of government and discharges some of its responsibilities in partnership with voluntary organizations. It operates heritage institutions itself and through arms-length crown agencies. It provides support for specific initiatives, as well as assistance directly and indirectly to organizations and institutions through such programs as grants, Jobs for Youth and other employment opportunities, and shared cost initiatives. While this study should recognize the role that other players have in the heritage area, the primary thrust of the study is to explore the role that is, can, and should be played by the Government of Prince Edward Island in the management of historic resources.

3. Project Management

A Heritage Study Steering Committee consisting of representatives from a number of province-wide organizations with heritage interests has been appointed to oversee the study. This committee should be considered a resource by the consultant. The groups include:

• Prince Edward Island Genealogical Society
• Community Museums Association of Prince Edward Island
• Prince Edward Island Natural History Society Prince Edward Island Museum and Heritage Foundation
• Archives Council of Prince Edward Island
• Mi’kmaq Confederacy of P.E.I.
• Acadian Museum Association of P.E.I.
• University of Prince Edward Island History Department

4. Process Expectations
The consultant is expected to undertake, at a minimum, the following:

• An initial meeting with the Heritage Study steering committee to obtain information and additional direction, as required.

• A comprehensive public consultation process which will afford the opportunity for Islanders to provide input, ideas and discussion related to heritage issues. This will normally include public meetings across the province, opportunities to present briefs or reports by groups or individuals, focus groups, and other participation opportunities. In accordance with provincial policy, an appropriate mechanism or mechanisms must be provided to allow for participation in the process by those whose primary language is French.

• A strategy to notify the public of opportunities to participate in the process.

• A review of recent relevant documentation and legislation concerning heritage in Prince Edward Island and adjacent provinces.

• Meetings with organizations, institutions, heritage professionals and interest groups in the heritage area.

• Identification of the strengths and weaknesses of the current system of heritage institutions, organizations and programs.

• Identification of gaps in the current system of heritage institutions, organizations and programs.

• Development of recommendations to address issues raised.

For more details see the full document

New Board Members Named

At the AGM of the PEI Museum & Heritage Foundation on October 30, 2007 new members of the Board of Governors were named. Tracey Cutcliffe, Deputy Minister of Communities, Cultural Affairs and Labour announced that Andy Wells and Joanne Schurman had been named to the Board of Governors filling any current vacancies.

A motion passed at the previous AGM had requested that all vacancies be filled on the Board, bringing it to full strength.

Motion 3 -- Passed by the PEI Museum & Heritage Foundation at its AGM

Title: Governance Structure and Role of Members

WHEREAS there has been a continuous membership affiliation throughout the creation of the PEI Heritage Foundation in 1970 and this has been a key component and a strength of the organization in providing leadership within the heritage community over several decades;

AND WHEREAS, the Foundation is also a body corporate created by the Legislature of PEI operated by board members who are appointed by government, and functions as a crown corporation with rules defined by governmental authorities;

AND WHEREAS, this reality of a membership organization which is also a crown corporation, can cause issues for members of the Museum especially when the membership is not involved in major decisions made by government or the Board;

AND WHEREAS, successive changes over the years have modified the role of the membership of the Foundation to the point that some individuals who have long affiliation with the organization do not consider it to currently be a membership organization;

AND WHEREAS, others feel that since individual members have played a key role over the decades in development of the Museum, steps should be taken to ensure that members have a meaningful role within the organization in the future;

AND WHEREAS, there is a perception that Board of Governors has seen undue pressure from government to accept proposals and developments that they did not have sufficient input in developing;

AND FURTHER, as recent changes to the by-laws limiting the rights of members to raise new topics and make motions without prior notice at an AGM of the Museum could restrict the ability of the membership to voice the concerns of the heritage community at such meetings, and participate in constructive solutions.

BE IT RESOLVED:
That a study be undertaken to examine the governance of the PEI Museum & Heritage Foundation and the role of members within the organization in relations to the Board of Governors. The study will examine the rights and responsibilities of members, the role of the Board, committees, advisory boards, staff and members in relation to the fulfilling the mandate of the organization.

The study shall also compare other governance models to determine their strengths and weaknesses, and identify components of other models that might be appropriate for consideration. Recommendations related to means of clarifying roles and improving relations between the membership, the Board, committees and any advisory boards and staff should also be included as well as any proposed changes to existing structures and procedures.

Motion 2 -- Passed by the PEI Museum & Heritage Foundation at its AGM

Title: Communication & New Business

WHEREAS the membership of the PEI Museum & Heritage Foundation is widely distributed and communication is key component of ensuring that members are aware of the activities carried out on their behalf;

AND WHEREAS, the Foundation has responsibilities to provide an annual report to the membership and to the Legislature and to conduct an annual meeting;

AND WHEREAS, recent changes have modified the by-laws of the organization so that

17 (2) Public notice of the annual or any general meeting of the membership shall contain the wording of, and information concerning, any resolutions or motion proposed to be brought before the meeting other than the normally transacted business of the meeting.

AND WHEREAS, the annual report is not provided to members in advance of the meeting and they do not receive regular newsletters updating them on activities of the organization during the year, it becomes a challenge for members to know what motions or resolutions may be required until they have information on the year’s activities in their hands;

AND SINCE, the Board does not provide its report prior to the meeting but members are required to submit their motions in advance of receiving the annual report.

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Minister Responsible for the Museum & Heritage Foundation be informed of the concerns of the membership in this regard, and further;

THAT THIS MEETING CONFIRM, that Roberts Rules of Order define the procedures of this assembly and that the category called New Business should deal not only with previously defined items of new business, but also be the period of a meeting in which the floor is open for members to raise matters of business which they may have been unaware of, prior to arriving at the meeting.

FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board be informed that communication remains an important issue and that all options be examined to ensure that the membership is kept informed on a timely basis of the operations and activities of their organization through newsletters, the Internet, meetings and publications so they remain informed, and can continue to contribute their assistance and suggestions in meaningful way.

Motion 1 - Passed by the PEI Museum & Heritage Foundation at its AGM

At the Annual General Meeting of the PEI Museum & Heritage Foundation, on October 30, 2007 the following motion was passed.

Title: Natural History Mandate & Planning


WHEREAS, bylaw 17 (2) indicates that advance notice of motions is required prior to receipt of annual reports, and it is unknown what reporting will take place at the upcoming AGM under the fulfilment of the mandate of the PEI Museum & Heritage Foundation;

AND WHEREAS, concerns were raised by members at the previous AGM regarding the lack of mention of activities in the annual report regarding fulfilment of the Natural History mandate;

AND WHEREAS, the previous AGM directed the Board to begin planning for fulfilment of all aspects of the mandate provided in the Museum Act, and to involve the membership in this planning process.

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board report to the membership in attendance at this meeting on what efforts were carried out in the last year in these important areas.

Provincial museum would give a provincewide perspective

Letter to the editor - The Guardian - July 17, 2007
EARLE LOCKERBY
Darnley

Editor:
Opposition Leader Pat Binns' remarks of regret concerning an artifactory in Murray River ("Decision to pull plug on artifactory 'terribly disappointing': Binns", The Guardian, July 3) confirm what has been transparently obvious all along: the facility was first and foremost a vehicle for "greatly enhancing a rural P.E.I. region", namely his own riding. The benefit to the provincial artifact collection was secondary.

His expressed fear that a provincial museum will threaten the locally-owned community museums throughout the province is both disturbing and indicative of a lack of understanding of the role and purpose of a provincial museum.

Has he ever had a close look at the provincial museums in our neighbouring provinces of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick?

Binns is quoted as stating "in my mind the provincial museum exists through the seven current provincial sites around the province." These facilities, though valuable, in no way constitute a provincial museum. They portray several particular and limited heritage themes, namely shipbuilding, the railway on the Island, the fishery, agriculture, a pioneer community and Acadian culture.

In which provincial facility may one view a portrayal of the Island's musical heritage? Its aviation history? The history of communications with the mainland? The geological and other natural history of the Island? Our aboriginal history and culture? The list goes on and on.

A provincial museum will comprehensively showcase the full spectrum of the Island's rich heritage and culture, utilizing artifacts from the provincial collection, much of which resides in a warehouse known as the artifactory. I believe it is feasible to integrate the existing provincial sites into a proper provincial museum framework such that they play a complementary role to a large centralized facility.

I do not agree with Pat Binns' view that a provincial museum will be a threat to the small, community museums. I happen to be on the board of directors of such a museum, the Keir Memorial Museum at Malpeque, and I can assure him that I do not see our museum as being in any way threatened.

On the contrary, I would expect my fellow directors would welcome a new provincial museum, as I believe would be the case for heritage-minded and culturally-minded Islanders in general.

For the most part, the community museums seek to portray the history of their own immediate areas, not that relating to the Island as a whole

That the Binns government could have been so out of touch with the museological needs of the province is a measure of its failure to consult broadly with Islanders, and in particular with the heritage and culture community.

During the weeks and months following the announcement of a new artifactory at Murray River, several writers of letters to the editor of The Guardian urged the Binns government to take a step back, and to enter into consultations with the heritage and culture community with a view to developing a broad strategic plan for a provincial museum system which would well serve the Island as a whole over the coming decades. This plea fell on deaf ears, as the government was hell-bent on locating a new artifact storage facility at Murray River.

It is to be hoped that Premier Robter Ghiz and Cultural Affairs Minister Carolyn Bertram will begin the process of delivering a Provincial Museum and new artifactory in an integrated fashion, by obtaining the views of Islanders on what is required - and not just the views of the board of directors of Museum and Heritage P.E.I., an organization which happens to be a provincial Crown corporation.

Earle Lockerby has been a director of the Keir Memorial Museum in Malpeque for several years.

Ghiz must keep promise on museum

Letter to the editor - The Guardian - July 4, 2007
EARLE LOCKERBY
Darnley

Editor:

I applaud the provincial government’s decision to rescind the plans of the Binns government to build a new artifactory at Murray River.

That being said, there remains a critical need for a new storage facility to house and safeguard, for future generations of Islanders, the province’s valuable collection of artifacts which constitute an important part of our heritage. Further ‘patching up’ of the existing facility, which has survived for many years on ‘patch-ups’ and was never designed to provide an adequate environment for the artifacts, can be only a very short-term, temporary measure.

A new artifactory needs to be planned for, and realized, in conjunction with a new provincial museum, and in my view, both should be located in the Charlottetown area and as close together as reasonably possible.

Premier Ghiz has recently made much of the fact that our province is the only one without a passport office. It is also the only province without a provincial museum. True, we do have a number of small, ‘theme’ museums scattered across the Island. Like the spokes and rim of a wheel, these facilities perform a useful service, but what is missing is the hub — a provincial museum. Adequately storing our artifacts is important, but equally important is showcasing them to Islanders and to visitors to our province. Currently, the vast majority of the provincial collection never, or rarely, sees the light of day because we have inadequate facilities in which to display the artifacts and in which to comprehensively interpret the Island’s rich heritage and culture.

A major new display facility — a centrally located provincial museum — along with an integrated new artifactory, are sorely needed in this province. During the recent election campaign, Premier Ghiz promised Islanders a new provincial museum. Islanders expect him to keep his promise.

Decision to pull plug on artifactory 'terribly disappointing': Binns

Opposition Leader says funding that was lined up for $4.9-million project in Murray River is now lost
The Guardian July 3, 2007
STEVE SHARRATT

MURRAY RIVER — Opposition Leader Pat Binns says the new Liberal government has pulled the plug on a project that had millions of dollars of funding in place and would
have greatly enhanced a rural P.E.I. region.

Communities, Cultural Affairs and Labour Minister Carolyn Bertram confirmed last week that the $4.9-million provincial artifactory to be constructed in Murray River has been cancelled and government would develop a comprehensive plan for heritage in the future.

As well, it would “stabilize” the leaking West Royalty Industrial Park building where over 80,000 artifacts of Island heritage are being stored.

“It’s a terribly disappointing decision,” said Binns, who had plans to bring the Canada Tree to the site as an attraction.

“We had all the funding lined up from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and now it’s lost. And if the focus of the new government is to develop a provincial museum, I fear for the more than two dozen community museums around the province.”

The artifactory was a one-year project for the Northumberland Development Corporation which invested $250,000 in land acquisition, demolition and architectural work.

The project was announced earlier this year but drew some criticism that it should be located in Charlottetown.

The Conservative loss in the provincial election killed the project and Bertram said she would work with the Development Corporation to seek other opportunities.

“We met with the minister . . . and certainly got the impression that our cause was quickly evaporating,” said Jamie Richards, chair of the Corporation.

“But we acknowledge their decision even though it was a welcome project that had the community excited.”

Binns announced the project as a way to spread sites of appeal around the province.

The artifactory would have housed the historical items donated to the Heritage Foundation and featured some retail shop space to help improve the downtown centre of Murray River.

“If there is an intention to go to a provincial museum some small ones should be very concerned,” he said.

“In my mind, the provincial museum exists through the seven current provincial sites around the province.”

Binns said the artifactory project was designed to assist both heritage preservation and redevelop a community main street.

“We already had business interests who wanted to set up retail outlets at the site,” he said.

Artifactory will not proceed - Bertram

The Guardian - June, 2007

The proposed Museum and Heritage Storage Facility (artifactory) in Murray River will not proceed, it was confirmed officially Thursday by Carolyn Bertram, Minister of Communities, Cultural Affairs and Labour.

Bertram said that government will develop an overall plan for heritage in the province and in light of this new direction, cabinet has determined that he artifactory plans for the village are on hold.

"At this point, we recognize the most pressing need for the Museum and Heritage Foundation is to stabilize the current storage facility to reduce any danger to the valuable collection of artifacts,"Bertram said.

"Carrying out renovation work on the current storage facility will provide sufficient time for government to explore all options, so we can make an informed decision about the future direction for heritage in our province."

Bertram met recently with the Museum and Heritage Foundation and representatives of the Northumberland Community Development Corporation to discuss the future of the proposed Museum Collections Storage Facility in Murray River.

She said government will work with NCDC to explore other development opportunities for the community.

Cancelling artifactory a mistake: Binns

Opposition leader Pat Binns calls the Liberal government's decision to cancel a new artifact storage facility planned for Murray River "a huge mistake."

The current facility is leaky and overcrowded.
(CBC) Friday, June 29, 2007 | 4:00 PM AT - CBC News

Binns told CBC News Friday the money was secured for the facility and the project would have revitalized the community. He believes the decision to cancel the artifact storage building in his home district was politically motivated. What's worse, he said, is that thousands of artifacts are now being left at risk.

"We have an opportunity to remove the artifacts, 70,000 thousand artifacts, from being at risk," he said.

"Right now the federal money is there; the provincial money was there. That is sort of being thrown to the wind right now. I just hope that something will cause the government to relook at this situation."

The Liberals announced the cancellation of the project Thursday. They say they'll invest $75,000 into renovating the current facility in Charlottetown's West Royalty Industrial Park to ensure the artifacts aren't damaged, and start work on a new plan for heritage in the province.

Binns said he's worried the Liberals plan to build a central provincial museum, which he said would threaten the seven provincial museums spread across the island, from the Shipbuilding Museum in Green Park to the Elmira Railway Museum.

The decision to cancel the facility could be one of many to come that will slowly strangle rural Prince Edward Island,

Artifactory in Murray River gets shelved

BY STEVE SHARRATT - The Guardian June 29, 2007

A one-acre piece of property that was to become home to the province's new artifactory will face an empty future.

The new Liberal government has pulled the plug on building a $4.9-million artifactory here that was endorsed by the previous administration and would be constructed in the riding of former Premier Pat Binns.

"It's not a huge surprise but it certainly is disappointing," said Jamie Richards, chair of the Northumberland Development Corporation, who heard the news from The Guardian.

"Hopefully the new government will see our community is valuable for some project," he said.

Communities and Cultural Affairs Minister Carolyn Bertram announced the project cancellation Thursday and said the province - with the P.E.I. Museum and Heritage Foundation - would seek a comprehensive plan for Island heritage.

Government will also stabilize the current storage facility to reduce any danger to the more than 80,000 artifacts housed in a leaking building at the West Royalty Industrial Park.

The commencement of the artifactory project in Murray River was endorsed by the P.E.I. Museum and Heritage Foundation, but drew criticism from other heritage advocates in the province who suggested a provincial museum was important and would best suit the needs in the Charlottetown area.

Inheriting the artifactory dilemma

Editorial in The Guardian - June 21, 2007
The Ghiz government must resolve the dispute over the artifactory and a centrally located provincial museum.

When they won the May 28 election, the provincial Liberals inherited some complex and delicate dilemmas. The future of the provincial artifactory and the call for a centrally located provincial museum were two of them. It's their job now to find a solution that will put these issues to rest.

Many Islanders outside the heritage community may not have known what an artifactory was until Premier Pat Binns announced last year he was relocating the storage facility to Murray River. Many heritage activists protested the decision saying the facility should be more centrally located so more Islanders would have access to it, and staff would be able to interact more easily with others also working in that area of interest and expertise. Still others said it should be part of a provincial museum situated at least in the central region of the province, if not the capital city area.

But proponents of the move argued that anything was better than the status quo. Right now, an estimated 80,000 artifacts are stored in a leaky storage facility in the West Royalty Industrial Park - hardly an ideal location for the precious pieces of our history.

In spite of the vocal opposition to the move, the Binns government proceeded with it, and the Northumberland Development Corporation in Murray River acquired the land necessary for the artifactory and moved ahead with some of the plans.

The Liberal victory in last month's election has put those plans on hold. Premier Robert Ghiz has put a moratorium on the project until he can review it, a move that obviously doesn't thrill the development corporation, which has already invested $250,000 in the land purchase, demolition and preparatory architectural work at the site.

Few would dispute the fact that our artifacts deserve better shelter. But locating this facility anywhere other than central P.E.I. could end up being a greater disservice in the long run. Our artifacts need protection, but they also need to be accessible to the public. The opinion of many heritage activists seems to suggest that we need, first of all, a broader vision of how we want to protect and display our heritage, and, second, a centrally located facility that would best accommodate this vision.

It's unfortunate that the plan to move the artifactory to Murray River has proceeded as far as it has. The new government will have to consider the investment that's already gone into the project in deciding whether to go ahead or go back to the drawing board.

But this shouldn't be the key consideration. If after reviewing the project and consulting with interested parties, government halts the artifactory move - and hopefully it will - it should look into moving some other facility to Murray River. In this way, the time and money that's gone into preparing the site for development won't be wasted.

Artifactory future rests with new Liberal government

STEVE SHARRATT The Guardian June 7, 2007
Northumberland Development Corporation chair says he'll present case once cabinet named

MURRAY RIVER — The financing was in place, the land was ready for construction and the tender was days away from being awarded, but an artifactory to store the antiquities of the Island’s past could be history here.

Former Premier Pat Binns was preparing to turn the sod at the building site when a provincial election late last month ended the Conservative dream of a fourth term.

And now the project — which raised considerable controversy in the capital city — is in the hands of a new Liberal administration.

“Right now we’re just biding our time and waiting for the new government to make a decision,’’ said Jamie Richards, chair of the Northumberland Development Corporation which has already invested $250,000. “But as soon as a cabinet is appointed we’ll be taking our case to them.”

The provincial artifactory was announced earlier this year by the Conservative government as a place to house and display some of the more than 80,000 items of historical significance now being stored in the West Royalty Industrial Park.

The $4.9-million project also included a retail and boutique attachment as a way to stimulate more summertime business in this quiet fishing village.

But while the relocation bid was applauded by the P.E.I. Heritage Foundation, it drew the ire of other heritage buffs who insisted Murray River was too far off the beaten track and the province should be building a provincial museum instead in the capital city.

“We have all our ducks lined up on this one and we can only hope that the new administration will look favourably on our plan,’’ said Richards.

During the election, Liberal leader Robert Ghiz said he would put a moratorium on the artifactory and seek wider consultation before confirming construction plans.

A spokesman in Ghiz’s office said no decisions would be made until Ghiz is sworn in sometime next week and a new cabinet meets.

Richards expects the lobbyists who protested the artifactory relocating here will be out in force, but insisted the area development corporation is not giving up — especially having invested $250,000 in the project with land purchase, demolition and preparatory architectural work.

Comments:


1.
Richelle from Charlottetown, PE writes: This is a very misleading article and I feel the writer is definately not presenting an objective piece of journalism. From what I read the relocation was not applauded by the Heritage Foundation. The builing of a facility was. The heritage foundation was forced into the decision because theywere told it was this or nothing. Perhaps money shouldn't have been spent until a consultation process was enacted. Lets hope these behind closed doors projects of the conservatives are over.
Posted 07/06/2007 at 1:22 pm |

2.
Steve from PEI writes: Richelle, you think the closed door projects are bad. Ghiz won't have to do anything behind closed doors because everything, like the artifactory, will be put in Charlottetown because everybody in there thinks that they should get it all. Bunch of greedy townie's i tell ya!
Posted 08/06/2007 at 11:20 am |


3.
Alex from Montague, PEI writes: I don't have a problem with artifact storage taking place in a location like Murray River but I think it would make the most sense to have it co-located with a provincial museum.

New Brunswick's provincial museum is in Saint John, which is historically more important than Fredericton. I'm not sure if an argument can be made that Summerside is more historic than Charlottetown.

Perhaps if we look to the Mi'kmaq occupancy of this island but from a practical point of view, Charlottetown does make the most sense for a provincial museum.

I like to see structures get re-used and expanded, so the soon-to-be-vacant Dominion Building would be ideally suited for this, with room off back toward Pownal Street to house a re-located Public Archives and Records Office, along with an artifactory and a multi-floor museum on the Queen Street side.

As for what you mention with centralization of government services....

I agree that de-centralization, while a bit more costly initially, it actually works to the advantage of governments federally and provincially since it keeps rural communities like Souris, Morell, Murray River, Kensington, Alberton, O'Leary, and Tignish alive as small regional centres, giving a good reason to maintain the sometimes-expensive government services such as schools and health care.... BUT, the real estate is cheap and I'm willing to bet that gov't would end up in the positive on overall multi-year operating costs of offices in these locations.

Perhaps if we saw smaller, self-contained branches or operating agencies of different gov't departments parcelled out to these communities, we'd strengthen the provincial economy while improving costs and services?

I do think that Robert should offer something such as a relocated gov't office to Murray River since they have been banking on this development.

But I think the museum should go to Charlottetown and it's not a town vs. rural thing at all, it just makes sense in this case.
Posted 08/06/2007 at 12:42 pm

Tourism and Culture: Celebrating Our Cultural Identity Promoting Our Culture

Liberal Party of PEI - tourism and culture highlights from the policy document
http://www.islandersfirst.ca/files/press_release/tourismcultureliberal.pdf
Released May 25, 2007


The Island’s cultural heritage defines who we are and where we come from. Our culture is something to be both protected and enhanced. It requires public policy commitment and a focus that is based upon a shared sense of community. Such a focus on cultural policy has been lacking under the Conservatives. The Conservative’s plan to re-locate the provincial artifactory to Murray River is ill-conceived. Liberals believe that we need a plan based upon meaningful input from Islanders that identifies how we should promote our cultural heritage.

A Liberal Government will put Islanders first by:

• 1. Putting greater emphasis on educating our children about the human and natural history of our province;
• 2. Initiating policies to help preserve and protect our rural landscape;
• 3. Placing a moratorium on the construction of a new artifactory in Murray River;
• 4. Consulting with P.E.I. communities, museums, and our arts and cultural communities to explore options for a Provincial Museum;
• 5. Investing more resources in educating local artists, musicians, and craftspeople and helping them to market to the world;

. . . also from a speech delivered at the same time
http://www.islandersfirst.ca/news/press_releases.cfm?id=61

Placing a moratorium on the construction of a proposed new artifactory, and beginning a comprehensive planning process dedicated to creating a NEW Prince Edward Island Museum worthy of our beautiful province.

Liberals promise provincial museum

As published by CBCnews - on May 25, 2007 http://www.cbc.ca/canada/peivotes2007/story/2007/05/25/liberals-museum.html

P.E.I.'s Liberals say a place to store the province's artifacts isn't enough and if elected Monday, they will begin planning for a provincial museum.

There would be a moratorium on the construction of a new artifactory in the eastern end of the province, the Liberals announced Friday.

A Liberal government would launch "a comprehensive planning process dedicated to creating a new Prince Edward Island Museum worthy of our beautiful province," the party said in news release.

The announcement was part of the Liberals' culture and tourism platform.

In addition to planning for a provincial museum, the Liberals promised a greater emphasis on teaching P.E.I. children about the human and natural history of the province and more investment in educating local artists and craftspeople, in particular about marketing.

In the tourism sector, the Liberals promised to privatize the four government-owned golf courses and invest more in park infrastructure.

The PEI Green Party in support of Natural History Museum

Recently received from Green Party Leader, Sharon Labchuk the following statement:

The Greens support a public school curriculum that includes ecological literacy integrated with every subject. A provincial museum that included natural history would be a major resource for our schools and the education of all Islanders in understanding of the natural world around them.

Liberal Party Responds: Cultural Policy for PEI Needed

Thank you for providing the Liberal Party the opportunity of sharing our views on the important topic of a Provincial Museum, and the larger issue of protecting our heritage and culture in our province.  We have attached our responses to your questionaire below.

Sincerely,
Liberal Party of PEI

As Islanders will be examining the cultural policies of all parties, it is important that they know what your provincial museum policy is and vision for a provincial museum. To assist in this regard please provide a copy of your museum policy and answers to the following questions, as soon as possible so that Islanders may be better informed prior to election day.

The Legislative Assembly in 1983, created a provincial museum mandate, "to study, collect, preserve, interpret, and protect the human and natural history of Prince Edward Island for the use, benefit and enjoyment of the people of the province." Since then, many aspects of this mandate have not been fulfilled, especially in the natural history area and the development of exhibition space to interpret existing collections. Despite this, the Legislative Assembly adopts annually a report from the PEI Museum & Heritage Foundation, with no mention of many of the activities mandated by the Museum Act.

Question 1
Please indicate what your government would do to ensure that Prince Edward Islanders have the active provincial museum as mandated by the Legislature, that will study, collect, preserve, interpret, and protect the human and natural history of Prince Edward Island, and that sufficient funds and facilities to carry out its mandate will be provided.

The Liberal team believes that our culture and heritage defines who we are and where we come from. As a small Island surrounded by the influences of United States and larger Canadian centers, it is essential that we maintain and strengthen our commitment to our culture and heritage. A Liberal Government will undertake stakeholder consultations into the development of a P.E.I. Cultural Strategy, with an active provincial museum that includes the important area of natural history.

Question 2
Please indicate what your government would do to ensure that Prince Edward Islanders have an opportunity to see both permanent and changing exhibitions of the current artifacts within the existing Provincial Collection.

Liberals believe that the Conservative strategy of storing artifacts away from public viewing is short sighted and short changes Islanders, especially our youth, from learning more about our province’s unique and proud heritage. A Liberal Government will work to improve this situation by combining the need to preserve our artifacts and the need to make them accessible to Islanders.


Question 3
As museum development requires solid planning, please indicate what your government would do to ensure that Prince Edward Islanders have a provincial museum development plan that fulfills the mandate granted by the Legislature.

The Liberal team agrees with your assessment of the importance of solid planning to ensure making sound policy decisions. Certainly, the Conservative scheme to relocate the provincial artifactory in Murray River was ill-conceived and based more on political agendas then sound public policy. A Liberal Government will address the issue of sound planning by consulting with P.E.I. communities, museums, and our arts and cultural communities to explore options for a Provincial Museum, and consult with stakeholders in the development of a P.E.I. Cultural Strategy.


Question 4
Many Islanders since 1880 have called for a centrally-located,
adequately-resourced provincial museum building to tell the Island story (including natural history), exhibit the Island collection, and also to serve the various branches community museums and education system by creating exhibits to tour the province. Do you support this vision of a solid hub that can provide strength to the various spokes of a decentralized museum system?
Liberals support the concept of having a solid hub that can provide strength to our existing network of museums across our province. A Liberal Government will consider placing a moratorium on the construction of a new artifactory in Murray River and begin a consultation process with stakeholders to develop the most appropriate plan for a Provincial Museum.

Island New Democrats - respond

ISLAND NEW DEMOCRATS

81 Prince Street, Charlottetown, PE C1A 4R3

Tel. 902 566 2266

ndppei@pei.aibn.com

DEAN CONSTABLE, Party Leader

Question 1
Please indicate what your government would do to ensure that Prince Edward Islanders have the active provincial museum as mandated by the Legislature, that will study, collect, preserve, interpret, and protect the human and natural history of Prince Edward Island, and that sufficient funds and facilities to carry out its mandate will be provided.

If I gain the confidence of a majority of voters and receive the privilege of representing the citizens of District 12 Charlottetown – Victoria Park, I will fight for a Provincial Museum that will serve all Islanders. This means I will work for highly skilled and appropriate staffing to deliver all the exciting educational opportunities that a comprehensive museum of the human culture and natural history of our Island presents. I will also work to ensure that our inner city kids make the very important connections with their history and their culture and the natural world around them. This is their right and I want to see our society invest in them.

Question 2
Please indicate what your government would do to ensure that Prince Edward Islanders have an opportunity to see both permanent and changing exhibitions of the current artifacts within the existing Provincial Collection.

I will personally study the large issue of Museums on Prince Edward Island and become familiar with the bigger picture and challenges that includes over 30 community museums across PEI. I will support the establishment of a comprehensive integrated Provincial museum facility of culture and natural history located in an area that is accessible without undue hardship for all community museums, adults and especially children across PEI. To ensure access to changing thematic exhibits and exhibits that tell the bigger Island Story I will be insisting that the PEI Museum Collection and the dedicated professionals hired to work with it be located within close proximity at one site, namely the Provincial Museum. I will work to identify community partners such as educational institutions – UPEI and Holland College for example.

Question 3
Museum development requires solid planning, please indicate what your government would do to ensure that Prince Edward Islanders have a provincial museum development plan that fulfills the mandate granted by the Legislature.

I will support an immediate moratorium on the old Conservative Government’s plan to place the Provincial Storage facility (Artifactory) in the Premier’s home riding of Murray River. I will insist upon a comprehensive planning process that focuses on the future of Heritage and Museums development in PEI. I see this as a planning process that is much larger than the current PEI Museum, that is inclusive of the heritage community as a whole, from tip to tip of PEI.

Question 4
Many Islanders since 1881 have called for a centrally-located, adequately-resourced provincial museum building to tell the Island story (including natural history), exhibit the Island collection, and also to serve the various branches community museums and education system by creating exhibits to tour the province. Do you support this vision of a solid hub that can provide strength to the various spokes of a decentralized museum system?

I support the concept of a strong and solid hub serving all the museums and their audiences across PEI. I also support the development of a strategy for public and private investment in the infrastructure of museums across PEI. Our museums are in our communities telling our stories for our residents and our visitors. There can be no better investment for our culture, our economy and our feeling good about ourselves and our communities than investing in our museums. The planning element I mentioned above must come first to ensure that investments are strategic.

Response from the PC Party of Prince Edward Island

May 22, 2007

Question 1
Please indicate what your government would do to ensure that Prince Edward Islanders have the active provincial museum as mandated by the Legislature, that will study, collect, preserve, interpret, and protect the human and natural history of Prince Edward Island, and that sufficient funds and facilities to carry out its mandate will be provided.

Response: Protecting our past and celebrating our heritage has always been a priority for Islanders and the Pat Binns Government.
Our Government will construct a new Artifactory in Murray River to ensure that over 80,000 Island artifacts are stored in a safe and secure facility. The Artifactory will work closely with the 7 Provincial Museums and 26 Community Museums to ensure the history of Prince Edward Island continues to be presented in communities throughout PEI. The new facility will contain: Environmentally controlled space for artifact storage.

• Conservation workshops.
• Exhibition construction facilities
• Workspace for the Collection Registrar
• Exhibition space for temporary exhibits.

The history of Prince Edward Island is best shared by all Islanders. We will continue to ensure that the funding is there to properly display Island history. Increasing the budget for the PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation from $800,700 in 2006-07 to $1,025,800 in 2007-08 and increasing the operating grant to the PEI Community Museums Association from $55,000 in 2006-07 to $90,000 in 2007-08, is a concrete example of that commitment. Over the years, we have also contributed to various projects including the investment of $550,000 towards the construction of the Agricultural Museum at Orwell Corner Historic Village in 2003.

Question 2
Please indicate what your government would do to ensure that Prince Edward Islanders have an opportunity to see both permanent and changing exhibitions of the current artifacts within the existing Provincial Collection.

Response: Collections management must always balance the sometimes competing goal of public education and the preservation of the artifact for future generations. We believe it is important for Islanders to have the opportunity to enjoy Island history and culture through the museum experience. Many of our museums such as Beaconsfield, Greenpark and Orwell Corner, serve as permanent exhibits that allow Islanders and visitors to immerse themselves in the past and glimpse what life was like for our early settlers. The continuous rotation of artifacts and exhibits adds variety to our museums, promotes interest and offers new perspectives, but also limits exposure to uncontrolled environments that compromise the physical integrity of the artifact. The new Artifactory will be a great asset to the PEI Museum and will provide much better conditions in which to store and conserve its collection while also delivering increased public exhibition space.


Question 3
As museum development requires solid planning, please indicate what your government would do to ensure that Prince Edward Islanders have a provincial museum development plan that fulfills the mandate granted by the Legislature.

Response: A Pat Binns Government looks forward to consulting with stakeholders and hearing the suggestions of all those in the public who share our goal of preserving and interpreting our Island’s rich heritage through the museum experience. We applaud the hard work done by the Friends of the PEI Museum and other like minded groups working to ensure that future generations of Islanders can also enjoy this cultural tradition.

Question 4
Many Islanders since 1880 have called for a centrally-located, adequately-resourced provincial museum building to tell the Island story (including natural history), exhibit the Island collection, and also to serve the various branches community museums and education system by creating exhibits to tour the province. Do you support this vision of a solid hub that can provide strength to the various spokes of a decentralized museum
system ?

Response: We believe that the PEI Museum and Heritage model of one museum with seven sites has been an effective way to preserve and exhibit the Island’s cultural and natural history. The team of professionals at the PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation, along its partners at the Community Museum Association, have done an excellent job preserving, conserving, and interpreting the Island’s heritage treasures within a system designed to take the greatest advantage of our rich history and small size. We look forward to the exciting time ahead. The construction of the new Artifactory will provide the surroundings and resources needed to manage the Museum’s collection. However, we are always interested in listening to proposals for changes to this model, including examining the concept of a single provincial museum site. The first step in this process would be the completion of public consultations and a business plan to determine viability.

Islanders wish to see the mandate of the PEI Museum & Heritage Foundation fulfilled.

Blog editorial - by Ian Scott

With the release of the Institute of Island Studies' report of their province-wide consultations on the state of the provincial museum on PEI, it is clear that Islanders wish to see the mandate of the PEI Museum & Heritage Foundation fulfilled.

A museum planning study is needed and continues to be called for by concerned Islanders. In reality the provincial government, continues to vote down the subject of a planning study every time it is raised in the Legislature.

The members of the PEI Museum & Heritage Foundation at their AGM recently voted for such a study and for a moratorium until this process has been concluded.

The government-appointed board which operates the Museum has since concluded that policies of the Museum as determined at the AGM are merely suggestions they might consider adopting - or not.

Clearly there are jurisdictional issues to be resolved when the votes of members are meaningless at a legally constituted meeting of the organization, and a board charged with governing the Museum, can reject outright the policies thus adopted by the organization.

These actions beg the question - what is the meaning of membership?

Meanwhile, all this controversy does little to restore support for the Museum, which has just completed a major campaign to try and turn the tide of declining membership renewals.

Questions for the Campaign Trail

With a provincial election underway, the policies of the various parties regarding a provincial museum for PEI are becoming a campaign issue for many Islanders.

If you happen to see anyone in the campaign mode perhaps the following questions would be appropriate.

The Legislative Assembly in 1983, created a provincial museum mandate, "to study, collect, preserve, interpret, and protect the human and natural history of Prince Edward Island for the use, benefit and enjoyment of the people of the province." Since then, many aspects of this mandate have not been fulfilled, especially in the natural history area and the development of exhibition space to interpret existing collections. Despite this, the Legislative Assembly adopts annually a report from the PEI Museum & Heritage Foundation, with no mention of many of the activities mandated by the Museum Act.

Question 1
Please indicate what your government would do to ensure that Prince Edward Islanders have the active provincial museum as mandated by the Legislature, that will study, collect, preserve, interpret, and protect the human and natural history of Prince Edward Island, and that sufficient funds and facilities to carry out its mandate will be provided.

Question 2
Please indicate what your government would do to ensure that Prince Edward Islanders have an opportunity to see both permanent and changing exhibitions of the current artifacts within the existing Provincial Collection.

Question 3
As museum development requires solid planning, please indicate what your government would do to ensure that Prince Edward Islanders have a provincial museum development plan that fulfills the mandate granted by the Legislature.

Question 4
Many Islanders since 1880 have called for a centrally-located, adequately-resourced provincial museum building to tell the Island story (including natural history), exhibit the Island collection, and also to serve the various branches community museums and education system by creating exhibits to tour the province. Do you support this vision of a solid hub that can provide strength to the various spokes of a decentralized museum system ?

Certain things belong in the capital

as published in The Guardian - April 21, 2007
FRANK MACDONALD Cornwall

Editor:
Before a provincial museum is announced for Boughton Island, I’d like to express my opinion on the artifactory debate, which is more ‘artifice’ than artifactory, considering the number of things that don’t pass the smell test.

I’m not city-born, but I would submit that certain things belong in a political capital. They just do. When I was five, I would have liked the provincial airport to locate in neighbouring fields so I could watch planes land. For efficiency and other reasons, such a facility didn’t belong in a remote location any more than an artifactory does. Does the Charlottetown Leon’s store have its warehouse in Murray River?

The museum debate is degenerating into more ‘Charlottetown-bashing’ and attempts at one-upmanship by other areas, manifested by such actions as enlisting interest in building a hotel that is higher, by one storey, than Charlottetown’s highest or creating a second university. Where is our civic pride regarding our capital? The placement of an artifactory and museum in Charlottetown is not a zero-sum gain in which the capital wins at the expense of other centres.

There are many locations in the capital for a combined museum and artifactory facility or for separate facilities. The vast wastelands of eastern Grafton Street would be logical for a combined version and would provide a pleasant respite from the restaurants that proliferate. Another location, and it is provincially owned, is the field alongside the west side of University Avenue in front of Holland College Royalty Centre. The corner of Great George and Richmond streets, currently a parking lot for about 50 vehicles, also presents a logical site. A museum there would also be a good fit for the increasing number of cruise ship visitors. Acquiring that spot would entail MLAs giving up the parking spaces that are provided for them there during legislative sessions. Can these people bestow such a legacy?

A reason cited for the artifactory’s location in Murray River is that ACOA funding of $3 million is available only for that location. Perhaps the premier can convince ACOA’s new provincial manager, Pat Dorsey, his former chief of staff, to lift that restriction.

Public Consultations on the PEI Museum Systems

The report of the Public Consultations on the PEI Museum Systems, March 2007 has now been released by the Institute on Island Studies at UPEI.

A copy is now available on our companion site PEI History Blog.

Notice of Motion Tabled in Legislature

As tabled in the Legislature of the Province of Prince Edward Island
MOTION No. 37
PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation

Carolyn Bertram gives notice that tomorrow she will move, seconded by Richard Brown, the following Motion:

WHEREAS the PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation at its annual general meeting on March 14, 2007 passed resolutions pertaining to the issue of the artifactory and the concept of a provincial museum;

AND WHEREAS the Museum Act has granted a clear mandate in human and natural history and the board has indicated that it “dreams of establishing a provincial museum where much of the Island history presently housed in our ‘artifactory’ could be presented and interpreted to the public”;

AND WHEREAS there is strong interest across the Island, evidenced during a set of recent consultations, that the mandate of the PEI Museum be fulfilled in areas of collection management, research, publishing, conservation and in exhibitions;

AND WHEREAS 25 years has elapsed since the current mandate was granted to the organization, it is not unreasonable for the public, the membership and the staff to have expectations for clear policy for the development and fulfilment of this mandate across the province;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislative Assembly respect the decision of the PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation to undertake a planning study to be conducted under the direction of the executive director but assisted by such researchers as he may see fit to examine the organization’s mandate as provided by legislation and review the governance structure and all operations of the organization in communications, publishing, research, conservation, collections management, exhibition and interpretation, as well as the operations of the branch museum system;

THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Assembly respect the decision of the PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation that this study shall review prior planning studies and include consultations in a format determined by the executive director and shall seek input from groups and individuals with knowledge in the field to determine accessibility of private or public collections that could be available to the museum. The report shall be presented to the membership for approval at both a draft and final stage before it becomes policy of the organization;

THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Assembly respect the call of the PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation that a moratorium on all new developments and agreements related to the artifactory be established immediately that shall remain in place until the report is completed and adopted by the membership along with an implementation plan;

THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Assembly recognize that Dr. David Keenleyside has been newly appointed as executive director and has been charged with undertaking a planning study, which is now underway, to review the operations and mandate of the PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation;

AND THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Assembly respect the decision of the PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation that it is unfair to the study process for the Board of Governors to undertake new initiatives and developments until such time as Dr.Keenleyside has reported to the members of the museum and they have adopted an implementation plan to guide the board in fulfilling the mandate.

Signed by: Carolyn Bertam
Signed by: Richard Brown
10 April 2007 8:25 p.m.

Board Position on Policy Decisions Made by PEI Museum & Heritage Foundation at AGM

April 10, 2007
Dear Museum & Heritage PEl Member:

Many of you were able to be present at the recent Annual General Meeting of the P.E.I. Museum and Heritage Foundation. That meeting dealt primarily with the activities of the fiscal year 2005-2006 as outlined in the annual report covering that period. In addition there was a spirited discussion of the present state and future of the Museum. At the meeting we welcomed the new Executive Director, Dr. David Keenlyside, and I know he has already followed up on many contacts made at that meeting.

I think it is safe to say that this was one of the liveliest annual meetings the Museum has seen for some time and the degree of interest in and passion for the heritage of the province displayed at the meeting is certainly encouraging.

A number of resolutions were passed at the Annual General Meeting and the Board has had the opportunity to further discuss and consider these matters. This letter outlines the position the Board has agreed to as a result of the discussion and motions at the meeting.

The first resolution dealt with the need for a vision and plan for heritage in the province and specifically the role the museum can and should play. The Board had already begun this process in expectation of the appointment of Dr. Keenlyside and is committed to a further development of a planning process which will engage the membership, our partners in the heritage of the province and the general public. We already have commitments from a number of individuals, groups and organizations to help us identify challenges and opportunities for the Museum.

The second resolution called for a moratorium with regard to the construction of a new collections storage facility for our artifacts. While the Board appreciates the level of interest and concern this issue has raised, it remains convinced that the decision taken in September of 2006 to agree to the proposal made by the provincial government is in the best interest of the Museum. Last September, the Board agreed, subject to a significant number of terms and conditions which have been responded to positively, that it would be a tenant in a new facility built for the purpose of housing the collection.

The conditions which the Board required included a construction of a facility which met museum environmental standards and safety concerns for such a building, additional funding to enable the Museum to operate within the facility, and the transfer of the sale proceeds of the existing building to the Museum's endowment fund.

Since the Board's decision in September, a great deal of planning work has been carried out on the project. Our curatorial staff have been engaged in developing standards and requirements for the building and the transfer of materials and have participated in design meetings. I am pleased to say that our concerns for environmental protection for the collections have been met with a very positive response. In addition to the planning process, the site has been acquired, environmental testing has been carried out and the initial site preparation has been completed. While the final lease agreement has not been signed, we believe that this project has proceeded to a point where our concerns have been dealt with and an acceptable lease can be negotiated. In the Board's view halting the project at this late date with no alternative in sight for our collection storage needs would not be a prudent move.

Throughout the process the primary concern for the Board has been the best interests of the museum and the collections. Given the options available to the Museum over the last five years and with a view to what is likely to be offered in the future, the Board continues to believe that construction of the new Collections Storage Facility is a significant contribution to the protection of our heritage and will allow us to better discharge our responsibility to past and future donors and to the people of the province.

The third resolution of the Annual General Meeting was on the subject of Board membership. The Museum Act sets out the requirements and procedures for appointment to the Board and all appointments to the Board are made by the Lieutenant Governor in Council. The Board knows the importance of having interested and qualified members from a diverse heritage community and any suggestions and recommendations made by the membership will be welcome and will be forwarded to the Minister of Community and Cultural Affairs for consideration as vacancies arise in the Board membership.

The shared belief we all have for the importance of heritage in and for Prince Edward Island has the potential to make the Museum and Heritage Foundation a very strong organization. By focusing the passion and energy of many we can do much to protect, preserve and make known the province's heritage.

Yours truly,
Satadal Dasgupta, Ph.D.
Chair

"Dollars for one project while there are no dollars to save the other. What is real?"

as published in the Eastern Graphic - March 28, 2007
by Catherine Hennessey

Letter to the Editor
I believe if people in authority or in the development fields understood our Island history better, the distinctiveness of our communities would shine through and we would not be building and destroying the very special nature of this fair isle. Almost fifty years Dr. Francis Bolger came back to PEl with his doctorate in History to teach, for the first time, PEl history at the university level. Over the years he taught thousands of Islanders in his own special way. Some of those former students are even in government today. It was difficult to leave his class without caring deeply for our island. The visitors that I have met over the years and have had the privilege of introducing to so many aspects of this island, love what is real and I always leave those ,touring experiences feeling we're blessed here. The recently released TIAPEI study on Cultural Tourism might have a handle on that. I hope so.

Rural PEl like rural areas all over Canada is suffering today. They have huge problems to face in the 21st C, but if we jump to addressing those problems by snapping on urban to rural and building out of scales , without appreciation for what is special of rural we will soon have no there, there. We need a serious time of contemplation on this subject.

I am so very sorry that the PEl Museum and Heritage Foundation artifactory issue is pitting rural against urban, particularly in these days when both have such serious matters to discuss maturely. We have so many natural and historic strengths to build on, why are we wasting energy. Take for example the situation that could present itself this summer if this out of scale, snap-on-age building gets built on one side of the street in Murray River while they are tearing down a 1880's church across the street. Four million, what ever, dollars for one project while there are no dollars to save the other. What is real?

A serious plan as to how we should focus on saving the spectacular statements on our landscape that our ancestors built would be a far more productive exercise while building pride in Islanders. We must begin working on preserving our distinctiveness. Please stop before we spend anymore taxpayers dollars on building more Gateways Villages or Founders Hall that simple to do not speak to Islanders and not very clearly to our visitor.

Construction will start this spring

Labour Market Bulletin

Prince Edward Island
January / February 2007

Construction will start this spring in Murray River to build a new artifactory to store the more than 80,000 Island artifacts in the provincial collection. The building will include a public viewing area featuring historic materials from the collection. The building will be owned and operated by the Northumberland Community Development Corporation and the foundation will lease the artifactory space.

Executive Director appointed to PEIMHF

The BUZZ - April 2007
Atlantic archaeologist to head foundation

A permanent Executive Director has been hired to head the Prince Edward Island Museum and Heritage Foundation. Dr. David L. Keenlyside, Curator of Atlantic Archaeology at the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Ottawa, assumed the duties of Executive Director in March.

This is the first permanent appointment to the position since the retirement of Chris Severance, who served as Executive Director from 1992 to 2004. Dr. Keenlyside replaces Frank Butler, who served as Executive Director on an interim basis from January 2005 until July 2006 and Paula Kenny, who has been Acting Director since July 2006.

Dr. Keenlyside's appointment brings a well-known museum professional to the Island's main heritage institution. He is a graduate of UBC and the University of Calgary and has lectured and conducted research in PEl, NS, NB, Optario, Alberta, and BC He has extensive experience in the production of museum exhibits. His publications, ranging over thirty years, include reports on archaeological fieldwork on PEL He is a well-known contributor to The Island Magazine, published by Museum and Heritage PEl, has been a regular visitor to the province and has occasionally lectured here.

Dr. Keenlyside is based at the museum head office at Beaconsfield Historic House, 2 Kent Street, Charlottetown.

The Search for a Provincial Museum,

Just launched - our sister site called PEI History, has longer articles that may be of interest.

Our first feature is a history of museum development, by Catherine Hennessey, founding executive director of the PEI Heritage Foundation. Called The Search for a Provincial Museum, the illustrated article gives background to the current situation the provincial museum system finds itself in.

Can a no-win become a win-win?

as published in The Guardian March 29, 2007
Harry Baglole, Bonshaw

Editor:
It appears to me that the artifactory controversy represents a no-win situation for the main parties involved.

First of all, the Island’s very vocal ‘heritage community’ sees the removal of the main artifact-horde to Murray River as an action which might well pre-empt the creation of a much-needed high-quality and well-resourced central provincial museum facility. I share that concern.

Second, the beautiful community of Murray River stands to gain precious little from playing host to an artifact storage facility, with a couple of employees commuting from Charlottetown.
Here is my suggestion for a possible win-win situation.

Instead of accepting an inert artifactory, the community of Murray River might aspire to become the home of a major Island-mandated natural history museum, operated as a branch of the P.E.I. Museum and Heritage Museum. Such a facility has long been a dream of the Island natural history community. And what better location than Murray River, located in one of the Island’s most beautiful and unspoiled landscape regions? For starters, the museum could help preserve and interpret the Murray River Pines, a lovely natural area right in the village. It would also be a major attraction for southern Kings.

I have two related suggestions: first, that government commit to updating the artifact storage facilities in Charlottetown; and second, that a planning process be started to create a Prince Edward Island provincial museum worthy of the name. Its purpose would be to tell the Island story — truly and well — while providing core support to all the branch and community museums across the Island, including the P.E.I. Natural History Museum in Murray River.

All of this will cost more money, of course. But it’s been 30 years since any major new investment was made in Island heritage development. And the premier tells us that the Harper budget has been good to P.E.I.

Stratford a good site for provincial museum

as published in The Guardian March 28, 2007
SANDY MCMILLAN Chair, planning and heritage committee, Stratford

Editor:

All the discussion surrounding the artifactory relocation to Murray River has raised a larger question as to the value and need for a centralized provincial museum. The majority of opinion seems to support the idea of having one facility presenting a global display and interpretation of our Island history and that this facility should itself be centrally located. I would like to suggest that ‘centrally located’ casts a wide net.

Before the residents and elected officials of Charlottetown get too comfortable with the idea that a future provincial museum is a natural entitlement within their municipal boundaries, they should look to our nation’s capital for a preview of a possible local challenge.

Douglas Cardinal’s tour de force, The Canadian Museum of Civilization, is located not in Ottawa proper but directly opposite Parliament Hill, across the Ottawa River, in Gatineau, Que.

Following that example, what better place to site a provincial museum than on Stratford’s waterfront? Visitors would have the opportunity to view the birthplace of Confederation from almost the same vantage point our founding fathers first enjoyed as they sailed into Charlottetown Harbour in 1864.

Aside from Stratford’s waterfront being a visually spectacular and inspirational location, ideal for a significant cultural institution, there are other arguments in support of this proposal.

Stratford currently lacks a footprint in the Island tourism industry. A provincial museum would largely eliminate that deficit and serve as a much-needed economic anchor/catalyst within our waterfront core area.

Locating it in close proximity to the Hillsborough Bridge and the Trans-Canada Highway would ensure ease of accessibility by foot, bicycle or car to all points east, west and downtown Charlottetown.

Future spinoffs might include: a summer ferry service transporting tourists and residents to and from Peakes Quay; off-season the facility could serve as a cultural centre for our community.

Far from being a lost opportunity for Charlottetown, a Stratford-based provincial museum could in fact serve as a complementary economic engine benefiting both communities.

Bad idea, bad location for artifactory

as published in The Guardian March 26, 2007
BETTY AND CLAUDE MAURICE, Victoria, B.C.

Editor:

As life members of the P.E.I. Museum and Heritage Foundation we have just received a letter from the chairman, Satadal Dasgupta, written to the membership. We must record that we are sad about the location of the new artifactory.

Whatever the technical merits of its construction, they have nothing to do with where it is being built — and where it is being built seems without logic.

In the current climate of environmental awareness, it also seems preposterous to store the essence of the operation so many fossil-fueled miles away from those who work with it.

The cynical taxpayer also wonders how much paid travel time this location will entail, in perpetuity. Even in the unlikely event that all the artifactory workers eventually relocate to Murray River, all other staff and all suppliers will spend significant, paid time driving that would be much better spent doing their work.

We recognize the nature of the situation when the P.E.I. government wants a mini-mega project for Murray River more than it wants to look after the needs of museums and heritage, or to acknowledge the broader realities of the 21st century, but we respectfully submit that we do not support the bargain that’s been made.

Capital city should have spoken up earlier print this article

as published in The Guardian March 28, 2007
EDITORIAL STAFF The Guardian

Charlottetown city council may have some good arguments for wanting the provincial artifactory and central museum located in the capital, but why has it waited so long to advance them?

There’s been a flurry of controversy over the province’s decision to move the artifactory from its current location in a leaky storage facility in the West Royalty Industry Park to Murray River. Supporters of the decision say the village is a perfect site for it, but detractors claim it’s not central enough.

At a recent Charlottetown council meeting, councillors voted to ask the province to temporarily suspend plans to build an artifactory in Murray River in light of opposition expressed at recent public meetings sponsored by the Institute of Island Studies.

There’s certainly a good case for building an artifactory and central museum in the capital. But as Coun. Cecil Villard, who voted against the motion to ask the province to put the matter on hold, said: the city should have approached the province about this long ago.

Money for golf but not culture

Eastern Graphic - March 21, 2007
- editorial by Paul MacNeil

If you believe some of the objections raised to locating the provincial artifactory in Murray River, you could get the sense that the quaint village is at the end of the earth, far removed from all civilization.

Of course that is not true. Murray River will be a wonderful home for the storage of 80,000 pieces of Island history.

What is troubling about the whole artifactory debate is the complete lack of appreciation for protecting and preserving our heritage shown by the Binns government.

Much has been made about the $5.9 million artifactory. Opponents contend it should be built as part of a provincial museum, both of which should be housed in Charlottetown.

That argument is rubbish. We live in a modern society. We have modern roads. We have modern communications tools. We have modern fire fighting capabilities.

What the artifactory debate has shone a light on is government's lack of respect for culture both from a preservation and economic generation. perspective.

If the Northumberland Community Development Corporation were not able to access federal funding the artifactory would not be built. Forget a provincial museum, the Binns government doesn't think enough of protecting our cultural treasures to fund construction of a building to meet modern standards.

While the Binns government willingly squanders $20 million on the Dundarave golf course it relies on the federal government to protect our treasures. Shameful. But not surprising considering ours is the only government in the country not to consider the music industry as an industry worthy of industry specific support.

We have a long history of ignoring culture.

And what it is ignoring is that there is money to be made in culture. Look at the demographics. Look at the research. Far more money can be made in the preservation and promotion of culture than can ever be made in golf .

Unfortunately for Islanders there are few political photo-ops in the culture business. Which means the Binns government will continue to ignore important initiatives while sending politicians and senior bureaucrats off for publicity pictures at money losing golf events.

Blog puts museum debate online

Eastern Graphic - March 21, 2007
JANET MACLEOD

As the debate and discussion over PEl's provincial museum system and location of the artifactory is played out in public meetings and in the lettersto-the-editor section of Island newspapers, the dialogue has also moved online.

Ian Scott, former executive director of the PEl Museum & Heritage Foundation, and panelist at the Institute of Island Studies' recent public meetings, has been maintaining a blog about the issues.

Updated frequently, Mr Scott has compiled letters to the editor, and newspaper articles about the museum and the artifactory, and has posted details about three resolutions passed at the PEl Museum & Heritage Foundation AGM held last week.

Mr Scott's blog features opinions from many sides of this complex issue, and acts as an online database of published thought about the museum and artifactory.

So, if you want to learn more about the issues surrounding PEl's museum system, or become more engaged in the discussion, visiting the PEl museum blog at www.peimuseum.blogspot.com is a great place to start.

Artifactory set for Murray River: Binns

Eastern Graphic - March 21, 2007
JANET MACLEOD

The provincial artifactory is still headed for Murray River, even though some members of the heritage community and the public are upset at the decision.

"We haven’t changed any plans so far," said Jamie Richards, chair of the Northumberland Community Development Corporation.

And, neither has Premier Pat Binns, who lives in the Belfast/Murray River Riding.

"That decision was made some time ago," said Premier Binns on Monday.

At recent public heritage meetings held by the Institute of Island Studies, the general consensus was there should be a moratorium on moving the artifactory to Murray River until a review of the decision takes place.

"The collection is the heart and soul of a museum. It belongs with it," Dr Ann Howatt told the 15 people at the St Peter’s public meeting on Tuesday, March 13.

Premier Binns does not agree that the artifactory should be centrally located with the museum.

"The need for a provincial museum is a separate need from the artifactory," he said.

"The important thing is we’re taking 80,000 artifacts from a building that doesn’t have temperature and humidity control, and protecting the artifacts, which ensures we’ll be able to preserve the museum," Premier Binns said.

It was also suggested at the St Peter’s meeting that because the Northumberland Community Development Corporation is $800,000 in debt from the corporation’s golf course, the government is investing in the Murray River artifactory to help them pay that off.

Jamie Richards said this is not the case, and the artifactory development is "another venture altogether."

He did confirm that $800,000 is "pretty accurate" for the amount of the corporation’s debt.

"You don’t build golf courses and expect to be debt-free," he said.

The Northumberland Community Development Corporation is waiting to hear from ACOA about the funding they’re expecting to receive to build the 30,000 square foot development, of which 25,000 square feet will house the artifactory.
Premier Binns said the funding package for the artifactory is coming together, but couldn’t give a specific time frame when it will be finalized.

Mr Richards wonders where everyone opposed to the Murray River artifactory was last summer when they started the initiative.

"We had meetings with the heritage foundation and started planning," Mr Richards said.

"We’re prepared as a development corporation to put this facility here. Why weren’t (the people opposed to this) trying to get something else done before?"

Putting the artifactory in Murray River, Premier Binns said, "helps spread development around."

Premier Binns said if we took the view that everything in the whole county had to be centralized, all Federal government offices would be in Ottawa and Toronto, and none would be in PEI. He said it’s the same principle with the museum system.

"We’re the most decentralized province in PEI. We have the greatest number of our population in rural areas. We’re trying to maintain a balance," he said.

"We’ve made the decision to put it in Murray River," Premier Binns said. "It’s a good location."

P.E.I. history a story that must be told, says Ian Scott

By KATIE SMITH - THE GUARDIAN - March 22, 2007

The Island's history is a story that needs to be told and put on display, says a former executive director of the P.E.1. Museum and Heritage Foundation.

Ian Scott, who held that position from 1983-88 and who is still a foundation member, attended the foundation's recent annual general meeting.

He said one of the motions passed at the meeting stated how the board indicated that it "dreams of establishing a provincial museum where much of the Island history presently housed in our 'artifactory' could be i presented and interpreted to the public."

Scott agrees, saying not only does the province need a new artifactory, to replace the aging one in West Royalty, it should also build a museum to
display the artifacts in storage.

"I happen to believe very powerfully that our history is very important and that our natural history is an amazing story that has to be told and it needs to be told."

Scott said while speaking at several consultations over the past month, put on by the Institute of Island Studies which addressed the issue of the artifactory to be built in Murray River, he heard from several Islanders about what they'd like to see happen.

"Islanders are saying they want their heritage and they want to see it displayed."

The minister responsible for community and cultural affairs, Elmer MacFadyen, said there is no need for a provincial museum.

"There's no need for a centralized museum. We have seven museum sites across the province and we have a storage facility in Charlottetown that supplies artifacts to each of those facilities."

The province will accept findings from the Institute of Island Studies consultations and will consider them, he said.

"But in all likelihood, nothing will change."

Why I support a central museum

as published in The Guardian March 23, 2007 - TERRY RUDDEL Victoria

Editor:
The difficulty many people have about the location of the artifactory in Murray River is that it was done without public consultation, is impractical and favours the premier’s riding. The significance of the relocation is that it is refocusing a concern over the need for a provincial museum.

Although I am not a Charlottetonian, I favour a central museum for the reasons given below.

People promoting a central museum suggest a dynamic, educational and state of-the-art facility where Islanders can work with professionals to build a rich and informed environment that will contribute to their well-being. A provincial museum is seen as a hub of learning and an economic engine that stimulates enlightenment and growth. Contrary to Premier Binns’ statement that it would detract from local sites, a central institution would provide them leadership, artifacts and exhibitions while telling the bigger story and preserving a greater part of our heritage. A facility that is open throughout the year would complement our educational system by promoting the self-esteem, creative and critical thinking of the young and provide life-long learning and volunteering opportunities for adults. A central institution would also best serve the population.

The ideal museum is an establishment where civic issues can be broached and objects encountered by people interested in reflecting, while relaxing and socializing.

Here visitors discover how their predecessors met hardship and suffering, sometimes with courage and conviction and other times with indecision and indifference.

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, crossgenerational and cross-cultural centre of engagement where visitors interact with different voices and experiences.

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. These are some of the reasons we need to act now to create a provincial museum of natural and cultural history.