FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PEI Community and Cultural Affairs
CHARLOTTETOWN, PEI -- 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, will be assuming the duties of Executive Director in March.
The announcement was made today by Dr. Satadal Dasgupta, Chair of the Board of Governors, and Hon. Elmer MacFadyen, Minister of Community and Cultural Affairs. “This appointment is a crucial step in strategic planning for the museum,” says Dr. Dasgupta. “We look forward to Dr. Keenlyside's arrival.”
Minister MacFadyen also welcomed Dr. Keenlyside to Prince Edward Island and to the PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation. “Dr. Keenlyside’s colleagues at the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Ottawa highly recommend him and praise him for his interpersonal, organizational and project management skills, his work ethic, and his ability to foster a good working relationship with crews, volunteers and exhibition teams,” he said. “We look forward to working with him to further enhance the services of the Foundation.”
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, former Deputy Minister of Tourism, 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.
Minister MacFadyen expressed appreciation to both Mr. Butler and Ms. Kenny for their dedication to the foundation. “Through their interim roles as Executive Director, they have each helped enhance the protection, preservation and promotion of the people, places and artifacts of Prince Edward Island culture,” he said.
The new Executive Director of Museum and Heritage PEI will be based at the museum head office at Beaconsfield Historic House, 2 Kent Street, Charlottetown, effective March 5, 2007.
BACKGROUNDER
Dr. David L. Keenlyside:
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 PEI, NS, NB, Ontario, Alberta, and BC.
• His responsibilities at the Canadian Museum of Civilization (CMC) extended beyond archaeology to a five-year term with the Children's Museum as a member of the planning team and curator.
• He has lectured and presented papers at conferences across Canada and internationally, and has credits on a number of film and CD-ROM presentations.
• He has extensive experience in the production of museum exhibits, particularly in collaboration with First Nations groups.
• His publications, ranging over thirty years, include reports on archaeological fieldwork on PEI.
• He is a well-known contributor to The Island Magazine, published by Museum and Heritage PEI, has been a regular visitor to the province and has occasionally lectured here.
• His personal interests include photography, astronomy, woodworking, model building, historical architecture, railway history, hiking, golf, palaeontology and natural science, philately, and antique automobile restoration.
Museum and Heritage Foundation:
• The purpose of the Museum and Heritage Foundation is to study, collect, preserve, interpret and protect the human and natural heritage of Prince Edward Island for the use, benefit and enjoyment of the people of the province.
• The work of the Museum is under the direction and control of a Board of Governors consisting of eight members. The Executive Director reports to the Board of Governors.
• The PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation operates seven sites across the province, supports educational and publishing programs and offers a wide variety of exhibits and special events to Islanders and visitors.
For additional information, contact Paula Kenny.
