PE: Communities still vying for provincial museum

City of Summerside

As published on July 29, 2011 by The Journal Pioneer

by Mike Carson

Deputy Mayor Bruce MacDougall said Summerside made its presentation to the Province last year promoting the city as the logical location for a provincial museum.

In the 2010 throne speech, the Prince Edward Island government promised a celebration that would reach out to all Canadians and develop a legacy for the future.

That legacy is expected to be a provincial museum.

Since that announcement communities across the province, including the City of Summerside have been vying to be the home of the provincial museum.

Deputy Mayor Bruce MacDougall said the city made its presentation to the Province last year promoting Summerside as the logical location for a provincial museum.

"If there's going to be a new provincial museum on P.E.I. we'd like to see it located in Summerside," MacDougall said. "We haven't heard anything... concerning the new museum."

There has been some suggestion that the Province break up the museum and have regional facilities reflecting that area's culture and heritage.

"We're looking for the whole thing," added MacDougall.

After the plan was announced, the Province did send out for proposals for the new museum but the projected costs were high, in excess of $50 million.

Harry Holman, director of culture, heritage and libraries with the Department of Tourism and Culture, said the plan is still in place.

"We're still looking," he said. "We did have a very productive meeting with the City of Summerside last year, but there's been no decisions or advances from where we were at that time.

"We're considering the approach. The Province remains committed to a provincial museum, but it has to fit in with the other plans and priorities of the province."

The Province is looking at putting forward a proposal to the federal government to make the provincial museum part of the legacy for the 150th anniversary of the Confederation Conference.

"That's certainly a possibility as the planning for the 150th moves forward that is one of the areas where there will be some discussion," Holman said. "David MacKenzie has just been appointed, but the role that he's playing is with the activities rather than the legacy.

MacKenzie, the outgoing CEO of the Confederation Centre of the Arts, will begin his new assignment on the anniversary celebration in early August. His early priorities will be to work closely with various levels of government to draft a vision framework and business plan for the 150th celebrations.

David MacKenzie to lead 2014 celebrations

David MacKenzie, right, outgoing CEO of the Confederation Centre of the Arts, with Wayne Hambley, chairman of the board of the Confederation Centre of the Arts. MacKenzie will be heading 2014 celebrations for the province. His new post starts in August. Guardian file photo

July 18, 201

As published by The Guardian -

The man who has been at the helm of the Confederation Centre of the Arts for the past 10 years has a new role leading celebrations to mark the 150th anniversary of the historic meeting of the Fathers of Confederation.

David MacKenzie, the outgoing CEO of the Confederation Centre, will begin his new assignment in early August. His early priorities will be to work closely with various levels of government to draft a vision framework and business plan for the 150th celebrations.

“We need to ensure 2014 fits into a broader national celebration leading to 2017 and to hear from Islanders about a shared plan for this celebration,” MacKenzie said.

In the 2010 throne speech, the Prince Edward Island government promised a celebration that will reach out to all Canadians, and develop a legacy for the future.

That legacy is expected to be a provincial museum.

“We are delighted that a person of David’s background and skills has agreed to take on this important role,” said Premier Robert Ghiz.

“We believe that 2014 will be an important and special year not only for Islanders, but Canadians alike as we build towards 2017 which will mark the 150th anniversary of the founding of Canada.”

MacKenzie has served as the CEO of the Confederation Centre for the past 10 years. Prior to that he served as the founding executive director of the P.E.I. Capital Commission, which focused on developing and celebrating the Birthplace theme. He also managed Atlantic Canada House at the recent 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

“We need to ensure 2014 fits into a broader national celebration leading to 2017 and to hear from Islanders about a shared plan for this celebration,”- David MacKenzie

He has been an industry leader having served on the P.E.I. Tourism Advisory Council, the City of Charlottetown’s task force on arts and culture, the Canadian Arts Summit and the board of directors for Tourism Charlottetown.

MacKenzie’s gig with the province is a full-time, paid position. He’ll stay on with the province through to 2014.

Following work with federal partners, the provincial government will begin an extensive public engagement in the planning of the 2014 celebrations.

“To have a successful 150th celebration requires planning, vision and execution,” Ghiz added.

“It also requires being able to mobilize all of the key partners including the federal government, the community and industry to work together towards this goal. I look forward to working with others to make 2014 a special year as a lead up to 2017.”