Fire at Oshawa Museum and Minister Meilleur meets heritage sector representatives
December 19, 2003
Fire at Oshawa Museum
On a sad and disturbing note, we are reporting that a fire occurred at the Oshawa Museum's Guy House on Wednesday night. No one was hurt in the fire but the building, which housed the museum offices and archives, was badly damaged. As arson is suspected and the fire is still being investigated, the staff have been unable to assess the full extent of the damage. However, it is believed that the offices are a complete loss and the staff will not know about the archives until they are allowed back into what remains of the building.
We are concerned that this is not an isolated arson incident reported in the area and caution other museums to remain vigilant and take preventive measures. Staff at the Parkwood Estate are providing support to their Oshawa colleagues and the OMA invites them to let us know on the listserv how we can be of help. The OMA has been in contact and learned that at this time they would like any extra archival boxes and archival material you can send. In order to arrange shipment and quantities, please contact Jennifer Weymark through her email jenniferweymark@rogers.com. We also suggest that our members monitor the OMA listserv to see how we can be of assistance to our members.
Minister Meilleur meets heritage sector representatives
The Ontario Museum Association was present at a meeting with our new Minister of Culture, the Honorable Madeleine Meilleur, hosted for heritage stakeholders by the Ontario Heritage Foundation on Wednesday, December 17.
The OMA was pleased to hear that the government remains committed to its arts and culture platform and recognizes the importance of heritage and museums. The Minister did of course allude to the pressing financial pressures the government needs to address.
We were also encouraged that Minister Meilleur recognized the OMA for its work with museums and within the sector. Of note, the Minister also spoke of the need to "rewrite the Ontario Heritage Act to safeguard Ontario's heritage resources for future generations."
For your information, the OMA is sharing the full text of Minister Meilleur's speech below.
Remarks for Madeleine Meilleur Minister of Culture at the Ontario Heritage Foundation Minister's Reception
Ontario Heritage Centre (Gallery, 1st Floor) 10 Adelaide Street East Toronto, Ontario
Wednesday, December 17, 2003 6:21 p.m.
Thank you, Allan (Gotlieb), for that gracious introduction. I am delighted to be here.
It is a great honour to have been appointed Minister of Culture. This is the first opportunity I've had to meet with so many heritage stakeholders.
I'd like to thank the Ontario Heritage Foundation for organizing this reception, and all of you for taking time from your busy schedules to be here today.
As Minister of Culture, I can assure you that the McGuinty government shares your belief and commitment to heritage.
Preservation; protection; promotion. These three cornerstones of the heritage sector drive our efforts to safeguard Ontario's heritage now and in the future.
The fourth cornerstone is education. That's why initiatives like the OHF's Young Heritage Leaders Program are so important. By providing our youth with hands-on archaeological experiences through field schools, public archaeology digs, lectures and summer camps, we are protecting our heritage.
By recognizing the achievements of youth under 18 who have contributed to the preservation of local heritage, we encourage them to pursue their interests in built, cultural, and natural heritage, perhaps as a lifelong hobby or even as a career path.
It is wonderful to have some young representatives from the people here today from the Young Heritage Leaders Program.
The important role played by museums in the preservation and promotion of heritage is well known. Furthermore, organizations such as the Ontario Museums Association play an important role by providing programs and services to museums and heritage organizations across Ontario.
Other levels of government, First Nations groups, historical societies, natural heritage organizations, conservation authorities, advisory groups, private sector businesses and many volunteer groups - all these and more have a stake in preserving Ontario's past.
I am pleased to see representatives from stakeholder groups of every description - including community and volunteer organizations - here today.
Innovative and committed organizations provide the means by which Ontarians can protect and preserve links to our history and our past, anchor ourselves in the present and forge a vision of our shared future.
The province-wide success of Doors Open Ontario - which last year attracted participation from 27 communities and attracted almost half-a-million visitors to buildings usually closed to the public - stands as solid proof that cultural tourism initiatives can excite the imagination as well as stimulate local economies.
We will continue to work closely with our sister Ministry of Tourism and Recreation to identify further ways to improve heritage tourism in Ontario.
I have been given a mandate by our Premier to work in a variety of new ways to demonstrate that heritage matters.
We recognize that the Ontario Heritage Act needs to be revisited. We know that stakeholders need the support of an Ontario Heritage Act with teeth. We will rewrite the Ontario Heritage Act to safeguard Ontario's heritage resources for future generations.
We will be establishing a Minister's Advisory Council for Arts and Culture to create an open and ongoing forum for discussion about issues affecting the arts, culture and heritage sectors.
We have also been asked to work with municipalities to establish culture plans. Such plans should certainly address heritage planning issues, too.
Every person in this room has a role to play in the initiatives I've spoken about today as well as in raising public awareness about what's at stake.
I wish to take this opportunity to congratulate the Ontario Heritage Foundation and to commend your Board of Directors, your chairman Allan Gotlieb and Foundation staff for their contribution to protecting, preserving and promoting Ontario's heritage.
I'd like to thank you for being here today. You enrich Ontario - and Canada - in ways that benefit us all.
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