“If you come, then we can do it”, Gabriola Museum and Historical Society (GMHS) President Mary Wohlleben enthuses about the society’s plans for the Gabriola Museum.
During a recent interview at the museum, which appears to have gotten its second wind just in time for its 15th birthday party July 31, Wohlleben launched into a litany of plans the society directors have in mind, from improvements to the building and displays, to new projects that need doing, and “interesting and unique presentations” they want to sponsor.
Wohlleben said: “We have so many ideas … I could easily see this museum … being a place that people would say ‘we have to go and take a look at it’ when they have visitors or company, or ‘I haven’t been to the museum for a while I wonder what’s up there now’ ”.
The society wants to update the museum so that the walls and cabinets provide backdrops that accentuate the displays, while artefacts and images, some of which have never yet been displayed will be cycled through the museum, to keep the exhibits fresh.
Wohlleben described a future layout for the museum that will see the images and exhibits flowing from the ancient to more current history of the island, and will highlight carved replicas and rubbings of petroglyphs throughout the museum.
Wohlleben said “It’s all about respect”, when asked about how First Nations feel about the use of petroglyph images by the museum. She said out of respect for what the images represent the museum will not make a profit from them. She noted that the rubbings that have been used to recreate the petroglyph images and carvings were done many years ago and have actually preserved some of the images. She said there were many talks and a close relationship was built between the First Nations and the museum during the creation of the museum’s Petroglyph Park, which features reproductions of the original petroglyphs.
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| Log hauler on display on museum grounds. ~ Photo by Chris Bowers |
Wohlleben said that experts in the fields of anthropology and archaeology who have been in contact with the society also respect the work the museum is doing “… they actually say that they are impressed”. She said that the society wants to bring many of those experts to Gabriola to give presentations on behalf of the museum, and they are eager to come.
Wohlleben said the society, which recently had its Annual General Meeting, had a good year last year. This was especially true, she said, given the recent economic downturn, the number of other societies on the island that are competing for financial support and volunteers, and the fact that there is no coordination between island societies to ensure their community fundraising events are not competitive with each other.
Wohlleben said that the year’s success was due in part to the successful “Joined Hands” exhibit – which features Louisa Marelee Hoiowaat Silva and Jane Janimetga Jeameya Degnen, two First Nations women who were among the founding mothers of Gabriola Island settlers - and in part because the society has responded to community suggestions by being out in the public more, making changes to their exhibits, and changing their hours to make it “Gabriola accessible”. People are beginning to notice these changes, she said.
Wohlleben said that the board has a full agenda going into the next year. She said the board runs smoothly thanks to the different kinds of expertise board members bring to it. People seem to be attracted to the museum board because it affords them an opportunity to do work about which they feel passionate, Wohlleben added. As an example she mentioned member John Poirier, an archival photographer who has done “hours of work for free”. She said a replica Poirier created of a photo album of island native Gabriolan Gordon McDonald’s family is “fabulous”.
As for herself, Wohlleben said that in the past she worked as a data analyst for the Attorney General’s office. She said that being able to find lost bits of family history for people was part of what makes the work she does for the society so thrilling. She is delighted that she is able to do the parts of her old job that she most loved. She said that it is also exciting to be part of writing the history of the area.
Wohlleben said that the museum board is looking for people who have “an eye” for setting up displays, people who enjoy painting, or who like talking to the public, but that there are many other things that people could do, depending on their skills and passions. She said that people who are interested in volunteering can call the museum and leave a message or email
info@gabriolamuseum.org.
