As most Royal sa国际传媒 Museum visitors know, a lot has changed since a citizens鈥� petition inspired its creation in 1886.
Despite this provincial treasure鈥檚 steady expansion, however, some things haven鈥檛 changed, guests at a reception celebrating its 130th anniversary in the refurbished Newcombe Conference Hall were told last Tuesday.
鈥淭he government was being lobbied then, and I want you to know you鈥檙e being lobbied now,鈥� said sa国际传媒 Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development Peter Fassbender.
He prompted laughter while recalling what museum CEO Jack Lohman once told him before pledging the province鈥檚 continued support for what he termed 鈥渁n amazing jewel.鈥�
Fassbender was in a jovial mood, joking before his address that he hoped he wouldn鈥檛 be mistaken for dashing film star Michael Fassbender, which was how he was recently introduced at a wedding.
鈥淚鈥檓 not kidding,鈥� Fassbender said. 鈥淭he emcee didn鈥檛 know me. I said, 鈥業 don鈥檛 look as good as him, either with my clothes on, or with my clothes off.鈥�
When Lohman wasn鈥檛 graciously welcoming his guests and sharing his vision, the diplomatic CEO revealed his own sense of humour.
Displaying the 1886 petition that he said Matthew Baillie Begbie 鈥済alvanized citizens 130聽years ago to sign,鈥� Lohman noted that one of the 鈥渟uperb and illustrious names鈥� on it was Shakespeare.
鈥淣ot that one!鈥� he quipped. 鈥淚t was Noah Shakespeare, who was a relative, I understand, during the Cariboo gold rush. I understand he didn鈥檛 write as well as his ancestor.鈥�
Lohman said he has always felt there were three turning points in the museum鈥檚 history 鈥� 鈥渇our if you include the appointment of Peter Fassbender as minister of culture.鈥�
They were the decision to rebuild the museum as part of sa国际传媒鈥檚 centennial; the merger with the sa国际传媒 Archives in 2003, which meant the museum would acquire more than 1,000 pieces of art by sa国际传媒 artist and author Emily Carr; and the discovery of the Douglas treaties in the sa国际传媒 Archives.
Lohman also showcased letters from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Heritage Minister Melanie Joly.
There was no shortage of illustrious guests at the reception, which continued in the Clifford Carl Hall, where some rarely-seen museum treasures were displayed. Highlights included five Carr paintings, including Tanoo Q.C.I., and a ballot box from the 1930s that Lohman said 鈥渟peaks to women getting the vote.鈥�
Notable guests included Brazilian Consul-General Ernesto Rubarth; Sister Patricia Donovan of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Ann; former museum CEO Pauline Rafferty; Axel Meisen, past president of the Canadian Commission for UNESCO; sa国际传媒 artist, storyteller and philanthropist Arthur Vickers; and former corporate board chairman John Walton.
Stefan and Magda Opalski, who after restoring Wentworth Villa will soon open their Architectural Heritage Museum, reiterated their gratitude to RBCM, and particularly archivist Frederike Verspoor for her assistance.
Said Magda: 鈥淪he was merging several archives that frankly, for a non-initiated person, is challenging. It鈥檚 an old system, very chaotic with various catalogues. She tutored us.鈥�
After tipping his hat to the historic work of the museum鈥檚 curators, scholars, archivists, technicians and more, Lohman expressed excitement about what lies ahead in the digital age.
鈥淒igital technology means researchers and scholars can have access to absolutely everything,鈥� he said.
鈥淲e鈥檙e trying to achieve a very vibrant dynamic. You鈥檝e got to digitize everything, but of course that is going to take some time.鈥�
He said the impact of being highly-rated online through sites such as Trip Advisor cannot be underestimated. 鈥淵ou cannot ignore social media, especially when you鈥檙e trying to create a museum that touches everybody.鈥�
It鈥檚 all part of enhancing the appeal and longevity of a knowledge institution that he said is an integral part of the creative economy.
鈥淥ur ambition is to create one of the best museums in the world, and we won鈥檛 stop until we鈥檝e done it.鈥�
