2015/2016 Year in Review

As seems to be the case every year, this year in review highlights how much has been happening at MOA. The museum has continued to improve over the past year. Plans for much needed repairs to the building are well underway, such as the repairs to the roof and HVAC system.  We have also planned exciting new exhibits, community partnerships, and better management of the Lawson Site.

The past year has seen tremendous growth in the museum’s reach through our social channels and community outreach. We’ve established a strong partnership with Huron College and First Nations studies at Western University that has resulted in major exhibits at the museum this past year. We’ve increased opportunities for students in various programs to complete internships and research projects at the museum. We’ve also begun building a partnership with the Huron-Wendat Nation and the Jesuits in English Canada to create a Community Memories exhibit about Ste. Marie II. This is an exciting partnership, and the resulting online and physical exhibit will explore a story of struggle, sacrifice, and change during one of the most significant periods in early Canadian History. We have also been able to more actively promote the work of Ontario Archaeological Society Chapters, and look forward to working even more collaboratively with the OAS in the coming year.

 

 

Year Ahead

With support from the City of London SPARKS grant and community partners, we are also creating new interpretive gardens outside of the Lawson Village that will explore indigenous plants and their traditional uses. This will enable us to make changes in the Lawson Village to improve how the site is interpreted and managed both from an archaeological and community perspective.

As we reach out into our communities through a variety of ways – social media, our web site, and programming – we will continue working to build exceptional experiences that excite and inspire people to actively engage in how we build appreciation and respect for Ontario’s diverse cultural heritage.

If you want to read more about everything that happened at MOA this past year, check out our 2016 Annual Report, where you can find details on the many programs and activities undertaken and the successes we’ve had.

I am grateful to the museum’s staff and volunteers for all their hard work and dedication as nothing we’ve accomplished would have been possible without them. MOA is also fortunate to have a dedicated and supportive Board of Directors along with a supportive community. I would like to thank Western University, the City of London, London Heritage Council, the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Sport and Culture, and all our funders, sponsors, and most importantly donors for all your support this past year.

– Joan