AHNB Annual Report 2024
The Association Heritage New Brunswick’s mission is to Promote the conservation, preservation, interpretation, and appreciation of New Brunswick’s heritage resources.
ADVOCACY
National Advocacy – Meeting with Canadian Heritage
Canada’s Museum Policy findings from the Nationwide consultation process.
- 93% of Canadians feel that Governments should place a great deal of importance on supporting Heritage institutions.
- All levels of Government should support heritage institutions
- The Canadian Public’s top priorities
1) Communicate stories from different perspectives
2) Opportunities for community participation (Community-first)
3) Opportunities for free entrance.
4) Indigenous relationships, reconciliation and repatriation
5) Sector Diversity
6) Legislative concerns
- Their top three suggestions for Government
1) Provide direct financial support (Core funding is key)
2) Provide funding to protect buildings and spaces
3) Provide employment opportunities for students and young Canadians.
Heritage Sector needs next 5–10 years Priorities for improved Federal Support
1) Financial stability 2) Infrastructure needs (including greening) 3) Collections Management
|
1) Operational costs 2) Project funding 3) Incentives to encourage financial donations |
1) Administrative burden to apply for funding 2) Deteriorating infrastructure 3) Attracting visitors / finding and retaining staff
|
1) Infrastructure 2) Digitization 3) Employment opportunities for youth |
1) Digitization or information technology 2) Community outreach 3) Fundraising skills
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1) Digital technology 2) Incentivize partnerships 3) Professional development |
What was heard from Indigenous participants
A renewed policy should help heritage institutions
- Acknowledge colonial past and share diverse stories with diverse audiences
- Engage First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples in the telling of their stories
- Support community-based access to belongings
- Create accessible inventories of Indigenous belongings held in collections
- Support cultural revitalization, repatriation, stewardship and collaborative management agreements
- Align with the rights outlined in UNDRIP
Indigenous partners underscore the importance of heritage institutions. They emphasize that funding is necessary to help heritage institutions undertake their critical role in advancing reconciliation—in Canada and abroad (UNDRIP)—through collections management and repatriation, storytelling, employment opportunities and community engagements.
Summary from stakeholder roundtable discussions
A renewed policy should provide:
- Modern language that supports mandates and objectives
- Operational/core funding for heritage institutions
- Financial support and guidance for the care and management of tangible and intangible cultural heritage •Funding and resources for digitization projects
- Resources and guidance for greener initiatives
A renewed policy should support:
- Development of shared virtual/digital platform for cultural heritage
- Training initiatives and the work of volunteers
- Partnerships/collaborations and leverage provincial networks
- Equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) through changes to policies, governance, funding, HR, collections, exhibitions and programming
- Contributions from private sector |
A renewed policy should also:
- align with UNDRIP (United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples), and EDI (Equality, Diversity & Inclusion) and OLMC (Official Language Minority Communities) best practices;
- modernize CCPERB (Canadian Cultural Property Export Review Board) and CPEIA (Cultural Property Export and Import Act);
- encourage the diversification of programs and funding through multiyear funding, flexible language requirements, reporting, and funding opportunities.
It has recently been reported that the National Museum Policy has been completed, but the lack of funding has caused delays for its release.
In the past year, the Executive Director participated in monthly meetings with the Provincial and Territorial Associations (PTMAs) to discuss specific issues facing museums across the country.
As a group we:
1) Continue to recommend the Dept. of Canadian Heritage to expand the Museums Assistance Program (MAP) to reach beyond collections-based activities.
2) Continue to promote the importance of a new National Museum Policy (NMP). In July 2024 the PTMAs recommend in a letter to the Hon. Pascale St-Onge, Minister of Canadian Heritage several key points.
A modernized NMP will aim to set long-term goals, guiding principles, and present a vision for ongoing and future federal government involvement with museums, including:
- a) Redefining museums to address long-standing gaps in federal funding programs that prevent many arts, culture, and heritage organizations from accessing funding;
- b) Advancing how existing programs like the Museums Assistance Program and Young Canada Works support equity, diversity, inclusion, and a rapidly changing workforce;
- c) Modernizing collections practices and taking action to support irreplaceable arts, culture, and heritage during climate emergencies;
- d) Developing reconciliation frameworks and centring Indigenous self-determination throughout Canadian museum and heritage policies, including changes identified by UN Declaration Act Action Plan;
- e) Providing strategic alignment between the Government of Canada and a sector that provides more than $8.6 billion annually in economic benefits for Canadians.
3) In the past year, the Canadian Museums Association (CMA), BC Museums Association (BCMA), and the Provincial and Territorial Museums Associations (PTMAs), presented a policy benchmarking report on government support for museums globally and across Canada. This benchmarking report examined eight key themes: Policy Frameworks, Technological Support, Educational Programs, International Collaboration, Conservation Efforts, Emergency Management, Marketing and Promotion, and Funding Models.
4) In the past year, a coalition of national and provincial heritage organizations, including AHNB signed a joint statement calling on the Government of Canada to take immediate steps to establish an Indigenous-led National Framework for Indigenous Cultural Heritage Rights.
We respectfully urge the Government of Canada to:
- a) Initiate the co-development process for the comprehensive National Framework.
- b) Commit to substantial, long-term funding for its full development and implementation.
- c) Establish an Indigenous-led task force to guide this process.
- d) Set a clear timeline for the framework’s completion and implementation.
- National Trust for Canada
The National Trust’s Heritage Reset in Action group meets regularly to gather insight into how the Heritage Reset should move forward with diversity and inclusivity at the forefront. The project has developed to the point that a website full of content has been released for the public, and a podcast is being released soon on key subjects in the heritage field. The group now meets to discuss the rolling out of material and how to best continue to address what the heritage community is concerned with.
Provincial Advocacy
1) Responses to AHNB’s survey questions were received from three party leaders and posted on our website prior the October election.
2) A working group was quickly formed after the Militia Arms Store at 11 Carleton St. in Fredericton was lit on fire in March. The structure was deemed unsalvageable by the Fire Marshall, but a group of local heritage advocates have been meeting regularly to strategize on methods to save the building. Several letters have been sent to encourage a compromise to save the structure, but so far DND has not committed to saving it and has denied access to a heritage professional for a second opinion. The group is working to access the fire report. The building still stands, despite months of being exposed to the elements.
HERITAGE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
1) Our 2023 Annual Conference in Sussex saw 76 member institutions attend our annual AGM and Conference over three days. We extend our appreciation to Co-Chairs, Melanie Wade and Katherine Biggs-Craft, and members of the Saint John Fundy Zone for their excellent work on the Conference Program.
Registration Revenue = $13,791.46
Sponsorships = $1,500
Silent Auction Revenue = $1,272.20
Conference Expenses = $8,784.65
Translation Services Expenses = $6,168.18
Total Surplus = $1,610.83
*We were fortunate to receive a bi-annual Federal Support for Interpretation and Translation Grant from the Dept. of Canadian Heritage totaling $3,174 to help with simultaneous translation costs.
2) CCI Workshop: Introduction to the Care of Textiles was conducted over 3 days with 20 AHNB members in attendance last February. The workshop showcased how to care for costumes and textiles commonly found in NB collections.
Other initiatives of the AHNB:
GRANTS RECEIVED
1) Province of New Brunswick, Department Tourism, Culture and Heritage – Annual Operations Grant for 2024 – $90,000
2) One Student Intern through the Office of Experiential Education at UNB was hired for 16 weeks. The program was supplemented by the MITACS Corporation and payroll was covered by UNB.
3) New Brunswick bilingualism support program (NBBSP) – Grant to cover simultaneous translation and other translation related for our 50th Anniversary Summit. ($6400).
4) RDC Grant to cover other costs associated with our 50th Anniversary Conference such as honorariums for speakers, program etc. (approx. $2500).
COLLECTIVE ACCESS DATABASE
CollectiveAccess invoices are issued every year around the 1st of August to cover the server expenses AHNB pays to OVHcloud.
AHNB COMMITTEE REPORTS
1) Strategic Planning Committee – Lawren Campbell, Chair
The Committee completed a 5 Year Business Plan which will be launched at the 2024 Summit.
2) Communications and Advocacy Committee – Gerry Gillcash, Chair
The committee focused on three projects in 2024. Following a survey/questionnaire that was sent to NB Party Leaders, the AHNB received responses from the PC Leader, the Green Party Leader, and the Leader of the Liberal Party. Their responses were added to the AHNB Website along with resources and templates for Community Museums and Heritage Places to work on their own Advocacy campaigns. Another successful project was to help develop a set of survey questions related to AHNB Services and Communication which was issued in April. The Committee also launched Heritage Lives Here! on the AHNB website which is dedicated to highlighting positive stories from the heritage sector province wide.
3) Museums Steering Committee – Evelyn Fidler, Chair
The AHNB Museums Steering Committee (MSC) took on two projects in 2024. The
first was assisting in drafting the Training Needs Survey. The second project was to support Kellie in drafting a MAP grant by developing a list of policies and templates to be placed on our website to enhance support for New Brunswick’s Community Museums. The MSC also assisted in drafting the AHNB Strategic Plan and Business Plan.
4) Built Heritage Committee – Marian Beyea, Chair
A – TOP TEN ENDANGERED PLACES LIST – In 2024, it was decided that the program would undergo extensive changes to better suit the needs of New Brunswickers. The re-launch of this program has yet to occur, but in the near future, the List will provide more flexibility to allow applicants to apply when they need it most.
B – DIRECTORY OF EXPERTISE AND MATERIALS – We continue to add to our directory of professionals and tradespeople.
C – INVENTORY – Erin Jeffries, our Built Heritage Officer has done excellent work over the past three years adding NB heritage sites each week to our Facebook Page. She has also been posting bi-weekly to highlight interesting heritage places as part of the project. This has served as an educational resource for New Brunswickers, emphasizing the importance of our Built Heritage. These heritage sites are subsequently entered into our database. The database has been put online as it currently stands by our summer student. Updates to this project will continue.
D – LOVE YOUR COVERED BRIDGES DAYS – Our annual event took place again this year. This year it was expanded to 11 days and included 5 participating events. Sawmill Creek Covered Bridge and the Albert County Historical Society had their annual celebration, and the Hartland Covered Bridge Market agreed to join us as they already hosted their event then. We added a maple butter tasting at Turtle Creek Bridge no. 4 with Fundy Maple and Fundy Biosphere, a BBQ at Nelson Hollow Covered Bridge, and a portrait taking opportunity at Kennebecasis River no. 7.5 with Butternut Valley Rural Community. We had three sponsors for this year’s events, Excellence NB, Fundy Maple, and Covered Bridge Potato Chips. The events were very successful and there is already talk of planning for next year.
The ongoing work of our Association continues through grant applications, reports, communications, and assistance to our members. The work and contributions of many people sustain the AHNB. We want to thank everyone who volunteers to serve on the Board as well as the volunteers who help to keep us moving forward. We’d like to express our sincere gratitude to the dedicated people who made our 50th Anniversary Summit a reality. Marion Beyea and Members of the River Valley Heritage Zone – Melynda Jarratt, Evelyn Fidler, and Joanne Barrett and Committee Chairs, Fred White and Darrel Bishop. Amazing work folks!
As we reflect on the past and look towards the future, we are grateful for the contributions of Alice Fudge, Samuel Albert, Joan Pearce, and Charles Ramsey who resigned or decided not to reoffer due to other responsibilities. We are grateful for their commitment and service as volunteers. Their dedication is admirable, and we will continue building on their legacy.
Respectively Submitted,
Lawren Campbell, President AHNB-APNB
Kellie Blue-McQuade, Executive Director AHNB-APNB
