Vegreville Regional Museum Facing Uncertain Future

Vegreville Regional Museum Facing Uncertain Future

Michelle Pinon News Advertiser

The Town of Vegreville’s recent decision to cut $70,000 worth of funding to the Vegreville Regional Museum has created uncertainty around its current operation and its future in the community.

Also contributing to the uncertainty is the fact that the museum’s 10 year lease with the town is set to expire in May. The town owns the land and the buildings which currently house nearly 10,000 artifacts and 100 pieces of machinery.

Ted Wilson, President of the Vegreville Regional Museum Society, said the town’s decision came as a total shock. “We were totally blindsided.” Wilson, along with fellow board members were personally notified by Mayor Tim MacPhee of the decision during a Nov. 20 board meeting.

Wilson said Councillor Dave Berry, council’s representative for the museum, phoned him and said the mayor wanted to meet with the board, but no reason for the meeting was divulged at that time. “We had no warning whatsoever.” He called the message “blunt” and “harsh” in its delivery, and up until that point, the museum had always received “great support” from the town.

“It’s a horrible way to treat volunteers,” added Wilson as they, (long-standing board members) have contributed hundreds of volunteer hours as well as financial contributions to the museum. In a letter dated Dec. 2, that was written on behalf of board members, and addressed to the mayor and council, it stated: “His blunt tone and harsh message delivered to our board of longserving, dedicated volunteers and curator, was a shock. It indicates a stunning lack of comprehension and regard for the significant investments of time, work and donations of community people who have given in good faith to preserve the history of our community.

Since 1968, when the idea of a community museum was first formally presented, the town has shown strong support. The sudden drastic measures, though, show a lack of comprehension of the serious public trust responsibilities which a museum has with the public and the government, and the time required to shift a museum’s operations, if necessary, in congruence with public trust responsibilities.”

That letter also included: a request for grant funding of $35,000 for 2020, to have the museum site lease to be extended to December 31, 2020, and to have collaborative short-term and long-term planning in respect to operations and holdings, and if the town has other plans for the site to consider alternative locations including the former RCMP station and the library gymnasium.

Wilson said he, along with the board members, were told the decision for the town’s discontinuation of funding was due to cutbacks by the provincial government. Wilson does not believe that is the real reason for the town’s decision which he thinks is politically driven, and is because of the town’s desire to facilitate and house a cannabis operation. Mayor MacPhee flatly denied the accusation, and said the town had no intention of using the land or the buildings for that purpose.

Wilson said the town wants to discuss “occupancy options” with the society during this “transition period” with the museum.

During the Jan. 13 meeting of town council, a motion was passed to establish an ad-hoc Vegreville Museum Transition Committee that would include both town and board representatives. The intent of the ad-hoc committee would be to work together during the transition phase and to map out a plan going forward.

Wilson said he’s only interested in meeting with the town if it’s regarding the museum occupying the site. “We have a legal right to occupy the site.” As far as the artifacts, Wilson said all of the artifacts are owned by the people of Alberta and governed by provincial regulations. “The museum is the caretaker of the artifacts. They were entrusted to us.”

Wilson has also met with Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville MLA Jackie Armstrong-Homeniuk to discuss the current situation and has asked her if she would be willing to attend a meeting with the board and the town in the near future. “She’s extremely concerned about this as well,” added Wilson. MLA Armstrong-Homeniuk said she would be willing to meet with the two parties. She did point out, “It’s a municipal issue.” A date for that meeting has not been set.

MacPhee said he is willing to sit down with Wilson and the MLA, and he’s hoping the ad-hoc committee could also have a meeting by the end of January. MacPhee did make it clear that he, and the town are willing to work with the board, but that concessions would have to be made.

MacPhee said throwing money at the problem would not provide a solution. He said the town can’t afford to continue funding the museum at the provincial level which it’s currently at. “It’s $200 per visitor which is subsidized by the taxpayer.” He said the town pays for all of the bills and maintenance associated with the facility. As the museum operates now, MacPhee said it does not create economic spin-offs in the community.

“We need to make changes,” said MacPhee. “We need to make it more active.” There are several ideas in regards to that, some of which might possibly include: more demonstrations, events, children’s programs, camping, corn maze, long table dinners, etc. He would also like to invite stakeholders to discuss things with them as well.

As far as funding on the museum’s side of things, Wilson said like many other rural museums in Alberta, they run on a shoestring budget. The museum receives a yearly grant of $5,000 from the County of Minburn. The town’s funding dropped from $70,000 a year to zero dollars in 2020. In terms of provincial grants, Wilson said they have received a few of them, but not on a yearly basis.

MacPhee said the town does respect the board and its member’s years of service; but times have changed, and they need to change with the times. “There has to be some sort of consensus.” MacPhee still is hopeful they can resolve the situation.