Meet the staff
Administration
Lisa Ramsey, Operations Manager
250-550-3150
lisa.ramsey@vernonmuseum.ca
Lisa’s experience in administration in both post-secondary education and small businesses make her the ideal operations manager for our dynamic community museum. As an avid sports enthusiast, coach, and referee, she is a true “team player,” and Lisa’s enthusiasm and energy are a huge asset to the organization’s development.
Facility and Business
Jenna Kiesman, Marketing Coordinator
jenna.kiesman@vernonmuseum.ca
250-550-3152
Jenna is an outgoing museum professional and event expert. A newcomer to the North Okanagan, Jenna comes to the Vernon Museum having completed her BA at UBC Vancouver in Anthropology & Museum Studies and post-graduate studies in Cultural Resource Management at UVIC. Her combined love of history and storytelling is reflected in the Museum’s marketing, social media and facility rentals.
Renée Rousseau, Ambassador
250-550-3140
Renee (she/Her) is a motivated senior student whose aspirations have no limits. She is fascinated with military history, radioactivity and many more subjects. She plans to seek higher education for a history-focused career path.
Alice Howitt, Ambassador
250-550-3140
Alice (she/her) is a local senior student. Historically (pun definitely intended), she has participated in local educational events such as the Heritage Fair at a provincial level. Alice is a recipient of the Lieutenant Governor’s Historical Literacy Award. Her focus is in the Archives, and she is currently working towards improving the accessibility of archival resources to Greater Vernon elementary school students.
Archives
Gwyneth Evans, Head of Archives
250-550-3146
gwyn.evans@vernonmuseum.ca
Gwyn (she/her) has recently moved into the position of Head of Archives, and is thrilled to be working alongside, and learning from, archivist Barbara Bell and Digital Archivist Marisa Parker-Hinz. She began at the MAV as a collection intern in 2018, after graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Honours History from UBC, and has grown through a variety of positions and opportunities. She is happy to be devoting her time and energy to preserving Vernon’s stories in this new role, while also completing a part-time Masters of Library and Information Studies from the University of Alberta.
Barbara Bell, Archivist
250-550-3144
Barbara has been preserving, recording and championing Vernon’s history for four decades with the MAV. She has a vast depth and breadth of knowledge about North Okanagan and is able to assist researchers in any number of topics with skill and tact.
Marisa Parker-Hinz, Digital Archivist
250-550-3140
Marisa has a Master of Archival Studies from UBC and has recently relocated from the Lower Mainland. She brings a wealth of experience from working in such institutions as the Museum of Anthropology, the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre, and the Residential School History and Dialogue Centre.
Collections
Carolyn Ben, Collections Registrar
250-550-3147
carolyn.ben@vernonmuseum.ca
Carolyn (she/her) hails from Toronto, the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples. There she completed her Masters of Museum Studies, followed by an internship here at the Vernon Museum & Archives. After many perilous adventures in the wider world she is happy to return to Vernon to serve as the Collections Registrar. Her favorite objects include a large stuffed mule deer with a bemused smile and a small cannon ball.
Programming and Curation
Laisha Rosnau, Curator of Visitor Experience
250-550-3148
laisha.rosnau@vernonmuseum.ca
Laisha is a multi-award winning novelist and poet, and an adjunct professor in Creative Writing at UBC Okanagan. Laisha’s passion for arts, culture, history, and the power of story inform all her curation, exhibition and program initiatives, from onsite exhibits to online programming and virtual exhibits.
Amy Timleck, Programming Lead
250-550-3151
amy.timleck@vernonmuseum.ca
Amy (she/her) is a proud Jane of all trades, always seeking new ways to learn, engage and be in relationship with one another. She’s spent her career in a variety of fields, from small non-profits to multi-million dollar startups, and most recently in frontline healthcare. Amy is a value-driven individual who is passionate about co-creating experiences through an equity-centered approach.
Gail Pifer, Community Liaison
250-550-3140
Curious, empathetic and compassionate are Gail’s approach to understanding people’s stories with respect for the principles of equity, diversity, accessibility, and reconciliation as her guides. As Community Liaison, Gail effectively collaborates with cultural groups, community organizations and educational institutions to increase interest and awareness of local history and museum programs.
Meet the Board
Executive Committee
Trish Watson, President
GVMChair@vernonmuseum.ca
Loretta Mulligan, Treasurer
GVMTreasurer@vernonmuseum.ca
Rod Drennan, Secretary
GVMSecretary@vernonmuseum.ca
Human Resources
HR@vernonmuseum.ca
Board of Directors
Maria Brunskill
Janice Buick
Sheldon Louis
Michael Nagy
Mark Pezzaro
Truman Spring
Lynda Shykora