Barrhead Centennial Museum opening is uncertain

The question of whether the Barrhead Centennial Museum will open this summer is still to be determined.

If it does, it won't be until mid-July at the earliest, if it does at all.

That is what the museum president Anna Churchill told the Town and Country This Week.

Under Stage 1 of the province's economic relaunch plan museums and art galleries were allowed to reopen on May 19. 

However, due to difficulties ensuring the not-for-profit society follows the province's public health guidelines and restrictions the board decided to postpone deciding on opening until the end of June.

According to the province's COVID-19 guidance sheet for museums and art galleries, it lists 11 measures facilities should take to ensure physical separation or distancing including posting internal and external signage indicating physical distancing and hygiene protocols, providing hand sanitizer at entrances and exits, establishing one-way flow patterns whenever possible, setting capacity limits to allow 10 square metres per patron, installation of acrylic barriers as well as appropriate staffing to ensure capacity limits and other protocols are met.

The guidance sheet also states that all high touch displays must remain closed, washrooms must have frequent cleaning regimes and a response plan should a staff member or patron contract COVID-19.

Part of the reason for the delay was because Churchill wanted to consult with similar facilities in Westlock, Onoway and Fort Assiniboine.

In Westlock, both the Tractor and Pioneer museums are open as is the Onoway Museum, but the Fort Assiniboine Friendship Centre and Museum remains closed.

"One of the problems we have that the Westlock museums don't face is that our artifacts are not properly distanced from visitors," Churchill said.

She added that if they were to open to the public, she would be concerned that they would have to clean the artefacts.

"They can't be cleaned like ordinary countertops," Churchill said, noting the Alberta Museums Association has strict cleaning guidelines for items.

She also that although the museum acts as the communities Tourism Information Centre, they do not receive any funding from the province.

In June, Churchill said they had not been contacted by Alberta Tourism on whether they would continue in the role.

"That is because it is an informal service," she said. "When people come into the museum we try to have information about other things to do in the region, but now most of that is available to people online."

Churchill noted the service is something she knows the Town of Barrhead expects and appreciates and is one of the reasons why the municipality gives them an annual grant.

"It is the same with the [County of Barrhead] the bulk money they give us [as part of an operating grant] is for tourism and to a smaller extent the museum itself," she said.

Having said all that, the thing she has to consider is the safety of the board itself. Like most non-profit groups the Barrhead Centennial Museum's operation comes down to its volunteers, which is mostly its board.

"They are mostly seniors and if the museum is opened up to visitors especially from outside the area because they are more vulnerable [to COVID-19 and its effects] it makes the decision more difficult," Churchill said.

In any given summer (from the start of June to the end of August), the museum typically sees about 500 visitors.

Barry Kerton, TownandCountryToday.com

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