Tuesday November 2, 2010

Feature Story

Getting Back To The Future

City honours museum director Ron Denman

Paul Ferguson presents Chilliwack Museum director Ron Denman with a token of appreciation for his quarter-century of dedication.

very city has a museum but none have a Ron Denman. Denman's the guy that knows everything about the history of Chilliwack. He's good at it and been doing it for 25-years and  when someone wants to know something about a place, a building or even a person in town, then he's the "go-to guy" as Coun. Pat Clark referred to him on Thursday during a ceremony in his honour.

Clark was at the Chilliwack Museum, along with about 50 others, to show their appreciation for director Ron Denman and his 25-years of service to the community through his work at the facility.

"I know that the staff and volunteers here work very hard to share that knowledge with the community but it does take a leader in order to keep that happening and Ron's been the leader and we respect you and honour you very much for the work that you've done in that regard," said Clark.

Speaking to Denman, Clark said that "We in Chilliwack value our history and want to share it with people and we appreciate what you do to perpetuate that."

"In Sto:lo culture, I understand that people may be called unworthy if they have lost their sense of place, their sense of knowledge of history and of stories of their family and around us, but can become worthy if they're taught that and know it and know how they connect in the world and so I would like to thank you for helping so many people become worthy people in Chilliwack," she explained.

His job as director is one that still excites him and one can see that from the sparkle in his eyes and gleam in his smile when he talks about his love.

"This 25-years has just gone by incredibly fast," Denman told the Voice.

"I don't think there's been too many moments when I haven't enjoyed people and the work that we do in preserving Chilliwack's history. I think what we've done has been important for the community and I'm really pleased to have been a part of all of it."

Denman is always looking into the future and right now what he's doing next, and is excited about, is a new exhibit opening at the museum in April 2011 about the Fraser River.

"It's about the river that goes right by our doors here in Chilliwack, so we're dealing with what's called the Gravel Reach section, and the focus of the exhibit is on how important that section of the river is to all manner of life forms including us as humans with fish and wildlife and birds. So really, the focus is the river is important to all of us and we need to remember that."

Denman's been busy interviewing people and putting together the presentations which will be a multi-media experience.

"We've got models being made of different sections of the river to explain why they're important, lots of photographs, written text as usual and then a lot of objects to illustrate the points that are being made."

The speeches were initiated by Fred Feistmann, President of the Chilliwack Museum and Archives and he told the audience, who were mostly past and present board members and a few volunteers, that he was happy to be there celebrating a quarter-century and referring to Denman as "our good buddy".

Sto:lo representative Dave Schaepe was filling in for Chief Joe Hall who wasn't able to attend said that he was pleased Denman "achieved a place on the Wall of Honour" referring to the wall behind him that has been dedicated to the photos of some of Chilliwack's earliest residents.

"It's an honour to have worked directly with Ron and other members of Sto:lo nation directly over the years to have helped out and put together pieces over the years and to curate exhibitions that portray the very very deep and rich history that is here," said Schaepe known also as "Dr. Dave."

                                          Ron Denman then and now.

"There is a need to have this as the central part of the community and he has had to fight for that, I've seen him do that over the years to ensure the story is being told."

"Our gratitude and our hands go out to you, Ron, it's a pleasure to work with you and I appreciate from the Sto:lo nations point of view, the work that you have done and extended your hand to offer us opportunity to share this experience," said Schaepe as he handed Denman a gift bag from Sto:lo.

Paul Ferguson has worked with Denman for two-decades and says his boss has worked magic.

"There's lots to say about Ron and I think one of the most important things that I can say is that you know we spend a lot of time looking to the future about what we could do or what we could be doing or what might be able to be done, but it's just as important to look back at what we've accomplished under your leadership and that's many things."

Ferguson added in his closing remarks that "I've only been here about 20-years but you must remember that Ron is instrumental for the move from Evergreen Hall where the museum used to be to this location where he has overseen 3 permanent exhibits downstairs to over 60 exhibits upstairs. It's a huge accomplishment and not something that's been done at a lot of other sites."

Brenda Patterson talked about how valuable the space that the museum provides their artists for shows.

"I've always been very appreciative of the support we've had from the Chilliwack Museum to put our art shows in this beautiful, beautiful room. It's a room that will change it's feeling depending on what goes on the walls and it's almost like home to me so thank you very much Ron for giving your support to the Chilliwack Visual Artists Association."

Denman also received a letter of thanks from the Honourable Lt.-Gov. Steven Point.

The history of the museum itself in the city is that about 52-years ago, a handful of residents got together around a table and started talking about a museum. It began in the police station and in 1971 the archives was setup at Evergreen Hall and over time the facility became too small to house the city's antiquities and extra storage rooms in other places had to be acquired.

Last summer an expansion project worth almost just under half a million dollars was approved and presently the project is in full swing and should be complete by January next year.

Fred Feistmann said they were fortunate to have Denman as director and talked about how well the group functions prior to presenting him with an envelope.

"We're all so blessed, you are blessed and the community is blessed to have had a board that really does care and today we have a little different board than in the past and I have to tell you that as time progresses and we do things a little bit differently, the board changes and (goes through a) metamorphosis and we're getting these younger people on board, thank heavens, they're going to pick up where we leave and step down and it's really satisfying for me, I guess that's why I still do this, is to be able to work with Ron and his staff and then with the board in such a harmonious manner that we do."

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