Skip to content

Discovery Centre director leads way for museums in B.C.

What's happening Around Town
Fraser River Discovery Centre
Catherine Ouellet-Martin, executive director of Fraser River Discovery Centre, is grateful the City of New Westminster has agreed to advance the centre a grant for 2016.

The executive director of Fraser River Discovery Centre will be lending her expertise to the B.C. Museums Association Council.

Catherine Ouelett-Martin has been elected to a two-year term on the council, which has represented the institutions, trustees, professional staff and volunteers of the B.C. museum and gallery community and related communities in the heritage sector since 1957.

“I am very enthusiastic about joining the BMCA council and playing a more active role,” said Ouelett-Martin in a press release.

“The organization plays a central role in the rich cultural sector in B.C. and has provided invaluable professional support to the organizations I have worked in over the years, including the Fraser River Discovery Centre.”

At its annual general meeting in October, members voted unanimously to change the bylaws of the organization and increase the number of councillors to 13. Directors come from programs and facilities across B.C.

“I am happy to serve, and my first year on council promises to be very busy and exciting with the presentation of the association’s annual conference in New Westminster next year,” said Ouelett-Martin.

Chevron helps students gas up

Chevron Canada is donating $5,000 in gas cards to support students in financial need at Douglas College.

The gift will help to reduce the costs to travel to practicum placements for students enrolled in the faculty of child, family and community studies. Each year, hundreds of students in the faculty participate in practicum placements at schools, group homes, community centres and other sites across Metro Vancouver and beyond.

“We are very grateful for this generous contribution from Chevron Canada,” David Magnuson-Ford, director of development with the Douglas College Foundation, said in a press release.

“Many of these students already struggle to pay for their education, and this gift will help to ease their financial burden.”

Adrien Byrne, who works in policy, government and public affairs with Chevron Canada, said the company is proud to invest in educational institutions, community organizations and local charities because it’s learned that its success is deeply linked to the community’s success in places where it operates.

“Chevron welcomes the opportunity to support Douglas College students, particularly as they engage with critical health and social services in various communities throughout the Lower Mainland,” Byrne said.

The child, family and community studies programs include behaviour intervention, child and youth care, classroom and community support, disability and applied behaviour analysis, early childhood education, sign language interpretation, therapeutic recreation and youth justice.

Do you have an idea for Around Town? Do you know someone who deserves recognition? Send items of community interest to Theresa, tmcmanus@royalcityrecord.com, or find her on Twitter,
@TheresaMcManus.