The idea of Fraser River Discovery Centre was born in 1986 and the society formed in 1989. A 5,000-squarefoot preview centre opened on New Westminster's waterfront in 1999 and closed in 2007, while renovations took place to create the 17,000-square-foot Discovery Centre located at 788 Quayside Dr. Let's get to know Catherine Oulett-Martin, who joined the centre in 2008.
Question: Can you introduce yourself?
Answer: I am Catherine Oulett-Martin. I am the executive director of Fraser River Discovery Centre. I live in New Westminster. I have two children.
Q: How long have you been in New West?
A: I moved to New West in 1989 when I came from Quebec to learn English. There was a summer immersion program at Douglas College for six weeks. I came just for that. I didn't intend to stay at the time, but I stayed after because I enjoyed it. I had some time ahead of me between college and university so I stayed. Then little by little it became my home. I started finishing my university here.
Q: Did you ever move back to Quebec?
A: No, never. I just went back to visit. It was a bit of a surprise to my parents that I never really came back! I've been to visit every year, and sometimes twice a year since. Since then I have stayed here.
Q: Where in Quebec are you from?
A: Quebec City.
Q: What's it like living in New Westminster after living in Quebec City?
A: There are some similarities. They are both old cities. Of course it's not the same vintage, the same history. The pride in its history and the beauty because of its history is a parallel I think between the two cities. There are huge differences in the ways people approach life, I think.
Q: How so?
A: Culturally, Quebec tends to take its cues a little more from Europe and France because of the language, I think. Mind you, there is a huge American influence as well. Here, we are definitely a little more connected to British traditions, obviously, and to American traditions as well. I think that's where the differences come from. Also, the whole winter thing. This isn't winter - it's a long, long, long October. I miss the snow. That is the big difference; over there people are ready to live in snow and celebrate it.
It's just an everyday occurrence and you learn to love it. Here, it's a problem, it's a nuisance. It's something we are not prepared for so it doesn't make it enjoyable.
Q: How did you begin working for the Discovery Centre?
A: When I moved here I was in between college and university. I was pursuing my studies in history. When I went back to university I went back to SFU and did my BA in history and then I did a graduate degree in public history. That is in the realm of museums and archives and heritage conservation. I followed the museum branch and I ended up working in several Lower Mainland museums. The Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site - that is really where my love for the river came about. After that I went to Delta and I was there for several years. I have always been in museums and the field of heritage. When the position at
the Fraser River Discovery Centre came open, it was the perfect fit. It was my love of history, the river. It was in my community. It was meant to be.
Q: For people who haven't been to Fraser River Discovery Centre, how would you describe it?
A: It's an amazing facility. It's a facility that is versatile in what it can present. Our goal is to present exhibits that talk about the diversity of the Fraser River, whether it's its economic impact or its environmental importance or its cultural history - we try to have exhibits that reflect these different themes. There's always something different going on. We change the exhibits annually, or sometimes more often than that so there's different aspects of the history that can be portrayed. Right now there is an exhibit about native plants of the Fraser basin, there's an exhibit on boat building. There's a new Discovery Zone for kids, lots of hands-on activities. Kids and families are a big part of our audience. People have to come down and see it.
Q: Does the centre have an educational component or programs with schools?
A: School programs are a big part of what we do. We have seven different school programs that are geared to complement the B.C. curriculum for kindergarten to Grade 7. They are presented by docents who are all trained by our education coordinator. They touch on those different aspects of the Fraser River as well. That's a big, big part of what we do.
Q: Do you have any big plans for the Discovery Centre in 2012?
A: Always. Some of the things we have going on right now is we are refurbishing all the boardwalk signs along the New Westminster boardwalk, which will be a nice touch with the market reopening, the park and all that. That's a big project for 2012. Also, attempting to complete our second floor. Again, it's always dependent on funding, but we are giving it a push this year. We are ramping up our festival, our Artists on the River festival, that is presented in the fall.
Q: The Discovery Centre is located in a key area of the city right now. There's a lot happening around there with the market revitalization, the civic centre and the Westminster Pier Park.
How do you feel about how that area is shaping up?
A: Extremely excited. Really excited. It's been a bit of a long time coming because there have been so many different aspects - the civic centre is one thing and the market is one thing. But it feels they are all finally getting together and joining us on the waterfront. When we reopened in 2009, it was a little lonely over there. The market was completely closed, Plaza 88 wasn't there. Over the last three years that I have been there, it is getting better and better. We are there, we are right in the middle of it and we are really excited. We participate in everything that happens on the waterfront, so we are really quite thrilled.
