Mayor Sue McKortoff, centre, is joined by president of the Osoyoos Museum Society, Mat Hassen, left, and executive director of the museum Kara Burton during the declaration of the Year of the Museum in Osoyoos. Dale Boyd/Osoyoos Times
The year 2020 is now the “Year of the Museum” in Osoyoos.
Mat Hassen, president of the Osoyoos Museum Society, and executive director Kara Burton were on hand with Mayor Sue McKortoff who officially declared 2020 “the Year of the Museum” in town, at the new location for the Osoyoos and District Museum and Archives on Main Street.
The proclamation was made surrounded by supporters and volunteers, as well as the result of eight days and a combined 420 hours of volunteer work completed by 13 volunteers to strip and renovate the interior former Home Building Centre.
“We thought what better what better place to sign it than here in the building,” said Hassen.
McKortoff commented that as mayor she often makes proclamations, but this may mark the first time she has proclaimed a “year” of anything in Osoyoos.
“So this is a first,” she said.
Read more: Osoyoos Museum renovations underway
McKortoff praised the effort to ensure contractors and workers on the museum were locally based.
“That’s the way we keep business in the local community and support each other, so thank you,” McKortoff said.
Volunteer project manager Larry Stone and executive director Burton were highlighted for the work they put in to make the project possible, along with volunteers and local businesses who were thanked for discounts and donations put towards the museum.
“We can’t say enough about what the contractors in the area have done to make the project a success as well,” Hassen said.
The new museum is set to open in June 2020.
