The North Vancouver Museum and Archives (NVMA) has a new director. Wesley Wenhardt will take over the NVMA reins from retiring director Nancy Kirkpatrick in mid-August.
Wenhardt has over 25 years of broad leadership, business and management experience. His work has taken him around the world, opening and revitalizing museums, IMAX theatres, science centres and heritage sites in Canada, the United States, New Zealand, South Africa, Scotland and Brunei, the commission said.
Most recently, Wenhardt was the executive director of the Foss Waterway Seaport Maritime Museum in Tacoma, Washington, where he led the transformation of the museum from a seasonal to year-round operation housed in a $20-million heritage facility.
Closer to home, he has held administrative and consulting roles for the Beaty Biodiversity Museum at the University of British Columbia, the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre, the Vancouver Aquarium, VANOC and the Vancouver Maritime Museum.
“I’m very excited to be coming back to BC and to be joining the NVMA at this critical time,” Wenhardt says.
“With the new museum opening next year, I have the opportunity to strengthen and build new relationships in the community, including those with the Squamish and Tsleil Waututh Nations, complete the fundraising campaign, and fine-tune operational and staffing plans for our exciting new facility.”
Wenhardt starts in mid-August.
Nancy Kirkpatrick, the current NVMA director, retired after 12 years of service. She revitalized the Archives located at the Community History Centre in Lynn Valley, which culminated in the creation of the new Museum of North Vancouver.
Kirkpatrick says, “Now is the right time for this change and the leadership transition is an integral part of the NVMA’s succession plan”.
The North Vancouver Museum and Archives is a partner agency of both the City and the District of North Vancouver.
Comments
NOTE: The North Shore Daily Post welcomes your opinions and comments. We do not allow personal attacks, offensive language or unsubstantiated allegations. We reserve the right to edit comments for length, style, legality and taste and reproduce them in print, electronic or otherwise. For further information, please contact the editor or publisher, or see our Terms and Conditions.