Today's letters: National Gallery mustn't neglect these volunteers
In search of Emily Carr, without help
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I recently visited the Royal B.C. Museum in Victoria. I was hoping to see many of Emily Carr's paintings but I was told that the National Gallery of Canada has a lot more. I visited the gallery on Victoria Day, May 19. The information desk in the Great Hall was empty. I couldn't find any of Carr's paintings near the Group of Seven collection. The only person to ask was a security guard but he wasn't able to help me. I am wondering: Why is the gallery cutting the service of knowlegable volunteers?
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Maria Barczyk, Ottawa
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Thank you for recognizing the important work of the volunteers at the National Gallery of Canada. Having worked at the gallery as a docent since 2016, I have found it rewarding at so many levels. I have loved working with children visitors, doing tours, giving talks and appreciating art with both friends and the public. I have learned so much.
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It would be wonderful to hear that the service of the volunteers could be re-instated.
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Why would the National Gallery silence its most passionate, knowledgeable ambassadors? Volunteers gave freely — and this is the thanks they get. Kicking out trained volunteers who helped thousands engage with art is shameful.
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The gallery claims to care about education and access, then scraps the very program that delivered both. Hypocrisy in action. Thousands of hours of free, expert work were erased overnight. This isn't just a mistake. It's an insult to the public, which funds the gallery.
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Royal visits can prompt grumbling about the monarchy. While it is indeed odd that the individual who is 'the final decider' in matters of public policy and appointments is someone in another country — who has that role by virtue of who their parents were, and their birth order — let us consider the positives.
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As we look south, we see an administration that increasingly exploits the levers of governance for personal and partisan advantage, to the detriment of much of the populace and the world. Although it should be subject to the law and courts, it has structured the courts to its political advantage.
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So it is comforting to know that, under our constitutional monarchy, the 'final decider' is someone who is completely insulated from all of that, and gives assent based on whether something is good for the nation, rather than for himself or herself personally or politically.
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Ottawa Citizen
2 days ago
- Ottawa Citizen
Today's letters: National Gallery mustn't neglect these volunteers
In search of Emily Carr, without help Article content I recently visited the Royal B.C. Museum in Victoria. I was hoping to see many of Emily Carr's paintings but I was told that the National Gallery of Canada has a lot more. I visited the gallery on Victoria Day, May 19. The information desk in the Great Hall was empty. I couldn't find any of Carr's paintings near the Group of Seven collection. The only person to ask was a security guard but he wasn't able to help me. I am wondering: Why is the gallery cutting the service of knowlegable volunteers? Article content Article content Maria Barczyk, Ottawa Article content Thank you for recognizing the important work of the volunteers at the National Gallery of Canada. Having worked at the gallery as a docent since 2016, I have found it rewarding at so many levels. I have loved working with children visitors, doing tours, giving talks and appreciating art with both friends and the public. I have learned so much. Article content It would be wonderful to hear that the service of the volunteers could be re-instated. Article content Why would the National Gallery silence its most passionate, knowledgeable ambassadors? Volunteers gave freely — and this is the thanks they get. Kicking out trained volunteers who helped thousands engage with art is shameful. Article content The gallery claims to care about education and access, then scraps the very program that delivered both. Hypocrisy in action. Thousands of hours of free, expert work were erased overnight. This isn't just a mistake. It's an insult to the public, which funds the gallery. Article content Article content Royal visits can prompt grumbling about the monarchy. While it is indeed odd that the individual who is 'the final decider' in matters of public policy and appointments is someone in another country — who has that role by virtue of who their parents were, and their birth order — let us consider the positives. Article content As we look south, we see an administration that increasingly exploits the levers of governance for personal and partisan advantage, to the detriment of much of the populace and the world. Although it should be subject to the law and courts, it has structured the courts to its political advantage. Article content So it is comforting to know that, under our constitutional monarchy, the 'final decider' is someone who is completely insulated from all of that, and gives assent based on whether something is good for the nation, rather than for himself or herself personally or politically.
Global News
5 days ago
- Global News
Former B.C. minister Melanie Mark asks NDP to walk back ‘disheartening' Bill 15
Former British Columbia minister Melanie Mark is accusing Premier David Eby and his cabinet of 'turning their backs' on First Nations, local governments and environmentalists by passing controversial bills to fast-track infrastructure projects. Mark, the first First Nations woman elected to B.C.'s legislature and a former cabinet colleague of Eby, says it's 'astounding and disheartening' behaviour by the government. Both bills passed in the legislature Wednesday night, with Bill 15 that fast-tracks public and private infrastructure projects getting through thanks to a rare tiebreaking vote by Speaker Raj Chouhan. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Bill 14, which would speed up renewable energy projects and transmission lines, also passed by a single vote. Critics say the bills undermine environmental standards and constitutional obligations to consult First Nations. Mark says the government should reconsider the bills, saying in a statement that the province has walked back plans in the past. Story continues below advertisement She pointed to a controversial $789-million plan to rebuild the Royal B.C. Museum under former premier John Horgan, which the government ultimately suspended after intense criticism. 'It didn't go over as planned but former premier John Horgan had the fortitude to recalibrate, pause the project and mandate more meaningful consultation,' Mark says in a statement issued as the legislature was sitting to vote Wednesday night. Mark says Eby can do the same in this situation, which would show the government honours the Crown's duty to consult with Indigenous people. 'Politics should not stand in the way of progressive policies. Trampling on Indigenous rights just ends up getting reversed in the highest courts — taxpayers will end up paying for this oversight,' Mark says in the statement. 'It's never too late to do the right thing.'
Winnipeg Free Press
5 days ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
B.C. NDP ex-minister urges Eby to walk back ‘astounding and disheartening' Bill 15
VICTORIA – Former British Columbia minister Melanie Mark is accusing Premier David Eby and his cabinet of 'turning their backs' on First Nations, local governments and environmentalists by passing controversial bills to fast-track infrastructure projects. Mark, the first First Nations woman elected to B.C.'s legislature and a former cabinet colleague of Eby, says it's 'astounding and disheartening' behaviour by the government. Both bills passed in the legislature Wednesday night, with Bill 15 that fast-tracks public and private infrastructure projects getting through thanks to a rare tiebreaking vote by Speaker Raj Chouhan. Bill 14, which would speed up renewable energy projects and transmission lines, passed by four votes. Critics say the bill undermines environmental standards and constitutional obligations to consult First Nations. Mark says the government should reconsider the bills, saying in a statement that the province has walked back plans in the past. She pointed to a controversial $789-million plan to rebuild the Royal B.C. Museum under former premier John Horgan, which the government ultimately suspended after intense criticism. 'It didn't go over as planned but former premier John Horgan had the fortitude to recalibrate, pause the project and mandate more meaningful consultation,' Mark says in a statement issued as the legislature was sitting to vote Wednesday night. Mark says Eby can do the same in this situation, which would show the government honours the Crown's duty to consult with Indigenous people. 'Politics should not stand in the way of progressive policies. Trampling on Indigenous rights just ends up getting reversed in the highest courts — taxpayers will end up paying for this oversight,' Mark says in the statement. 'It's never too late to do the right thing.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 29, 2025.
