Meet Michelle Willard, Museum Consultant and Specialist!

The Natural History Centre is excited to be working with Michelle Willard of Mighty Museum to envision the future of our Centre and its reopening.

Michelle holds a Master of Arts in Anthropology from the University of British Columbia, with a specialty in Museum Studies. She is inspired by the potential of museums as powerful platforms for social change. With 20 years of experience, Michelle has worked at historic sites, municipalities and museums throughout BC. Notably, the Cumberland Museum and Archives, which Michelle played a key role in developing as the Executive Director (and Curator) for nearly six years, received a Governor General’s History Award for Excellence in Community Programming. In 2020, Michelle received a British Columbia Historic Federation award of merit for work she completed for the Museum. Michelle started Mighty Museum to serve the growing needs for specialized community interpretation and engagement at museums, historic sites and parks. Much of the work Mighty Museum does focuses on assisting in the development of small museums.

With Michelle’s guidance, the essential visioning process offers us the opportunity to reimagine our collections and exhibits in these changing times. The NHC will again become a rich and diverse community resource that reflects and inspires a desire for research, understanding, and action.

We are thrilled to collaborate with Michelle and Mighty Museum to plan for the Natural History Centre’s future.