ESTEVAN - After years with Souris Valley Museum, its current executive director Mark Veneziano is stepping down, leaving the attraction in great shape and far ahead in its progress.
Many changes have occurred at the museum over the six years Veneziano has been working there.
"I had really enjoyed my time here. And just looking back I can't believe how much has changed over the time since I had my tenure at the museum," Veneziano said in an interview with the Mercury.
One of the biggest and most important steps that has been made was the addition to the building, which turned the museum into a year-round attraction rather than the seasonal site it used to be. And that change opened doors for further programming development and growth.
"This is back in 2016-2017. I think that was one of the early highlights of my tenure here. Us being able to be open year-round meant we were able to offer more services. That's where we started seeing our I Am series starting to make an appearance as well as our No School Day workshops, and our winter and spring camps. That was something early on in my career and something really, really good to see," Veneziano recalled.
"And looking back at this, it was something great for the community going forward. Because of the building expansion, we still continue expanding programs."
In 2018, after researching the community needs, the museum expanded its summer offerings. After talking with some families who attended the museum, they increased the time dedicated to summer camps from just four weeks to an eight-week program that now offers eight or nine different camps for the kids every summer. Besides, at that time they opened their programs to a wider age range, starting to serve children from three to 15 years of age.
"It was something that we were able to do as … we were here year-round, and we were able to have everything organized and in place for summer," Veneziano noted.
With more offerings, their membership started growing as well. All went steady until 2020 when the pandemic put everything on pause.
But while COVID-19 interrupted some of the museum's regular activities, it also created room for new development.
"We tried to transition and to keep relevant during the times of lockdown. So that's when we started introducing some virtual, or at-home programs. That's when we saw our Inside Blues program, which delved into early Canadian history. And then transitioning into the summer, we were able to start looking at virtual camps as well," Veneziano said. "That was a challenge that we had to take on, but it was so well received. And now we are trying to get back into normal, we are starting to build up some new clientele and some more programming as people are looking for things to do."
Veneziano also pointed out that the past year's endeavour, the virtual programming for teachers, was "something that (I am ) really, really proud of" and one of the biggest achievements of his time with the museum.
"Our virtual programming, virtual school programs for teachers, we started in 2021 with local schools and schools in Saskatchewan from January to June 2021. We had so many different communities that came to the museum virtually from all across Saskatchewan. And then going into the new school year, which is the current school year, we were able to expand on our success and we've actually officially had our programs booked from coast to coast to coast," Veneziano shared.
This past year the museum welcomed schools from Newfoundland and Labrador to Victoria, and from as far north as Yellowknife and some communities up by the Arctic Ocean. They also had a Canadian international school from Colombia joining them for their virtual programs last month.
"It was actually really, really fun to have just a completely different school from a different culture come to our museum. They were able to experience what Estevan was like, and learn where Saskatchewan was, and they actually even got a chance to see snow, which a lot of people in Colombia were not able to see on a daily basis. So it was a really, really fun little group," Veneziano shared.
He said that getting to share all the history of the area preserved by the museum nationally and internationally was the biggest highlight of his tenure. But the progress achieved throughout the past years is something that makes him happy.
"From where we started when I was first here, as a seasonal museum just running a few programs during summer, to now, when my tenure comes to an end, and we're now able to say that we've had so many different programming. From our I Am series for youngest ones to introducing our Museum Safari program, which goes right down to the age of two. The museum is now at a stage where they have programs for ages two all the way up to adults, as well as virtual programming and in-person programming for schools. What we have been able to accomplish here as a staff and board over the several years, just over six years, is quite impressive, and I'm looking forward to hearing all about what the Souris Valley Museum is going to be doing. And I know that they're going to continue doing great things," Veneziano said.
Veneziano is transitioning to the RCMP Heritage Centre in Regina and taking the job as their new community education program co-ordinator. But he said he will be staying in touch and coming to visit.
"I'm looking forward to the new challenge. But of course, I'm going to miss everyone here," Veneziano said.
The museum's board is hosting a farewell party for Veneziano on March 12 at 1:30 p.m., with refreshments and cupcakes provided, and the community is invited to join in celebrating the achievements, saying goodbye and wishing Veneziano all the best in his journey.
"It really is just a time for anyone in the community, from patrons to people who have partnered with us, to city staff, everyone is welcome to attend. And it will go until people stop arriving. There's really no end time," Veneziano said.
In the meantime, the museum will continue with all of their programming.
"There won't be any interruptions to programs offered here at the museum. It's just business as usual. AnnaRose (Lawrence) will be leading all our education programs for the time being and then in the future as well. So for anyone who has any questions about upcoming programs, give AnnaRose a call at the museum," Veneziano said. "I hope that the community continues supporting the museum. I know AnnaRose and the board, as well as the new director, will continue and maybe will keep expanding different things."
"It's been an honour to work here. We love calling Estevan home and Estevan will have a special place in my heart and my family's hearts. We look forward to keeping in touch and again, I'm hopeful that the community will come out to the museum and support them throughout everything and look forward to hearing about all the new stuff that's going to be introduced," Veneziano said.
