The Timmins Museum: National Exhibition Centre's longtime curator's career is being celebrated provincially.
Karen Bachmann won the 2021 Ontario Museum Association's (OMA) Distinguished Career Award of Excellence, which is given to people who have created a lasting and meaningful legacy in the provincial museum community. It was presented today at the OMA's annual conference.
Bachmann started at the Timmins museum in 1986 as the program supervisor and became director and curator two years later.
"She has seen the museum through a number of challenges, including its shut down in 2008, relocation and reopening in 2011, and renovation in 2017. Throughout her 35-plus years at the museum, Karen has worked on over 600 temporary and travelling exhibitions," according to the OMA.
She joined the OMA council in 1989 and served as president in the mid-1990s and in 2011. She's also served on the Canadian Museum's Association Awards committee and was the president of the association in 2018-19.
“Karen’s contribution to our community cannot be overstated,” said Mayor George Pirie in a news release. “Her passion and dedication for our city’s history is inspiring. In her role as director/curator of the museum, Karen affords our residents the opportunity to see beyond the everyday. This award is well-deserved and I’m happy to offer my sincere congratulations.”
