In June 2012, the AGO Volunteer Executive was pleased to honour the exceptional work of long-time volunteers by nominating several for the Ontario Service Awards. While the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration lists simple longevity guidelines for selection, participating institutions are only allowed a limited number of nominations, and the AGO’s own criteria are selective. We would like to profile some of our winners and let you learn more about some of these great people who give their time and energy to the AGO. Our first three appear below, with more to come next week.
We asked our winners about their background, what inspires them, and maybe a little something people may not know about them…
Jane Heinemann, Prints and Drawings
In 1989 I saw a small notice in the AGO members’ magazine that The Grange needed more volunteers. I had long been interested in the decorative arts, and I was becoming increasingly interested in our local Toronto history, so volunteering at The Grange certainly seemed like a good fit. In those days The Grange was set up as an historic house museum, and for several years I served as an interpreter on Tuesday afternoons. Later I changed placements and served on the Monday “housekeeping” committee. Contrary to what many people thought, we Monday volunteers were not just glorified cleaning ladies! It’s true that we took care of the artifacts — dusting furniture, polishing silver and brass, washing ceramics and linens — but we took our instructions from the AGO Conservation Department, and all of us found it fascinating to learn about the proper and traditional ways of handling these objects. We also were in charge of changing the interpretive displays. For example we researched and set up different kinds of meals or events which might have taken place in the house in the mid-19th century.
In 2005 The Grange was closed down in preparation for Transformation. For some time I had been intrigued with the Prints and Drawings Department. Prints were an important resource for our interpretive displays at The Grange, and I wanted to know more about them. The placement has been very stimulating indeed. The volunteers in P&D are exceptionally congenial, and nearly every day that I am there, I learn something new. We have an unusually good staff and volunteer relationship in P&D, and it is a pleasure to work in that atmosphere. It is also gratifying to know that if it weren’t for volunteers, the marvelous resources of the P&D Study Centre would be less available to the public.
Bernie Fitzpatrick, Art Rental and Sales
I began as a Meeter and Greeter for the Barnes Show in 1994, following which I joined Art Rental & Sales, where I have been ever since. I got started at the AGO because of my interest in the Barnes Foundation, my fondness for the AGO, and my desire to be involved with both. On the professional side, my entire career has been in Marketing and Communications. My other interests include choral singing (I am a member of 2 choirs), travel, sketching & water colour; reading, and spending time with my 2 Grandsons.
My favourite work at the AGO is “The West Wind” by Tom Thomson. One of my best moments as a volunteer here was at The Barnes Show – to be able to walk into a room filled with 20 or more Renoirs… an unforgettable experience! One little known fact about me is that I am a History buff – with a special interest in the American Civil War.
Susan Younder, Weekend and Evening GG
For more than 25 years I have worked at different times as a volunteer at the AGO: crowd controller at the first King Tut exhibition and Judy Chicago’s “Dinner Party”, a few years in the AGO gift shop, then 12 years as a Weekend./Evening Docent/Gallery Guide. I was drawn to the AGO because of my interest in art and my enthusiasm for talking about art.
I am a Registered Nurse (Class ’61) at St. Michaels Hospital and I am still working as a casual staff member on Cardiology. I love to go to other galleries. Last fall I stood in front of an altarpiece painted by van der Weyden, “the Deposition” in the Prado. I thought my heart would stop! Here at the AGO, I am really excited about our “Revealing the Renaissance” exhibition that starts next March.
One little secret- After all these years I still am a little nervous before a tour!