After spending 30 years at the Exploration Place, Tracy Calogheros has announced her retirement; her work, advocacy, and friendship have made the BC Museums Association and Canada’s cultural sector richer. On behalf of everyone at the BCMA, I would like to congratulate Tracy on her retirement.
Throughout Tracy’s career, she has been a fierce supporter of the BCMA, helping to plan and host multiple BCMA conferences, serving as BCMA President in 2007, volunteering on the BCMA’s Advocacy Committee, and offering to speak in webinars and conference sessions whenever she can. In addition to supporting the BCMA, Tracy has made time to serve on multiple boards across Canada’s broader cultural sector including the Canadian Association of Science Centres and most recently as the President of the Canadian Museums Association.
Tracy Calogheros (left) and Tania Muir (right) at Hill Day 2016, Ottawa
Her leadership and unparalleled ability to foster mutually supportive relationships with other organizations and communities have helped to put Prince George on the map as an exemplar of the impact that museums can make in their communities. In 2023, the Exploration Place and the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation received a joint BC Reconciliation Award to recognize the decades of trust and collaboration that have built a true friendship between the museum and the Lheidli T’enneh. In a time when leaders in some of the largest cultural institutions in Canada question the need for decolonization, Tracy’s approach to genuine relationship-building and work towards community-driven decision-making is a shining example of what is possible for our sector in reimagining how we work with and for our communities.
Hodul'eh-a: A Place of Learning
This article from BC Studies, Issue no. 199, 2018 written by Alyssa Leier (Tobin) and Tracy Calogheros of The Exploration Place shares their work in partnership with the Lheidli T'enneh and how it changes their museum practice.
Tracy’s work has shown that successful and impactful cultural institutions can thrive in smaller communities outside of major population centres. In collaboration with her community and an amazing team of museum professionals, Tracy has helped to build a truly world-class museum and science centre. While I wish her a well-deserved restful retirement, I also know that someone of Tracy’s passion and determination will continue to be a fierce advocate for Canada’s museum sector for many years to come.
Speaking not only for myself, but for many BCMA Council and team members: Thank you Tracy for your friendship, mentorship, and support! We look forward to seeing you at the BCMA’s 2024 Gathering on Lheidli T’enneh territory in Prince George.
Sincerely,
Ryan Hunt
