About

We are thrilled to invite you to our new online speaker series Progress Not Perfection! We put together something truly special and can’t wait to have you take part and come together through this new digital format.

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LMME is a gathering of peers: staff and volunteers from museums, art galleries, parks, science centres, historic sites, libraries, archives, and related organizations. We value community and are here to support one another in making our sector amazing.

Meet the Team

Lorenda Calvert

Chair

I love volunteering for LMME because I feel that there is a need for connection, support and life-long learning within our community and I believe LMME can and does help with that. My passion for peer-to-peer support within our field has led me to my current role with the BCMA where I support professional development opportunities for museum professionals throughout the province.

Sarah Carlson

Marketing

As a museum enthusiast, I am always excited to connect with others who share my love of culture and heritage and passion for teaching so being part of LMME was a natural fit. Not only have we been able to bring together informal educators from across the Lower Mainland to share best practices and network with our annual conference and speaker series, the relationships I have built with this group of wonderful humans have been so key in shaping and supporting my own professional development. When I’m not busy planning events for Vancouver Heritage Foundation, you can usually find me walking my pup at the beach or curled up at home with a glass of wine.

Keely Langford

Registration

I am a fan of being around knowledgeable humans, and have found some excellent ones in the LMME community. You can often find me outside talking about birds, trees, poop, etc. with Metro Vancouver Regional Parks, and will readily talk to you about marine life (especially octopuses).

Michael Schwartz

Speakers

I love the ability of museums to help us see the world through one another’s eyes. I volunteer with LMME to help strengthen our community of museum professionals and volunteers, and help us encourage and support one another to be better at this work. When not tied up as Director of Community Engagement at the Jewish Museum and Archives of BC, I sit on the board of the Heritage Vancouver Society, curate the art program at Kafka’s, and try to hop on my bike as often as possible.

Michael Unger

Registration

LMME is a community to help foster collaboration which is a big part of what I believe in when it comes to the non-formal learning establishments that we all work in. Communities are diverse and ever changing, so it's important to be connected to peers especially those that aren't working in the usual spaces that our organizations may have collaborated with in the past. I'm currently the Program Coordinator at the HR MacMillan Space Centre. I'm also a co-founder of Nerd Nite Vancouver, which is now a podcast called Nerdin' About, and I'm also the host for many different initiatives with BC Science Fair Foundation and the Youth Innovation Showcase, including their podcast Let's Innovate!

Naomi Evans

Speakers

Volunteering with LMME is something that brings me joy every day. I’ve met so many wonderful people through it and, as someone who moved to Vancouver from abroad, LMME has been a vital link for me to meet the fantastic museum and gallery community here in the Lower Mainland. Supporting this network and championing this hardworking and often underappreciated sector is why I volunteer on this committee. Currently the Arts Learning Programs Manager at The ACT Arts Centre, I’m usually to be found in a museum/gallery/library or the best learning environment of all - the beautiful BC outdoors!

Nicole Balsdon

Registration

I am a museum-lover and care deeply about connecting people. Through volunteering with LMME, I am excited that I get to bring public-facing museum professionals together, provide space for networking and development, and introduce them to opportunities in our region. Outside of LMME events, you'll find me working with interpreters, volunteers, and researchers at the Beaty Biodiversity Museum at UBC, as their Education & Outreach Coordinator.

Sophie Yaumauchi

Speakers

As a museum nerd who cares profoundly about our local museum community, I am thrilled to volunteer with the LMME to connect with BC’s talented educators (yeah you!) and provide opportunities to educate each other on the fantastic work happening in our sector! Outside of the LMME, I’m working to establish the new Chinese Canadian Museum as their Board Administrator, hanging out with my cats, climbing mountains, and impatiently waiting for my vaccine.

Wendy Lorch

Speakers

I’m not originally from Vancouver so initially joined as a member as a way to connect with like-minded museum professionals in the area (get to know people). From there, I was keen to “do my bit” to help organize professional development opportunities for all of us. For work, I’m currently at Science World overseeing all things Early Learning. When not at work, I try to be out in nature as much as possible. It’s where I feel most happy :-)

What to Expect

A monthly series of online talks, panels, and interactive workshops by the best and brightest in our field with a focus on lived experience and issues pertinent to our local setting.

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Our Objectives

● Learn best practices
● Explore lessons learned and talk about current challenges
● Strong networking + community building