Unheard Voices: Diversifying Heritage
2025 Heritage Conference
About the Conference
Many people from various walks of life call Newfoundland and Labrador their home and heritage their heart. The 2025 Heritage Conference will shine a light on how different heritage can be.
How can your organization grow with diversity, tools and opportunities? Join MANL, ANLA and Heritage NL to discover ways you can make a change. We look forward to seeing you on October 17th-18th at The Rooms.
Pre-Conference Professional Development Schedule
Wednesday, October 15, 2025
| 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM – Introduction to Universal Design for Learning in Heritage Location: ED 3005, G. A. Hickman Building, 323 Prince Philip Drive Instructor: Jordan Hollahan, Stephanie Evans, Jared T. Hogan, & Sean Fardy |
| 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM – Digital Photodocumentation of Museum Objects (Day 1) – SOLD OUT Location: The Rooms Instructors: Mylène Choquette & Germain Wiseman |
| 7:00-9:00 PM – Birch Broom Workshop Location: The Rooms Instructors: Richard and Michelle Park |
Thursday, October 16, 2025
| 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM – Introduction to Reconciliation in Heritage Location: ED 3005, G. A. Hickman Building, 323 Prince Philip Drive Instructors: Michaela Doucette & Jared T. Hogan |
| 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM – Care and Maintenance of Historic House Museums Location: O’Brien Farm Instructors: Dale Jarvis, Heritage NL; Aaron Rodgers, O’Brien Farm Foundation; Chris Hogan, The Woodshop at O’Brien Farm. |
| 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM – Digital Photodocumentation of Museum Objects (Day 2) – SOLD OUT Location: The Rooms Instructors: Mylène Choquette & Germain Wiseman |
| 7:00-9:00 PM – Train the Trainer Workshop: Braided Rugs – SOLD OUT Location: Admiralty House Annex, Mount Pearl |
Conference Schedule
Friday, October 17, 2025
| 9:00-10:00 AM – Morning Mingle, Tea & Coffee Location: The Rooms, Harbour View Room / Atrium |
| 10:00 AM – 10:15 AM – Opening Remarks and Welcome Location: The Rooms, Theatre |
| 10:15 AM – 11:30 PM – Keynote Panel: Women in Heritage Location: The Rooms, Theatre Panelists: Anne Chafe, Joanna Dawson, Nicole Henbrey Moderator: Kate Wolforth |
| 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM – Lunch Break Lunch on your own. |
| 1:00-1:40 PM – Training Opportunities for Inclusion and Diversity Speakers: Kevin Coffey, Amanda Lush, Megan Marshall, Courtney Abbott 1:50-2:30 PM – Amplifying Craft Speakers: Bruno Vinhas, Carole Spicer, Sherry House Moderator: Dale Jarvis |
| 2:30 PM – 3:00 PM – Coffee and Craft Break #1: Birch Broom Making Location: The Rooms, Harbour View Room Facilitators: Richard and Michelle Park |
| 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM – WHAM! Working in Heritage, Archives and Museums Location: The Rooms, Theatre A joint session by MANL, ANLA & Heritage NL, including a discussion of the revitalization of the Certificate in Museum Studies Program. |
| 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM – Supper Supper on your own. |
| 6:00 PM – 6:30 PM – Does Diversity Have an Opposite? Location: The Rooms, Theatre Speaker: Dr. Dean F. Oliver |
| 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM – Heritage Updates Location: The Rooms, Theatre Does your heritage organization, museum or archive have programs to promote or news to share? Please join us for our Heritage Updates session, an opportunity to highlight your organization’s activities this past year and to network with other heritage enthusiasts! Keeping with our long-standing tradition, everyone will have an opportunity (2 minutes!) to quickly share highlights, news, challenges and more. |
| 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM – Evening Social Location: The Rooms, Harbour View Room Sweet treats and live entertainment by Hamilton Sound. |
Saturday, October 18, 2025
| 9:00-10:00 AM – Awards & Tea; Certificate in Museum Studies Diploma Presentations Location: The Rooms, Harbour View Room |
| 10:00-11:00 AM – MANL AGM Location: The Rooms, Theatre |
| 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM – ANLA AGM Location: The Rooms, Theatre |
| 12:00-1:00 PM – Lunch Break Lunch on your own. |
| 1:00-1:40 PM – Bringing People In Location: The Rooms, Theatre Speakers: Neddal Ayad, Kim Shipp, Melissa Tarrant Moderator: Terra Barrett 1:50-2:30 PM – Getting the Stories Out Location: The Rooms, Theatre Speakers: Victoria Mathews, Aimee Chaulk, Felicia Somolu |
| 2:30-3:00 PM – Coffee and Craft Break #2: Labrador Craft Location: The Rooms, Harbour View Room Facilitators: Chantelle Evans |
| 3:00-4:00 PM – Peer Share Panel: Community Engagement in Heritage Location: The Rooms, Theatre Speakers: Jo Anne Broders, Rebecca Ralph, Megan Webb, Joy Barfoot |
| 4:00-4:15 PM – Closing Remarks Location: The Rooms, Theatre |
Sponsorship Opportunities
Sponsor our 2025 conference! Your support will go a long way in helping us provide professional development, mentorship, networking and peer support during the 2-day conference, as well as throughout the schedule of pre-conference workshops offered throughout the City of St. John’s during the week leading up to the conference.
For more information and the full list of sponsorship options, please see our Sponsorship Package.
Inquiries
If you have any questions, please email Victoria Mathews at victoria@heritagenl.ca.
CMA Bursary Under Review
Please note that no CMA bursary funding will be available for events between April 1st, 2025 and March 31st, 2026 as the bursary program is under review.
If you have any questions, please email bursaries@museums.ca.