The Ontario Historical Society (OHS) is pleased to announce that Kristin Ives of Leamington was elected as the new President of the OHS at the 134th Annual General Meeting of Society.
A member of the OHS Board of Directors since 2015, Kristin is currently the Curator/Education Coordinator for the John R. Park Homestead Conservation Area, a 19-acre living historical farm museum, operated by the Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA). Growing up in the Hillman Marsh Conservation Area in Leamington, the interpretation of human and natural history has always been of interest to Kristin.
While attending the University of Guelph to obtain her Honours Bachelor of Arts in History and English, Kristin volunteered for the Guelph Civic Museum and McCrae House. It was in that role that she discovered her passion for museum work. She went on to obtain her Certificate in Museum Management and Curatorship from Sir Sandford Fleming College, Peterborough.
Kristin began her career as the Acting Registrar for Windsor’s Community Museum. In 2000, Kristin became the Assistant Curator of the John R. Park Homestead, working under the guidance of then Curator Janet Cobban. During that same time, Kristin also worked part time for seven years as the Remedial Action Plan Assistant for the Detroit River Canadian Cleanup environmental organization.
Over the years, Kristin has volunteered extensively with Windsor’s Community Museum, the Algonquin Club, and with various other organizations. Kristin is Chair of the South Western Ontario Heritage Council and serves on the Ontario Museum Association’s Regional Museums Network.
Founded in 1888, the OHS is a not-for-profit corporation and registered charity; a non-government group bringing together people of all ages, all walks of life and all cultural backgrounds interested in preserving some aspect of Ontario’s history. One of the largest societies in Canada, it is the only organization in North America that has the legislative responsibility to incorporate historical societies and provides consultations, insurance, and other services to over 850 affiliated societies, member organizations, and member institutions in communities across Ontario.