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April 27, 2007
Learning B.C. history
Museum director began his career at age 15.
KYLE BERGER
Ron Ulrich wants everyone to visit the new Jewish Museum and Archives
of British Columbia again and again. It's not just because, as the
new executive director and curator of the museum, he wants it to
be successful – but because he truly believes that viewers
will be stunned to see the continuous display of the rich history
of the Jewish community in Greater Vancouver.
"The response that I have seen when people walk through the
door has been overwhelmingly, 'Wow,' " Ulrich said of the museum's
early returns. "When people heard they were developing a museum,
I don't think they were expecting it to be as [good] as it is. And
it is fun to watch that reaction."
Ulrich also thinks it is important for community members to appreciate
where they came from.
"People need to visit museums to understand who they are and
celebrate the achievements of people in the past who have helped
get us to where we are today," he said. "When we look
over 150 years of Jewish history in British Columbia, there have
been some pretty tough battles that have been fought through the
years and a lot to celebrate."
With more than 25 years of experience in the field, it could be
argued that a small museum could open up just to tell the story
of how Ulrich became a museum director.
Ulrich, who took the reigns of the museum in mid-April, began his
path to directorship at the age of 15 when he became interested
in his family's community of Crows Nest Pass, along the B.C./Alberta
border. When that community created its own historical society,
Ulrich felt that he needed to get involved.
"I know that's not something a lot of 15-year-olds think, but
I did," he laughed. "I think there was a 40-year gap between
me and the next youngest person involved."
Ulrich took several museum set-up courses in high school and began
training as a social studies teacher in university, until he realized
that there was money in the museum business. He began as a pro at
the age of 21.
Before coming to Vancouver, Ulrich was the CEO of the Galt Museum
and Archives in Lethbridge, Alta., where he oversaw a $9 million
expansion that featured an additional 30,000 square feet, a new
gallery and a gift shop.
After successfully leading that project, he set his sights on Vancouver
for its combination of urban living and mountainous terrain.
While the permanent exhibit at the Jewish Museum will have a few
items that rotate their focus (celebrating various community pioneers),
the temporary exhibit will change completely twice a year. The current
temporary exhibit focuses on eating kosher in the community.
Ulrich said that the museum is also working on various public educational
programs that will include school visits and hands-on learning opportunities.
He expects that approximately 5,000 public school students will
tour the museum every year.
He also hinted that future exhibits will include a look at the Jewish
community and the environment and local Jews who have represented
Canada's military.
Beyond that, Ulrich is looking to the future to share the past.
"We have a huge opportunity to talk about who we are to the
world in 2010 [during the Olympics]," he said. "In a bit
of an historical context, when you consider the 1936 games in Berlin,
here is an opportunity to again remind the world about who we are
as a Jewish community.
"There is a ton of opportunity to work with both the Jewish
and non-Jewish community to promote greater understanding and to
talk about prejudice, tolerance and human rights as well."
Kyle Berger is a freelance journalist and graphic designer
living in Richmond.
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