Volunteer Spotlight
Volunteers are the heart & soul of Dalnavert Museum.
Here are some of their stories.
Jean Boyes
Volunteer at Dalnavert Museum for 16 years
Q: What’s the best part about volunteering at Dalnavert Museum?
A: A much appreciated benefit of volunteering at Dalnavert has been meeting many wonderful people - including staff, the garden ladies, and of course our visitors. One of my favourite items is the hair wreath in the attic because we don't know much about where it came from - very mysterious!
Arla Marshall
Volunteer at Dalnavert Museum for 5 years
Q: What’s the best part about volunteering at Dalnavert Museum?
A: The people who work and volunteer here are very friendly and knowledgeable about history.
Q: What’s something you love about history?
A: Reflecting back on how life was, and where we are today
Q: Do you have a favourite room in the house, and what is it that you like about it?
A: I would love to have a room like Lady Macdonald's sitting room with pretty wallpaper and lots of sunshine and plants
Q: What’s your best memory at Dalnavert?
A: At Doors Open when a little girl asked (another volunteer) Susan if she was Cinderella! It was a beautiful moment and the girl was in awe!!
Melodie Eshoo
Q: What’s the best part about volunteering at Dalnavert Museum?
A:The best part of volunteering (at Dalnavert) is the opportunity to get immersed in some local history, and history offers so many good stories along with insight into events and people who have shaped the present day.
Linda Rigaux
Volunteer at Dalnavert Museum for 4 years
Q: What’s the best part about volunteering at Dalnavert Museum?
A: For me the best part about volunteering is being surrounded by the history and beauty of the house. It’s like going back in time when I give a tour. We are helping visitors imagine the life of the people who lived in the house, from the cook and the maid to the Macdonald family.
Q: What is your favourite thing in the house to share with visitors?
A: I especially love sharing the small book of poetry that belonged to Nellie McClung. It is in Sir Hugh’s study. I like to share the story that the famous Cora Hind was a friend of Nellie’s and a Suffragette herself. It allows me to show that the law firm of Macdonald Tupper were progressive at the time by hiring Cora as a Secretary. At the time men were secretaries as it was considered a prestigious job and well above a females position.
Q: What’s something you love about history?
A: I love history because we learn from it and hopefully become a more informed society. I believe history should help us shape the future.
Q: What’s your favourite room in the house and what is it you like about it?
A: I love Lady Macdonald’s Solarium. It is light and warm and bright. The rest of the house is very dark in it’s décor and this room is just is so uplifting. I can imagine Gertie having tea in the morning sunshine while she plans her day.
Q: What’s your best memory at Dalnavert? I love the educational programs we offer to school children.
A: Our tours and programs are based on curriculum for a particular grade. In 2019 we had a year of programming based on the 1919 General Strike. We were doing a tour with some grade 5 students and at the end of the exercise the students had an opportunity to choose to wear a sticker that said they would vote Yes to strike. One young fellow came over to me and said he was torn with his decision. He said he wanted to wear the sticker because he agreed with the strikers but he really, really wanted to be rich. To me that said he got it and we had helped educate.
Donna August
Q: What’s the best part about volunteering at Dalnavert Museum?
A: I absolutely love being in the beautiful old house and it’s wonderful to spend time with staff, volunteers and visitors who share that feeling.