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By Jen Royal, Manager of Education
We have a new face at the Whyte Museum! Samantha Palmer-Forrest joined us from Crowsnest Pass where she worked at the Frank Slide Interpretive Centre for 3.5 years in interpretive programming and school program delivery.
Having an interest in preserving built heritage, she was a member of the Crowsnest Pass Municipal Historic Resources Advisory Committee which advises council on all historic resources and matters within the municipality. In her position as education and interpretation assistant at the Whyte Museum, her job involves the delivery of interpretive programming and the development and delivery of school programs and public tours.
Born and raised in Calgary, Samantha studied at Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario where she received a bachelor of science degree. Samantha went back to school and graduated with a post-baccalaureate diploma in heritage resource management from Athabasca University. While a full-time student, she became her mother’s caregiver after a diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer’s. Wanting to share her story and help others in the same situation, Sam became an advocate and was the Alzheimer’s Society of Calgary Alzheimer’s awareness month ambassador in 2018 and was interviewed for Global News Calgary, the Calgary Herald, and 770 CHQR about her experiences. She also wrote an article for Dementia Connections magazine.
Samantha is enthusiastic about researching, sharing, and presenting knowledge and information to others. She is passionate about the preservation, interpretation, and engagement of heritage in communities. Her hobbies include painting, gardening, learning American Sign Language and hanging out with her dog, Lucy. Interested in family history and genealogy, she contributed a guest blog post written about her grandmother Helen for the Glenbow Museum titled "Her Legacy Continues Through Me."
Sam is excited to be working in the education department at the Whyte Museum. Since arriving here in November, she has been working on the revision of existing school programs and the development of new school programming. Samantha is looking forward to the busy summer where she will be delivering different tours daily - and bringing her enthusiasm to every aspect of her job! We’re so glad she’s joined the team!
Welcome to the Whyte Museum, Samantha!
Images:
Image 1 - Photo of Samantha Palmer-Forrest by D.L. Cameron.