Staff Directory
Wayne Wilson
Executive Director
Wayne Wilson has served as the Executive Director of the Kelowna Museums Society since 2000. He began work with the Kelowna Museum in 1978 and since then has worked in the various capacities including Exhibitions Coordinator, Museum Education, Assistant Director, and has curated dozens of exhibitions and public programming series. Since his 2000 appointment, in addition to managing the day-to-day operations of the Society, Wayne has focused on the development and implementation of Business and Budget Planning for the Society and its various profit centres, all with a goal of moving the organization more toward a sustainable business model.
Over the last ten years, Wayne has consulted to numerous Museums and government agencies including Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Canadian Museum of Civilization, Canada Lands, and the Regional District of Fraser Fort George. He has served as a grants adjudicator for the Department of Canadian Heritage, co-chaired two B. C. Museums Association conferences, delivered papers at provincial and international Museum conferences, and currently serves as a member of the Community Heritage Commission, a statutory committee of the City of Kelowna. He is a published author of numerous heritage related papers and books, a radio and recording narrator, and has co-produced two award-winning television documentaries. Wayne is also a published fiction writer.
Wayne holds a Bachelors Degree from the University of British Columbia and a Masters Degree in Historical Geography (U. B. C.) where his thesis, Irrigating the Okanagan: 1860 - 1920, explored the greening of the Okanagan Valley as it were. Wayne taught at Okanagan University College for ten years in the Geography Faculty where he headed up courses in the Regional Geography of Canada, Regional Geography of British Columbia, and the Historical Geography of British Columbia.
Email : wwilson@kelownamuseums.ca
Phone: (250) 763.2417 ext. 23
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Debbie Rehm
Associate Director, Administration and Operations
Debbie joins the Kelowna Museums in 2009 after holding positions in human resources and management. Debbie was previously the Manager of Human Resources for Lake City Casinos where she was involved in the full range of Human Resources functions in addition to other management duties. Debbie's background on the Prairies is in both the non-profit sector as well as business and she brings a range of formal training and practical experience to the Kelowna Museums.
Email : drehm@KelownaMuseums.ca
Phone: 250-763-2417 ext 24
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Tracy E. Satin
Associate Director, Collections and Conservation
Growing up in Canada and Europe, Tracy gained a deep appreciation for Cultural Heritage. Tracy holds a Bachelor of Arts in Archaeology from Brock University, a Masters of Arts from the University of Alberta, and a Diploma in Collections Conservation and Management from Sir Sandford Fleming College.
Tracy comes to the Kelowna Museums after working in various sized institutions throughout Canada, the United States and Europe, including the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property and the Smithsonian Institution.
As Associate Director, Collections and Conservation, Tracy is responsible for the coordination, leadership and implementation of all collection and conservation based initiatives for the Kelowna Museums. Tracy manages the Kelowna Museums Artefact Collection and Registration Services, the Kelowna Public Archives, and the Ursula Surtees Regional Conservation Laboratory.
Tracy also works on the Museums Regional Conservation Outreach Program and works with the City of Kelowna to assess various works from the City's Public Art Program. In addition she participates in exhibition and education activities and is working to develop collections and conservation based opportunities within the Kelowna Museums, city and region.
Email : conservation@kelownamuseums.ca
Phone: (250) 763.2417 ext. 26
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Patti Kilback
Associate Director, Exhibitions & Public Programming
Previous to becoming the Associate Director, Exhibitions & Public Programming, Patti held the position of Curator of Education with the Kelowna Museums since September 2006. Previously she held the position of Education Assistant with the Museums. She holds a Degree of Fine Arts from OUC/UBC and has held several positions in the Business, Fine Arts and Cultural sectors of Vancouver and Kelowna.
Patti finds working in Exhibitions and Public Programming a wonderful opportunity to create excitement and connections throughout the community. Everyone has a history to share and developing programs to reach many diverse groups is a very satisfying part of this position.
A strong passion of Patti's is in reaching all members of the community. In her volunteer position as Vice President for Cool Arts, she finds great satisfaction in providing opportunities at the museums and various cultural partners for the developmentally disabled adults who participate with this group.
As a member of several local boards, Patti continues to be involved in many exciting and rewarding relationships in our community.
Email : pkilback@kelownamuseums.ca
Phone: (250) 868.4876
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Donna Johnson
Archivist
Donna was born in Grenfell, Saskatchewan, moved to Kelowna when she was eight years old and has been here ever since. She graduated from Kelowna Secondary School and started volunteering with the Kelowna Museums Society at just 18 years old. In 1978, she worked as Program Coordinator of the Education Department and helped organize the Archives. In 2000, Donna officially moved to the position of Archivist.
As the Archivist, Donna is responsible for assisting researchers, accepting archival donations, and general maintenance and organization of the Archives. Over the last four years, the Kelowna Public Archives has undergone extensive renovations which have created more space and easier access for staff and researchers. The public can access the archives to gain a wealth of information and photos and Donna encourages anyone to contact her about the services this department provides.
Email : archives@kelownamuseums.ca
Phone: (250) 763.2417 ext. 25
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Shannon Johnston
Curator of Education
Shannon comes from an Art History background. She studied Studio Arts at Capilano College and served as a Coordinator and Instructor for the West Vancouver Arts Council. In addition, she has coordinated and taught various children's art programs at the Kelowna Art Gallery.
Shannon has traveled extensively overseas, spending several years working abroad as an au pair in the United Kingdom. Her love of art and history has taken her to over twenty countries to date and to some of the world's major museums and art galleries.
Shannon is very involved in her community and has volunteered with the Canadian Cancer Society, the Arthritis Society, and the Canadian Red Cross, to name but a few of her community involvements.
Email : education@kelownamuseums.ca
Phone: (250) 868-4836
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Jasmine Marshall
Curatorial Assistant
Jasmine completed her B.A. at Okanagan University College, with a major in Anthropology and a minor in Spanish. One semester of her final year was spent studying at the Instituto Tecnol y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, in Cuernavaca, Mexico. Jasmine is currently working towards a diploma from the University of Victoria's Cultural Resource Management Program.
Jasmine has worked for the Kelowna Museums Society since May 2005, first in Collections and Registration as the Collections Assistant, before becoming part of the curatorial team in May 2006. Part of a long time Kelowna orcharding family, Jasmine is right at home working and teaching out of the BC Orchard Industry Museum.
Email : orchard@kelownamuseums.ca
Phone: (250) 763.0433
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Jackie Dreger
Curatorial Assistant / Wine Shop Assistant
Originally from Winnipeg and after living in Vancouver for a decade, Jackie moved to Kelowna in 2006. Wine country was beckoning, and loudly.
It was traveling in Europe that her passion for both Wine and Design was solidified. Upon her return she completed her education in Communication Design and holds the 2nd level Wine and Spirit Education Trust Certificate with plans to complete the 3rd level next spring.
"I knew there was a job somewhere on the planet where I could fuse my two passions and be rewarded for it."
Those two paths converged at the Kelowna Museums. Jackie divides her time between the BC Wine Museum where she is designing the Viniculture Exhibit and Curatorial projects for the Okanagan Heritage Museum.
Email : exhibitions@kelownamuseums.ca
Phone: (250) 763.2417 ext 27
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Keith Boehmer
Curatorial Assistant
Keith was an Army Brat or the child of a Canadian Forces member during the Cold War era. Born in Calgary, he moved east for several years, and then came to Westbank in 1976. He has worked in many fields, such as electronic production and repair, front-line customer service, but felt at home when he began to explore the world of Cultural Resource Management.
He accepted a volunteer position in the Okanagan Military Museum (OMM) when it first opened to the public with year round programming in 1999. The position evolved into full-time employment that is challenging, rewarding, and constantly changing. My job requires self-study and application of various new skills like material conservation, archival material description theory, interpretation and exhibition techniques, and volunteer management, to name just a few. Every query is a chance to learn, every visitor is a chance to grow, and every project is a chance to contribute to our community. Keith invites you to come and explore our rich history and your family's part of it at the OMM!
Email : kboehmer@kelownamuseums.ca
Phone: (250) 763.9292
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Teresa Boehmer
Collections Clerk
Teresa was born and raised in the Calgary area. After working there as a Salesperson and Accounting Clerk, she and her children followed her husband Keith, to the Sunny Okanagan in 1998.
While looking for a full-time job she started as a volunteer with the Okanagan Military Museum Society (OMMS), then in the "Dungeon" of the Laurel Packinghouse and has been with them since 1999.
During the last eight years working as a Data Entry Clerk, and an Insolvency Technician, she continued to volunteer at the OMM. When the operations of the Okanagan Military Museum integrated with the Kelowna Museums in 2006, she became a part time contractor to maintain and develop the collections and archival records systems.
Email : tboehmer@kelownamuseums.ca
Phone: (250) 763.9292
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Charles Colk
Wine Shop Associate
Charles Colk has been a resident of this beautiful city for 40 years.
Before joining the Wine Museum, he proudly worked for People's Food Market and then People's IGA from 1969 to 2003. My duties there included ordering, inventory control, and customer service.
When opportunity knocked in June 2003, Charles was very excited about becoming a member of the Wine Museum team. He has Food Safe Levels 1 and 2, the Serving it Right Manager's License certificate, and has completed Howard Soon's Wine Appreciation course. His duties include ordering, inventory control, customer service, and WEST Event assistance.
Email : wine@kelownamuseums.ca
Phone: (250) 868.0441
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Peter Fearon
Wine Shop Associate
Peter is a retired water resources engineer who has had a love of wine and has made wine for over thirty years. After an engineering career that included working in North and South America, three years in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and finally a short assignment in Afghanistan with the UN, he returned to Kelowna, retired from engineering, completed the OUC Winery Assistant program and became Assistant Winemaker at the former Pinot Reach Cellars. Peter has Food Safe and Serve It Right Managers License.
The opportunity of working at the Wine Museum allows Peter to pass on his love for BC and our wonderful wines.
Email : wine@kelownamuseums.ca
Phone: (250) 868.0441
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Nikki Valletta
Rental Facilities Coordinator
Nikki has experience in fundraising, marketing, and providing support services for the private and non-profit education and social service sectors. After moving to the Okanagan from Ontario, Nikki began studying at the Okanagan School of Business with a focus on Marketing and Communications.
As the Rental Facilities Coordinator, Nikki is excited about promoting our unique spaces where past and present combine to form a rich backdrop and rental venue for groups large or small.
Email : bookings@kelownamuseums.ca
Phone: 250-763-2417 ext 28
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Michelle Harvey
Education Assistant
Michelle has recently moved back to Kelowna after spending the last six years living and teaching in North-Eastern China. Thrilled to be back in her home town, Michelle brings years of experience in teaching and an extensive understanding of the Okanagan and other cultures. Michelle has a Bachelor of Arts in English as well as a Bachelor of Education and she can also speak Mandarin and French.
Phone: 250-868-4836
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