The Delta Museum will finally get a new home, but the way it's run will also change.
Members of the Delta Museum and Archives Society gathered for a special meeting Wednesday evening to vote on whether they should sign a memorandum of understanding with the Corporation of Delta that would see the municipality assume day-to-day control of the museum. They voted in favour of the proposal.
Last month society chair Barbara Baydala confirmed Delta had proposed to the museum board that a new facility be located on the first floor of the former courthouse building in Ladner's civic precinct, adjacent to the Delta Archives and Edgar Dunning Reading Room.
However, one of the terms is the municipality take over day-to-day operations of the museum and archives. It essentially means taking control from the society.
The museum, which had been housed in the century-old former municipal hall building in Ladner Village, is now permanently closed and volunteers are preparing to move the artifacts to temporary storage provided by Delta. Once vacated this summer, Delta plans to undertake major renovations to that building to convert it for other public uses.
Never interested in going back, the society had long requested a new, more modern facility. The Delta Historical Society moved into the former municipal hall in 1969.
Board member Teresa Cooper at Wednesday's meeting told the approximately two dozen in attendance, including current and former board members, museum staff and representatives from the Corporation of Delta, the historic but inadequate Delta Street building was never meant to be a permanent home.
Noting the condition of the current building is dire, and that funding was a challenge, she said the museum society has a great opportunity to work with Delta.
Baydala described some of the benefits, including being able to host interactive exhibits and events at the 8,500-square-foot facility. She added the society would continue to be involved as well as have a representative from the board become a member of Delta's parks, recreation and culture commission.
Delta CAO George Harvie said the arrangement will give the society resources and more flexibility, including being able to host exhibits at municipal facilities throughout Delta.
The agreement stipulates the society will remain the owner of the collection and that the society's constitution and bylaws would not have to change.
The unionized staff will become employees of Delta. Delta will fund the needed renovations.
The new museum is to open next year. Outreach exhibits and presentations have been put on hold until after the move.
