At AGM in June, we had the pleasure of announcing this year’s ICOM Canada International Achievement Award. Now we have the pleasure of sharing this news with the wider membership as well. This year the award is presented to Mrs. Lynn Maranda. Congratulations!
Holding a Master’s degree in Anthropology from the University of British Columbia, Mrs. Maranda has dedicated over four decades of her professional life to the Museum of Vancouver. Her unwavering commitment has seen her serve in various key roles within the institution, including Chief Curator, Registrar, Head of Future Projects, and Curator of Anthropology. Since 2008, she has continued to serve the museum with distinction as Curator Emerita. Throughout this long and illustrious career, Mrs. Maranda has orchestrated numerous exhibitions in close collaboration with First Nations, reflecting her deep respect and commitment to these cultures. Her leadership has also extended to the supervision of major international exhibitions, leaving a lasting mark on the museum landscape, as evidenced by exhibitions such as Captain George Vancouver: A Voyage of Discovery and Discovery 1778: Captain James Cook and the Peoples of the Pacific. Beyond her outstanding work as a museologist, this award also honors her sustained involvement for more than twenty years on the board of the International Committee for Museology (ICOFOM), where she carried out all responsibilities with distinction.
Her countless publications and presentations around the world have had a significant influence on the evolution of perspectives and approaches to the complex issues of contemporary museology. A collection of her most notable essays, written throughout her career, was recently published under the title On Museology: Reflections from the Field (ICOFOM, 2021).* This important work is available online, providing an invaluable resource to the museum community. In sum, Mrs. Maranda’s career as a Canadian museologist, her influential publications, and her ability to transcend cultural boundaries have not only enriched the field but also shaped new perspectives and practices in museology worldwide. The ICOM-Canada International Achievement Award is thus a well-deserved tribute to a figure who has left an indelible mark on the international museum landscape.