CCI and CHIN: In Our Words

Ela Keyserlingk is a retired textile conservator who worked at CCI from 1976 to 1997. Originally from Germany, it was love that first brought Ela to Canada, but it was curiosity and determination that led her to an internship opportunity at CCI, which blossomed into an exciting career. In this episode, you will hear Ela tell us what it was like to work on some of Canada’s most important textile objects.

Our first guest from the Canadian Heritage Information Network, otherwise known as CHIN, is Lyn Elliott Sherwood. She was the Director General of CHIN from 1993 to 2003. She then went on to become the Executive Director of the Heritage Group at the Department of Canadian Heritage. During her time at CHIN, she was responsible for the creation of the organization’s most well-known program, the Virtual Museum of Canada (VMC). The VMC is a collection of online exhibits contributed by Canadian museums and heritage institutions. The program is still ongoing but is now managed by the Canadian Museum of History. Lyn Elliott Sherwood spoke to hosts Nathalie Nadeau Mijal and Kelly Johnson about her favourite heart-stirring moments while working at CHIN.

Your hosts, Nathalie Nadeau Mijal and Kelly Johnson, interview Brian Arthur, who was the second director of the Canadian Conservation Institute (CCI). He held this post between 1976 and 1980. Originally from the United Kingdom, Brian Arthur became a world-renowned expert in the conservation of pottery (or as he calls it, "sticking pots together"). He moved to Canada in the early 1970s to work at the Historic Sites Division of Parks Canada. In this episode, you will discover how he guided CCI through challenging early days to become a worldwide leader in conservation. "CCI and CHIN: In Our Words" is a podcast for museum and heritage professionals who want a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the work of the Canadian Conservation Institute (CCI) and the Canadian Heritage Information Network (CHIN).

In this episode, your hosts, Nathalie Nadeau Mijal and Kelly Johnson, interview Charlie Costain. Charlie started working at CCI in 1984 as a conservation scientist, and then he moved through the ranks to become a manager and a director. He also spent two years working as Director General of CHIN, but we are planning to cover his time at CHIN in a future episode. (Stay tuned!) "CCI and CHIN: In Our Words" is a podcast for museum and heritage professionals who want a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the work of the Canadian Conservation Institute (CCI) and the Canadian Heritage Information Network (CHIN).

For nearly 50 years, museum and heritage professionals worldwide have looked to the Canadian Conservation Institute (CCI) and the Canadian Heritage Information Network (CHIN) for their expertise. Now, CCI and CHIN are looking share their histories through interviews with current and former staff members as well as key figures within the fields of conservation and collections management. If you are starting a career in cultural heritage or are simply curious to learn about what goes on behind the scenes at CCI and CHIN, this is the podcast for you.