Written & researched by Trish Crowe-Grande, OMAH History Committee
The Founder/Visionary/Trailblazer we recognize is Jane Sorensen.
In 2011, after leading a successful campaign for the Couchiching Jubilee House, Don Ross and the OMAH Board felt Jane Sorensen would be a good addition to their board. Don approached Jane with the idea and she agreed. At this time, OMAH was dealing with cramped space and minimal revenues. Jane started in Fundraising when she joined the Board in 2011, and she soon thereafter became the Co-Chair with Mark Fletcher. “Mark is a marketing guru,” Jane stated. “He was very helpful. He was also part of the Fundraising Committee. We worked well together. It was a great partnership.”
The Canadian Ministry of Heritage and Official Languages had funds available to restore old buildings. The historic Sir Sam Steele Building which was housing OMAH in its basement and first floor would require further renovations to its second and third floors to enable further exhibit and programming space as well as offices. Jane, in her initial task as Fundraising Chair for the Board, was to prepare a proposal for a grant to send to the Ministry to secure the funds. The grant application had been accepted but then the long approval process happened with multiple emails between OMAH and the Ministry, with Jane relying heavily on David Jefferies and Richard Oatway to provide the necessary details required to get the approval finalized.
There was a sense of urgency during this process as it had been reported in the November 9, 2011 Orillia Packet and Times that city council was suggesting OMAH move its current space to the library. Jane had to work closely with the Ministry to ensure they understood the urgency behind the situation. Her diligence resulted in the delivery of $975,000 from the Federal Government on November 11, 2011. This was a game changer as the previous city council had promised their own funding if OMAH was able to secure the Federal Grant.
The Capital Campaign Committee was then created in 2012, separate from the Fundraising Committee, to focus on raising the remaining funds to complete the renovations. Graydon Craig was the Honorary Chair and Jane was the Campaign Manager. Former Board Chair Will Davis stated, “Jane, who was co-chair alongside Mark Fletcher during the second renovation, was a dynamo and did an incredible job leading the Capital Campaign fundraising along with Graydon.” Soon after, architect Rod Young provided the design and costing.
As there were so many balls in the air by this time, OMAH shut its doors to step back and restructure the Board, take a relook at the mission statement and determine what staffing would be required. It was Mark Fletcher who came up with the slogan, “OMAH celebrating history, inspiring creativity.” Jane worked on the Trillium Grant application with the objective to source the necessary supplies and equipment for the education and exhibit space. On top of Jane’s fundraising involvement and the renovations going on, the Board had to update their Governance Manual due to a Museums of Ontario requirement to receive yearly grant funds. Every chapter of the current manual at the time was sent to all Board members for review, with a special thank you to Dan Byers for his phenomenal editing.
Jane Sorensen
OMAH re-opened its doors to the public in the late Spring of 2013. So much had been accomplished in a short timeframe. It took eighteen months from funding approval, to design, and seeing the renovations completed. Jane said, “Wow — what a whirlwind. It felt like we had run a marathon, and we reached the finish line.” Jane was proud of not only the Board but also the community that stepped up. Although she felt a sense of accomplishment, she stepped off the Board in 2014.
Since her time at OMAH, Jane has focused on personal time with her partner and her next big community involvement, becoming the Campaign Manager for Mariposa Hospice. What she loves most about OMAH is there always seems to be something going on at the museum, whether it be art or history or both. She has taken advantage of programming several times over the years. She specifically mentioned the OMAH History Speaker Series, which is available online, as well as some art courses. Having programs available online provides more access and reach to the community. She said “How do you put a dollar value to something like this? It makes for a happier community. OMAH reinvented itself during COVID and has kept going. Having Zoom available, especially in the winter, has been a godsend. Ninette and her staff have done a great job.”
Indeed, they have, and in her own way and time, Jane also did a great job and was a godsend to helping make OMAH what it has become today.