Written & researched by Mary Ann Grant, OMAH History Committee
The Founder/Visionary/Trailblazer we recognize is Jean Sarjeant.
In Celebration of Jean Sarjeant
From the beginning, Jean has been a stalwart member, supporter and promoter of the Simcoe County Historical Association (SCHA), of the Orillia Historical Society (OHS) and now of OMAH. She was President of the OHS when it amalgamated with the Sir Sam Steele Art Gallery in 1999 to form the Orillia Museum of Art & History. Ted Duncan, OMAH past President commented, “Jean has had a lifetime of protecting and recording the history of Orillia and the County of Simcoe.”
OMAH celebrates Jean’s many accomplishments and contributions that have so enriched the fabric of Orillia and contributed to success of OMAH over those years.
The Orillia Historical Society Collection (OHS)
In 2009, Jean was heavily involved with other members of the OHS when its artefacts were moved to the storage in the jail cells at OMAH in the Sir Samuel Steele building. This involved cataloguing thousands of items that were stored in numerous locations, including Jean’s own home. It was the start of OMAH’S collection.
Stalwart Supporter of OMAH during the Good Times and the Difficult Times
In 1999, when the OHS was amalgamated with the Sir Samuel Steele Art Gallery and became OMAH, Jean was there, and she continued to be a key supporter after the amalgamation and she remains one to this very day.
Image credit: Source – Kate Grigg
Jean’s role in the merger of the Sir Sam Steele Art Gallery and OHS and OMAH
Jean played an instrumental role in the groundwork for the creation of the Sir Samuel Steele Art Gallery. An inspirational talk by William Withrow retired from the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) in Orillia in 1992 gave her and others the resolve that we could have a public gallery here.
Don Ross summed it up well, “Jean… with a group of others, laid the groundwork for the creation of the Sir Sam Steele Art Gallery. She generated a joint membership list from which to enlist financial support for the first phase of the renovations of the Sir Sam Steele building.”
“Jean knew most of the people in Orillia who were likely to support both the history and arts in the city, and she was steadfast, organized, and determined to reach the target of fundraising. With those funds raised from the community and memberships sold by Jean, the financial targets were surpassed in four instead of six months. Even over the next decade, Jean was constantly volunteering and supplying critical impetus wherever and whenever needed. Without Jean we would simply not have an Orillia Museum of Art & History.”
The Indomitable Jean Serjeant
Ninette Gyorody, OMAH Executive Director added, “…OMAH got lucky with Jean Sarjeant. Over the past ten years that I’ve worked with Jean, I have been continually impressed (sometimes jaw-droppingly so) by her knowledge, not just of the people, but also the businesses, the arts performances and the details that she can include for the museum’s collection, both the objects and the archival materials. Plus, the stories…. she’s got stories!
Through the years, when working on exhibitions or collections projects, if someone was stumped about a historical detail, someone would say, ask Jean, she’ll help or she’ll know the answer. Jean epitomizes the meaning of community. She certainly embodies that, at and for OMAH.
Jean has always been there, leading, helping out in many, many ways. She was there when the Sir Sam Steele Art Gallery and the OHS were amalgamated to become OMAH. She has made an immeasurable mark on the preservation of our heritage.
Over forty years of dedication without waning and still going strong!
Thank You Jean!