Become a Mentee

The Capital Heritage Mentorship Program will connect experienced senior managers in the broader culture sector and the heritage sector, with new graduates wishing to embark on a career in heritage, and emerging professionals who wish to move their career to the next level.

The initiative will invite 8 developing professionals to participate in small groups (2 Mentees and 1 lead Mentor) in a strategic program to help transition and plan for the coming years.  As a Mentee, you will receive valuable feedback, guidance and access to networking opportunities, leading to more confidence and an expanded career network.

This year all our mentees, have FREE access to the National Trust Conference in Chateau Laurier in Ottawa this year! The conference is Canada’s largest Heritage learning and networking event and a brilliant opportunity to meet the pioneers working in the field!

The focus will be on

• Career development:  creating and setting personal career goals with next steps;
• Networking:  how to effectively create and build on professional connections; and
• Leadership:  developing the required skills and knowledge to become a leader in Ottawa’s heritage sector

The program will kick off with a meet and greet session where you will meet your Mentor and fellow Mentees.  Throughout the 5 months of the program, you will be encouraged to be proactive in your mentoring relationship – sharing experiences and gaining insights into working within the heritage sector.

Groups will be sent a bi-monthly email with a list of opportunities including networking and employment opportunities; events and activities; and articles of interest.  We will reach out regularly to touch base on your progress.

The final wrap-up session will bring people back together to discuss lessons learned and strategies that Mentees should use to work most effectively in the culture and heritage sectors.  A forum engaging future program participants is also planned.

There are two streams within the program: 

• Mentorship 
• Mentorship + Fall Internship

Stream 1:  Mentorship

• You will have the opportunity to work with a Mentor and receive guidance, support and leadership as you develop your career in heritage and/or the broader cultural sector.
• Together, you will create a plan of action and determine how frequently you would like to connect with one another.  In addition, there may be monthly program/larger group meetings and mini workshops that will focus on career development and networking.
• Each Mentee is allocated $100 for eligible program expenses (printing fees, travel to sites, conference or networking event fees, parking at related sites, and materials), which is contingent upon completion of the program.
• Minimum time commitment:  2.5 hours per month

Stream 2:  Mentorship + Fall Internship

• You will have the opportunity to work with a Mentor/Intern host and receive guidance, support and leadership as you develop your career in heritage and/or the broader cultural sector.
• Together, you will create a plan of action and determine how frequently you would like to connect with one another.  In addition, there may be monthly program/larger group meetings and mini workshops that will focus on career development and networking.
• You will have the opportunity to acquire valuable work experience and skills.
• Positions may last up to 2 months, to be determined by the host organization.
• Each intern will receive up to $6930 for their work, which is contingent upon completion of the internship and a satisfactory review from the host organization.
• Minimum time commitment for internship:  17.5 hours per week for the duration of the fall internship, and 2.5 hours per month for program activities.
• More information on the internship options will be provided as projects are confirmed. Please see Mentor information below for internships details.

Please select which stream you are interested in on your application.

Applicants must:

• Be within the first 10 years of their professional career
• Have completed their education or will graduate from a post-secondary institution*
• Be a CHC Member in good standing (you can apply or renew your membership here)
• Be unemployed or underemployed (internship stream only)
• Be willing to commit to the full duration of the work term (internship stream only)

*Alternatively, if you do not have a degree and are not in the process of pursuing one, Capital Heritage Connexion is open to discussing how you have gained the equivalent skills outside of the formal education environment to be successful in this mentorship program. 

Applicants are ineligible if they:

• Are considered a mid-career or an established professional (10+ years of professional career)
• Have another full-time job (over 30 hours a week) during the work assignment (internship stream only)

Note:  Priority will be given to students who have not previously participated in a summer or fall work experience program.

August- September:  Application & Selection Process

18 October: Capital Heritage Mentorship Program Kickoff Meeting. Mentor-Mentee meet & greet.

26-28 October: National Trust Conference

October- February:  Monthly check-ins with progress reports; Scheduled program meetings and mini workshops

14 March:  Capital Heritage Mentorship Program Forum. The final wrap-up session will bring everyone back together so Mentees and Mentors can share their successes.  The focus will be on findings – lessons learned and strategies for Mentees to get started in the culture and heritage sectors.

 

Ruth Mills

President
Watson’s Mill 

Ruth Mills has been in the heritage field in various roles for over 50 years starting with her summer and part-time job as interpreter at a historic site in Alberta. She worked for 22 years for Parks Canada, as Period Costume Designer and Textiles Specialist where she contributed to  the development and maintenance of historic costume programs across the country. Former c o-editor of the Textile Conservation Newsletter, she was a business owner for 14 years as a milliner and textile consultant. She then worked for the Department of National Defence for 10 years as Technical Authority of Badges and Insignia which overlapped her service on the Board of Directors of Watson’s Mill Manotick Inc, since 2018. She is currently President of the Board. Ruth holds a Bachelor of Science (Household Economics) specializing in historic clothing & textiles from the University of Alberta in Edmonton and studied Museum Technology at Algonquin College in Ottawa.

Ruth believes a multi-disciplinary approach to heritage management, excellent problem-solving skills and excellent communication skills are essential to a successful career in the museum field.

Internship

The Watson’s Mill intern will be supervised by Ruth Mills.  This internship will entail collections, conservation, exhibition development and site interpretation responsibilities at the Watson’s Mill.

The ideal candidate will have excellent interpersonal skills; will be enthusiastic & creative, have excellent communication & organizational skills, be proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, be capable of working in a team (including co-workers & volunteers) with minimal supervision, and have a great sense of humor!

An intern at Watson’s Mill, Manotick, would also benefit from the experience of our staff: curator, finance/development manager & programming/facilities manager.

 

Sara MacKenzie

Ottawa Museum Network
Executive Director

Sara MacKenzie joined the Ottawa Museum Network as Executive Director in July 2021. She is an experienced executive and communications professional with over 23 years of experience in the federal public service, most recently as Director General of Strategic Communications for Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada. She has an extensive background in leadership, governance, strategic and risk communications, media relations, digital engagement, and corporate communications. Sara has directed several successful national public education campaigns.

Sara was born and raised in the Ottawa Valley.  She has a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Ottawa and volunteers her time on several boards of cultural and heritage organizations.

Nick McCarthy

Director of Marketing, Communications and Community Outreach

Beechwood Cemetery

Nick McCarthy has been with Beechwood Cemetery Company and Beechwood Cemetery Foundation since 2017. Nick has a decade of strategic communications experience working in private, public and not-for-profit sectors. Prior to joining Beechwood, Nick was employed as the Director of Communication with the Association of Justice Counsel. Nick began his career in various federal government departments and agencies and then moved to the Not-For-Profit sector.  

At Beechwood Cemetery, Nick plans and hosts nearly 100 heritage, historical and commemorative events at year, publishes a quarterly magazine, undertakes historical research, writes a monthly historical article for a Bereavement trade publication and is a regular contributor to news media. Beechwood has an entire nationally recognized Reconciling History program, which strives to show both sides of history by not excluding the impact many prominent Canadians buried in our grounds had on the Indigenous community.

Beechwood Cemetery is the National Cemetery of Canada, the National Military Cemetery, the RCMP National Memorial Cemetery, the CSIS National Memorial Cemetery, the Ottawa Police Service Memorial Cemetery as well as a National Historical Site and is home to thousands of prominent and important Canadians of diverse background. 

Internship

The Beechwood Cemetery intern will be supervised by Nick McCarthy. The internship will be undertaking historical research, learning knowledge translation, drafting heritage and historical articles as well as participating in networking opportunities and developing skills in planning and execution of high level commemorative events as well as donor outreach. The internship will also teach the development and delivery of historical guided tours. 2023 marks Beechwood Cemetery’s 150th anniversary and there will be events associated for the remainder of the year.

The ideal candidate will have excellent interpersonal skills, be willing to look at non-traditional historical and heritage sites, be able to write for the public and work independently and as part of a team.

Megan Lafreniere

Senior Loans and Exhibition Officer

Library and Archives Canada

Megan Lafrenière is a Senior Loans and Exhibition Officer with Library and Archives Canada. She has extensive experience in the cultural sector, having worked in museums, galleries and heritage sites for over twenty years, including a commercial gallery of contemporary Canadian art, which she co-founded and managed for over a decade. Megan holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Art History from Concordia University and a Professional Specialization Certificate, Collections Management from the University of Victoria. She was a long-time Director on the board of the Ottawa School of Art and a member of the Canadian Forces Artists Program Advisory Committee. Megan is Chair of Prime Ministers’ Row, an Ottawa based non-profit with a mission to enable citizens and visitors to discover, debate, and reflect on the legacies of Canada’s prime ministers by transforming Sandy Hill’s historical public spaces into an inclusive outdoor cultural destination.