PERSEVERANCE
&
PREPARATION 22
What It Takes to Reopen During a Pandemic
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hen COVID-19 forced the closure of the museum on March 17, like so many other organizations, we had to scramble. Not only did we have to get our staff set up to work remotely, we had to ensure the millions of objects and records we hold for the people of British Columbia were protected. We also had to find ways to look after our beetle colony and our living exhibits, safeguard the site, continue to provide access to archival records, conduct research and deliver learning programs, and prepare for reopening.
As we worked through the details of our phased return and reopening, we put health and safety at the centre. That meant things took a bit longer than some people expected, but it allowed us the time to get it right. The hard work has paid off, and the museum began its phased public reopening on June 19. IMAX Victoria opened with reduced capacity on July 3, and we began increasing onsite access to the BC Archives on July 30. When you visit next, you’ll notice some changes. For more information, visit rbcm.ca. Continue reading to learn about some of the work that has gone into making your museum and archives visit a safe experience.
Risk Management
By Bill Chimko Risk, Security Services and Business Continuity Manager
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he pandemic presented a unique challenge for security and museum operations: it impacted our staffing, suppliers and industry partners, as well as the availability of personal protective equipment (PPE). Through every moment of the crisis, we had to manage unexpected challenges while maintaining a complete security and risk management program, even while the museum was closed. For reopening, our priority was to ensure complete safety for staff and visitors. We immediately instituted physical separation and room capacity measures, elevated cleaning, and new first aid and health assessment procedures for our teams and work units, and we quickly established escalated protocols to reduce safety risk to the public and museum collections. When you’re next at the museum, you’ll see security controlling capacity in the galleries and giving polite reminders to maintain physical distancing when needed, all while maintaining the highest standards of visitor experience and safety.
