From January to April 2025, Public History certificate students Chelsea Bidaisee and Jackson Li completed work placements at Markham Museum as part of their capstone course for the certificate (HIST 4840 Public History). The museum is dedicated to displaying, preserving and teaching the history of the city of Markham. The students were tasked with designing the second iteration of the Markham Community Makers (MCM) exhibit under the supervision of Markham Museum curators, Janet Reid and Julie Daeschel.*
Markham Community Makers is a play on words meant to highlight the importance of community and creation. The objects themselves, such as a repaired telescope and handmade fabric collages, were made by local artists. However, the exhibit emphasizes the everyday skills used to create the works that are essential to sustaining communities. It communicates the idea that anyone with a passion for creation can be a Maker. Two interactive stations invite visitors to assemble their own collages using magnets and to engineer structures using wooden KEVA blocks. Markham Community Makers is expected to be on display until 2027.
Chelsea and Jackson brought their classroom knowledge to their placement experience, applying public history skills to communicate aspects of the community’s history. For example, interviewing an artist featured in the exhibit allowed them to apply new skills in oral history and incorporate the artist’s voice into their visual display using direct quotations on pop-up signs. Other responsibilities included floor planning, researching, writing interpretive labels to enhance the visitor experience, and physically assembling the exhibit in collaboration with museum staff. Chelsea and Jackson’s time at the museum strengthened their skills as emerging public historians. This placement opportunity was an enriching and memorable experience that will shape their future endeavours.
*Julie Daeschel’s Winter 2017 public history placement at Markham Museum (completed as part of Prof. Jennifer Bonnell’s HIST 4840: Public History course) led to her permanent position as Assistant Curator at Markham Museum.