New Member Profile: Gareth Evans
We are pleased to introduce Gareth Evans as the newest member of the association to be featured! Gareth is the Programming and Visitor Services Supervisor at Government House & Edwardian Gardens in Regina, Saskatchewan. With nearly 10 years of experience working for the Government of Saskatchewan, he has contributed to various projects, from heritage designation to managing public programs. In this Q&A, Gareth shares his passion for heritage and remembrance with us:
Q: How did you get started in heritage conservation?
A: “From a young age I was taken to a number of different museums and heritage sites by my parents. That passion grew during my elementary and secondary education as I always did my best in those courses. It led to my degrees and then my focus in using my degrees for work. I started volunteering in my hometown before leading to opportunities throughout western Canada.”
Gareth furthered his academic journey at Kent University, where he pursued a Master’s in War, Media, and Society. His research focused on the symbolism of the poppy in Interwar Britain, from 1919 to 1938, exploring how the poppy became a powerful symbol for fundraising and the preservation of wartime memory.
Q: Tell us one of the most important things you have learnt in your professional career so far?
A: “The most successful way to reach out to the public about history is to have programming that highlights the collections in a way that is purposeful, thematic, relevant, and engaging.”
Q: What do you consider your greatest achievement so far?
A: “Revamping the visitor experience at Government House & Edwardian Gardens. I introduced first–person costumed tours at our site instead of tours of the museum in modern day clothing. It’s been a more immersive experience that the visitors have responded well to based on feedback.”
The center tailors the visitor experience to individual preferences, offering a wide range of tours and activities for everyone. Gareth’s favorite program are the costumed tours offered at the heritage site. By ensuring guides remove any modern items, like Apple Watches, both performers and visitors can fully immerse themselves in the year 1905, when the Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan lived there.
Q: What has been your favorite project that you have worked on?
A: “The most impactful project I’ve worked on was the provincial designation of the Regina Indian Industrial School Cemetery. As someone who hadn’t learned anything about residential schools until that moment, I realized that I (amongst others) had a lot to learn about a shameful piece of Canadian history. It has been one of the most eye-opening experiences I’ve had the opportunity to work on.”
Just six months into his role as the Heritage Designations Advisor for the Saskatchewan government, Gareth began working on the provincial heritage designation for the Regina Indian Industrial School Cemetery. In his capacity as the provincial liaison, Gareth played a crucial role in guiding the designation process. The initiative was driven by a dedicated group committed to protecting the site, with the City of Regina also pursuing its own designation efforts at the same time.
The property owners were initially concerned that protecting the site might hinder future development plans. Despite these concerns, the municipal designation was granted first, which paved the way for provincial recognition. Gareth was then tasked with completing the nomination form and securing public support for the provincial designation. To achieve this, he published news articles and ran advertisements to ensure there were no objections from the community. Once public support was confirmed, the Minister approved the designation.
This approval marked the beginning of efforts to create grave markers and a plaque to inform visitors about the cemetery’s history. Four years after the project began, Gareth’s final responsibility was the unveiling of the plaque. The sensitive nature of the site extended the timeline, but Gareth and his team were committed to ensuring full consensus and avoiding any delays once work commenced. Now fully completed, the site commemorates the lives of the 38 children who died and were buried at the residential school. It stands as an important heritage site, serving to educate the public and remind us of a critical part of Canadian history that should never be forgotten.
Gareth’s passion for heritage education and conservation is a valuable addition to our CAHP Prairies & Northwest Territories Chapter. If you’d like to learn more about him or connect, click the button below!
