Museum Docent Positions Available:
The Tollkeeper’s Cottage Museum, Toronto
Job Title: Volunteer Museum Docent
Reports to: President,
Community History Project
Job Description: A Museum Docent
is a creative, imaginative, enthusiastic individual, who provides
interpretative
services in the first person to Museum visitors
through guided tours and workshops, as well as
special events such as
family programs, exhibit openings, adult activities, and Museum Outreach
programs. The Museum Docent Interprets Museum
artefacts and how they were used by an individual during a certain period or more
generally during a specific period. The Museum Docent takes on a persona of
someone who had lived in the cottage and utilizes the techniques of inquiry and storytelling encouraging
visitors to explore the Tollkeeper’s Cottage and its surrounding neighborhood.
Visits by tour groups are approximately 30 minutes in
length. Special features and tours will include new additions to the museum.
Museum Docents are also required to know the natural history of the escarpment
and what grew on it and may assist in the annual Food Focus Program.
Qualifications:
§ Dedication to promoting local history.
§ Successfully complete the Docent Training
Program and keep informed of newly uncovered historical information pertaining
to the Museum.
§ Able to work effectively and cooperatively
with other Docents, volunteers, and a diverse public.
Time Requirements:
§ Attend ten 2 hour training sessions part of
which may be working along with a staff docent.
§ Additional readings.
§ After successful completion of the Docent
Training Program, volunteer for a minimum of one day a month for a minimum of
one year.
§ Assist in workshops for the public.
§ Attend regular meetings of the Community History
Project .
Location:
§ Tollkeeper’s
Cottage Museum (Davenport Road and Bathurst Street, Toronto, Ontario)
What the Museum offers you:
§ The opportunity
to learn about the history of the national tollkeeping system and one of the oldest
tollgate cottages (circa 1835) surviving anywhere in Canada, and its
surrounding neighbourhood.
§ The chance to
improve your public speaking and interpretive skills.
§ The occasion to
work with others as part of a motivated and dedicated team.
§ The chance to
make a difference!
What the Museum asks of
you:
§ To attend
informative and fun docent-training classes.
§ To honour your
time commitment for all scheduled assignments.
§ To hand-make
your own Docent costume.
§ To become a
member of the Community History Project.
§ To be flexible.
If interested please contact us via post, telephone, or drop into to cottage some Saturday and speak to a Docent...
Via Post: Community History Project
(Tollkeeper’s Cottage Museum)
c/o Spadina Road Library
10 Spadina Road
Toronto, Ontario M5R 2S7
Email: tollkeeperscottage@gmail.com
Fax: 416-515-7546
For further information,
please email or telephone us at:
Email: tollkeeperscottage@gmail.com
Telephone: 416-515-7546 (Thursdays
and Fridays, 12:00 to 4:00 pm, otherwise please leave a message.)