Change of Command

The corner office at Fort York will be empty for a little while starting June 1, 2004, when Jo Ann Pynn, Museum Administrator since August 2000, decamps for Metro Hall. Jo Ann began working at the fort following the reorganization that resulted from amalgamation. At that time Carl Benn became Chief Curator for the City of Toronto and the position of Museum Administrator, Fort York was created to ensure the effective management of the City’s most significant museum site.

Not initially thought of as a ‘fort guy’, Jo Ann has earned the respect of others in the professional fort community. Working with seasoned staff, informed community members and consultants, and professionals at Parks Canada she has learned more than just a new vocabulary. In four years she has been a key participant in many important projects in and around the fort: Adding New Buildings, the Open Space Design and Implementation Plan, expanding the boundaries of the Designated Place, the Commemorative Integrity Statement, and annual events like the Tecumseh Festival and the TCDSB History Fair. In addition she has represented Fort York and the Culture Division working with other City staff in Parks, Planning, Urban Design, and Works and Emergency Services on projects like the Fort York Neighbourhood Public Realm, Front Street Extension Environmental Assessment, and the design and construction of Fort York Boulevard.

Jo Ann is not leaving responsibility for the fort completely, though. She has accepted the position of Supervisor of Cultural Assets, taking on a broader role in the Cultural Affairs section of the Culture Division. This includes responsibility for the capital works program for all of the City’s culture properties, including public art. Foremost among these, of course, are the arts centres and museums, hence her ongoing involvement at Fort York.

It will likely be several months before the position of Museum Administrator is filled at Fort York. In the meantime Jo Ann promises to provide as much continuity and support as the staff and the new board feel they require.