N.S. man named national museum volunteer of the year

A Nova Scotia man is being celebrated for his work helping a small museum on the LaHave Islands stay afloat for the last 25 years.

Doug Berrigan, who was born on Bell Island, N.S., and returned home after his retirement, was named national museum volunteer of the year by the Canadian Museums Association and the Canadian Federation of Friends of Museums earlier this month.

"It was quite a surprise," said the 79-year-old. "I don't look at things that I do as being any different than many other volunteers… we do it because we like to do it and we don't expect any special recognition."

Berrigan is the president of the LaHave Islands Marine Museum, a small museum celebrating family life and the history of the inshore fishery in the area with over 4,000 nautical items. He estimates he spends between 600 and 700 hours volunteering at the museum each year.

Rosemary Wagner, the executive director of the Canadian Federation of Friends of Museums, said there are over 100,000 museum volunteers in Canada. But she said Berrigan stood out among the many nominations.

"He's got a vision for the museum," said Wagner. "It was really a small museum, but it's really a gem in the Nova Scotia museum network."

The LaHave Islands Marine Museum is located in the former United Methodist Church on Bell Island, N.S. (LaHave Islands Marine Museum)

The museum's board is fully run by volunteers, but Berrigan said three students are hired to welcome visitors each summer.

Open from June 1 to Sept. 1, Berrigan said the museum welcomed close to 2,500 visitors last year.

Later this year, he will turn 80, and though he plans to continue volunteering, he's hoping to pass the torch to a new president at the museum in the near future.

"It's time for a change," he said.

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