CEO of beleaguered Royal B.C. Museum resigns after 16 months
CBC
The CEO of the Royal B.C. Museum stepped down after nearly a year-and-a-half on the job.
The Victoria-based provincial museum's board announced CEO Alicia Dubois's resignation on Friday afternoon.
The change comes a year after the B.C. NDP government scrapped a proposed $800-million renovation and modernization of the facility last June, after coming under fire for weeks from the Opposition.
Board chair Leslie Brown told CBC News the decision to resign was Dubois's, and that the board maintained confidence in her work.
"She was not pushed out in any way, it was her decision to leave," Brown said in an interview Saturday.
"She was given a mandate after the museum project — the rebuild — was cancelled to go out and engage with the public, to find out what they wanted, and to do a cultural transformation ... within the museum staff.
"She has achieved those things … For the next stage of the museum, she didn't think she was the right leader."
Brown said of her board and the museum staff: "Absolutely we are very, very sad … but understood her decision."
CBC News was unable to reach Dubois for comment on Saturday.
Dubois is a lawyer and co-chair of the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business, which describes her as "a proud Indigenous professional." She previously served as a trustee for the Royal Ontario Museum.
The Royal B.C. Museum is currently undergoing a public engagement process about its redevelopment. Dubois toured the province reaching out to different communities to seek their input on the museum's future.
That consultation work, and efforts to increase the institution's "transparency" to the public, Brown said, will continue as the board seeks a new interim CEO to replace Dubois.
That search will get underway this week, Brown said, and she hopes a replacement will be hired by the end of summer, however more details on the hiring process will be decided in coming weeks.
A year ago, when then-premier John Horgan cancelled the costly rebuild plans, he admitted the proposal was out of touch with British Columbians' affordability and health-care concerns.
Many P.E.I. businesses and services will be closed on New Year's Day, after being open for reduced hours on Wednesday, Dec. 31.
Say what you will about Alberta politics, they are seldom boring — at least, not these days.
An orange-crowned warbler was spotted during Hamilton’s annual Christmas bird survey, a “rarity” for birdwatchers, organizers say.
Residents across Windsor-Essex will have several free options to ring in 2026, with outdoor skating parties, fireworks celebrations and more planned for Dec. 31.
With transit fares on the rise in a number of Canadian cities, some experts say it’s time to rethink how we fund public transportation.
WARNING: This story contains references to missing and murdered Indigenous people. Resources can be found at the bottom of this story.
A law mandating new requirements for job postings by companies of over 25 people will go into effect starting Jan. 1, 2026 in Ontario.
New rules set to come into effect in 2026 mean many Ontario homeowners and landlords will have to add carbon monoxide alarms to their New Year's to-do list.
Bryce Leitch and his son Quinton were playing video games in their south London home’s basement on Sunday night when the 9-year-old suddenly said he heard a “weird noise” coming from upstairs.
U.S. authorities have released more details on dozens of high-end motorcycles believed to belong to Ryan Wedding, the former Canadian athlete now accused of running an international drug ring.
The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary says 36-year-old Scott King, has been arrested following a shooting on Monday inside a home in Corner Brook.
Five Nova Scotians, including a popular musician and a former premier, have been appointed to the Order of Nova Scotia for 2025.
The Maritimes suffered through intense drought conditions this summer that left farmers with lower crop yields and, in some cases. feeling already set back as they look ahead to the coming year.