Collections Assistant
- Program stream:
- Young Canada Works in Heritage Organizations
- Job title:
- Collections Assistant
- Organization name:
- Vancouver Island Military Museum
- Job location:
- Nanaimo, British Columbia
- Length of assignment:
- 2026-09-01 to 2026-12-18 (16 weeks)
- Hourly wage:
- $26.00
The Vancouver Island Military Museum (VIMM) is one of the West Coast’s most significant military history institutions, and has been bringing Canadian military heritage to life for thousands of visitors each year. For four decades, the museum has been dedicated to preserving Canadian (and specifically Vancouver Island) military history through engaging exhibits, featuring artifacts and memorabilia from the War of 1812 right through to Canada’s involvement in Afghanistan. VIMM shares the human experience of war, inviting audiences to engage with Canadian military history in meaningful ways.
Position Overview:
The Education & Public Programs Coordinator shares the Vancouver Island Military Museum’s values of cultural heritage preservation, relationship-building, and openness. The Collections Assistant will work with the General Manager on the first phase of a Collections RE-ORG project.
Learning Opportunities:
This position is suitable for a student in the field of museum, heritage, or curatorial studies. The student will acquire skills in cataloguing, museum standards and policy, RE-ORG methodology, artifact handling and preservation, storage and accession procedures. The student will also gain experience in cultural diversity, working as a team, and working collaboratively with other programs and exhibitions. Professional development and networking opportunities are available in this position.
Duties & Responsibilities
Under the supervision of the General Manager, the Collections Assistant will:
- Organize and update collections lists and databases
- Prepare collections and storage condition reports
- Organize collections storage space
- Organize and update donor files and information
- Coordinate with other key team members in order to complete the assigned tasks
- Maintain log of activities and completed work and submit bi-weekly status reports
- Other tasks as assigned
Requirements (Qualifications, Knowledge, Education and skills)
- Strong attention to detail and excellent organizational skills.
- Fluency in English; excellence in written and verbal communication.
- Familiarity with communication and spreadsheet programs: (MS Office, Google Suite, Zoom, etc.)
- Equally adept at taking direction, working independently, and in a team-oriented environment.
- Ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and meet deadlines.
- Ability to lift heavy objects.
- Ability to ascend and descend stairs safely, as collections space and collections office are on the upper level of the museum.
- Criminal record check (museum will reimburse for this).
The Vancouver Island Military Museum hires on the basis of merit and is strongly committed to equity and diversity within its community. The museum works to be a safe space where all voices are heard and valued, and we encourage diversity in our staff team.
Please apply to:
Carina Nilsson, General Manager
Vancouver Island Military Museum
100 Cameron Road
Nanaimo, B.C. V9R 0C8
Email: oic@militarymuseum.ca
Phone: 250-753-3814
The Vancouver Island Military Museum is situated in downtown Nanaimo’s dynamic waterfront in the Centennial Building, on the traditional territory of the Snuneymuxw First Nation. The museum is close to the Port Theatre, the Nanaimo Gallery, the Nanaimo Museum, and a diverse community of local shops and organizations. The museum’s website can be viewed at: vimilitarymuseum.ca, and the Tourism Nanaimo website can be viewed at: tourismnanaimo.com to see the vibrant attractions and events that are available around the city.
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