Lifelong Grey Roots Volunteer Gilbert Rice Wins Volunteer Award

The Ontario Museum Association (OMA) honoured local volunteer Gilbert Rice with the Volunteer Service Award of Excellence at its annual conference on November 3 in Mississauga. This award recognizes outstanding contributions to the Ontario museum community, with emphasis on innovation and encourages high standards of excellence in the museum field. 

Gilbert’s commitment began in 1964 with the donation of his father’s blacksmith shop tools to the Grey-Owen Sound Museum (now the Grey Roots Museum and Archives).  Since then, Gilbert has been involved with relocating or constructing several key period buildings at the Museum, including the Log House, the pioneer blacksmith shop, the Bluewater Garage and the George Rice Blacksmith Shop.  He continues working to preserve important community collections such as the 1923 American Lafrance pumper truck.  He is a true community leader and has served several terms on the museum board. It is widely recognized that several important pieces of Ontario history would have been lost without Gilbert’s efforts. 

Gilbert has served as an educator to both the public and museum staff. He has generously shares historic local stories and expertise he has gathered over his lifetime with visitors, museum employees, and the volunteer blacksmiths in the replica of his father’s blacksmith shop. His hard work and dedication have saved key parts of Ontario’s heritage. Even at age 90, Gilbert can be found every Tuesday afternoon during the summer in the Bluewater Garage in Moreston Heritage Village.

To learn more about the OMA awards of excellence visit https://members.museumsontario.ca/programs-events/awards-of-excellence

For more information on Grey Roots volunteers visit http://www.greyroots.com/get-involved/volunteering/

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About Grey Roots:

Brought to life in 1955 by the efforts of local Women’s Institute members, Grey County Archives merged with the Museum in 2004, to form Grey Roots Museum and Archives. Grey Roots is a 40,000 square foot facility situated on twenty acres, complete with a seasonally operated living history site – Moreston Heritage Village.  

Grey Roots engages and educates our communities in the human and natural history of Grey County by preserving and sharing collections, stories and memories that define our collective identity and guide our future.