Museum Interpreter/Demonstrator

Heritage Park Historical Village; Calgary; On-site; CAD 1,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player in heritage and education seeks passionate individuals for a seasonal role in historical interpretation. This engaging position allows you to immerse visitors in the rich history of Western Canada, utilizing storytelling and hands-on activities. You will work in a beautiful park setting, where each day brings new experiences. Ideal candidates will have strong public speaking skills and a commitment to delivering exceptional visitor experiences. If you love history and enjoy engaging with diverse audiences, this opportunity is perfect for you!

Benefits

Flexible work arrangements

Free entrance to the Park

Employee discounts on food and retail

Free parking

Qualifications

• Enrollment in secondary school; post-secondary education is an asset.
• Experience in customer service or museum education preferred.

Responsibilities

• Engage the public through historical interpretation and demonstrations.
• Create a welcoming atmosphere for visitors with a customer-focused approach.

Skills

Customer Service

Public Speaking

Historical Interpretation

Interpersonal Skills

Flexibility and Adaptability

Education

Secondary School Education

Post-Secondary Education in Western Canadian History

Tools

Safety Equipment

Costuming

Job description

Department: Programming & Experience - Interpretation

Position Type: Seasonal

Hourly Rate: $16.50

Contract Start Date: April 19, 2025

Contracts End Date: October 30, 2025

Hours: Varies and includes weekdays, weekends, and statutory holidays

What we offer:

• Flexible work arrangements where no one day is similar
• Working in a beautiful park setting
• Free entrance to the Park, including to our many public special events
• Employee discounts on food and retail items and free parking

Who We Are:

Heritage Park is Canada's largest living history museum and offers visitors a chance to experience life in Western Canada from the 1860s to the early 1950s. The Park features historical buildings, costumed interpreters, working antiques, and various exhibits that provide insight into the region's past.

Job Overview:

Under the direction of the Exhibit Lead Hands, this position will interpret inside designated exhibits or outdoor areas and relay historical information to the public through a variety of interpretive techniques and demonstrations primarily in our Gasoline Alley and Innovation Crossing museum exhibit spaces.

Responsibilities:

Interpretation and Visitor Engagement

• Educates & engages the public in transportation, energy & resources history, along with related skills & traditions; focusing on time period from late 1800s-1950s of Western Canada.
• Delivers programs and hands-on activities using techniques that include traditional museum interpretation, storytelling, and demonstrations;
• Works in period appropriate clothing at assigned themed areas– both inside traditional museum exhibits, living history exhibits and in outdoor spaces without temperature control.
• Prepares assigned exhibit or space using provided materials for programming & ensures care of associated artefacts;
• Uses the associated equipment/programming objects in accordance with safety, security, and cleaning standards;
• Operates the assigned exhibit(s) and associated equipment, where applicable, in accordance with safety, security, and cleaning standards.
• Provide an exceptional visitor experience through friendly and courteous interactions with guests, staff, and volunteers, using polite greetings, actively acknowledging guests, and handling situations positively.
• Create a welcoming atmosphere for visitors with a customer-focused approach, providing courteous and friendly answers to inquiries and valuable information to enhance the overall visitor experience.
• Perform other duties as required.

Organizational Excellence and Wellbeing

• Contribute to inspiring and immersive experiences at the Park through your roles and responsibilities by engaging in Heritage Park initiatives that align with the overall mission and vision of the Park.
• Demonstrate commitment to workplace health and safety by complying with Heritage Park's Health, Safety and Environment Management System (HSEMS), following safe work practices, reporting work-related incidents, injuries and hazards, participating in employer training, and adhering policies including the Code of Conduct and the Workplace Violence and Harassment Policy.
• Actively support a positive work environment by creating an atmosphere of inclusion, engagement and fulfillment in line with Heritage Park values.
• Demonstrate responsible stewardship of our people, collections and financial assets by ensuring that they are handled with integrity, sustainability, and a focus on long-term benefits for the organization and its stakeholders.

Required Qualifications:

• Enrollment in or completion of secondary school education; post-secondary education in related areas (Western Canadian History, historical interpretation, communications) would be an asset.
• Previous experience in customer service, museum education, or interpretation is preferred.
• Knowledge of automotive history and/or resource history of Western Canada is preferred.
• Experience working with diverse groups of people.
• Confident in engaging with large groups of people and has strong public speaking skills.
• Flexibility and adaptability to changing situations.
• Ability to work independently as well as in a team.
• Demonstrated strong interpersonal and communication skills in a client-faced setting.
• All successful candidates (over the age of 18) will be required to go through Police Information Check as a condition of employment.

Special Clothing and Equipment:

• Appropriate costuming and safety equipment will be provided by Heritage Park.
• Footwear, as designated by the Heritage Park Costume Department, will be provided by the employee.

Special Working Conditions:

• The position will be exposed to weather extremes as it works in unheated buildings and outdoors for extended periods of time.
• This position is physically demanding, and the incumbent must have the ability to stand for long periods of time and walk throughout the Park for extended periods.

Hours of Work:

• Full-time hours are available from mid-May to Labour Day, with weekend work during September and October (until Thanksgiving); part-time hours are also available throughout the season.
• The schedule varies and may include weekdays, weekends, and statutory holidays.