We are Toronto's
City Museum
We offer experiences that tell the histories of Toronto. Enjoy our programming in our downtown exhibition space, throughout the city, and online. Museum of Toronto is Getting Toronto, Together.
Museum of Toronto is a relatively new museum, created to fill a gap in the city’s cultural offerings. Torontonians have long discussed the need for a city museum that would tell the story of Toronto, and several previous attempts to build one were unsuccessful.
In 2014, local philanthropist Diane Blake decided to take on this challenge as a way of giving back to the city. She convened a workshop in June 2014 that brought together a cross-section of people involved in local heritage and culture to envision a museum that would illuminate Toronto’s history, honour its diversity, and help shape the city’s future. Museum of Toronto was incorporated later that year by Blake and her husband, Stephen J. R. Smith.
Enjoy our programming in three places:
- Downtown 401 Richmond
- Throughout the City
- Online
The Story of Museum of Toronto
as told by Ken Greenberg
We are a relatively new museum, created to fill a gap in the city’s cultural offerings.
Torontonians have long discussed the need for a city museum that would tell the story of Toronto, and several previous attempts to build one were unsuccessful. In 2014, local philanthropist Diane Blake decided to take on this challenge as a way of giving back to the city. She convened a workshop in June 2014 that brought together a cross-section of people involved in local heritage and culture to envision a museum that would illuminate Toronto’s history, honour its diversity, and help shape the city’s future by stimulating discussion on urban issues. Museum of Toronto was incorporated later that year by Blake and her husband, Stephen J. R. Smith. Instead of a brick-and-mortar location with galleries and artefacts, the Museum started out as a museum-without-walls, engaging Torontonians online and at pop-up events, exhibits, talks, workshops, and tours throughout the Greater Toronto Area — putting an emphasis on the “My” in Myseum of Toronto, the organization’s first name.
Museum of Toronto appointed Karen Carter as its founding Executive Director. Carter, former Executive Director of Heritage Toronto, is a transformational leader with a passionate, entrepreneurial spirit. She worked with community groups, cultural organizations and artists from the Toronto area and beyond to develop a vision for the Museum as a museological experience like no other. Museum of Toronto officially launched to the public in May 2015. Over the next three years, Carter and the founding Board embarked on the extraordinary work of building strong relationships with communities and residents across the city, inviting them to participate in shaping the conversation around stories that have and haven’t been told, and taking an active part in piecing together our collective record.
In 2018, Museum of Toronto shifted into the next stage of development, with the intention to scale its operations and build its profile as an organization that actively contributes to a strong and diverse city. As the Museum began preliminary planning for a physical space of its own, Jeremy Diamond was appointed as CEO. A public historian for more than 20 years, Diamond held senior leadership roles at several Canadian history organizations including the Vimy Foundation, where he led multi-million-dollar initiatives such as building the Vimy Visitor Education Centre.
In Fall 2021, Heidi Reitmaier joined Museum of Toronto as its third Executive Director after leadership roles at the Art Gallery of Ontario and Museum of Contemporary Art Toronto. With Reitmaier’s arrival, this comprehensive plan, and our new temporary public space on the ground floor of the 401 Richmond cultural building, the Museum is positioned to further expand its capacity and secure a site for a permanent space.
Museum of Toronto has built a base of over 27,000 social media followers, with an email subscriber list of 8,500. We receive 15,000 monthly page views and have welcomed more than 11,000 attendees to our live programming. To date, the Museum has partnered with over 480 individuals and organizations to create meaningful programming. Museum of Toronto received the Peggy Kurtin Memorial Award for Excellence in Heritage in 2017 and two Ontario Museum Association Awards of Excellence, the first in 2016 (a Community Engagement Award for staff member Britt Welter-Nolan for the Intersections festival) and the second in 2020 (a Special Projects Honourable Mention for Wigwam Chi-Chemung). In 2022, the Museum was awarded the Heritage Toronto Award for Public History for Derailed: The History of Black Porters of Canada. In 2023, we opened our most successful exhibition about children’s TV in Toronto and are set to be a major site for Nuit Blanche and featured at the Toronto Outdoor Art Fair.
Museum of Toronto (formerly Myseum) is a not-for-profit corporation under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act, and a charity under the Income Tax Act (Canada).
Staff
Sarah Tumaliuan
Associate Curator, Public Programs and Learning
Sarah is driven by a curiosity for all things Toronto and an unshakeable belief that the arts, culture, and community contribute to thriving cities. Combining her education and experience in the fields of dance, cultural & community development, and public health, she brings an interdisciplinary lens to her work at Museum of Toronto.
Tell us about a Torontonian, living or dead, that you would like to have dinner with.
My ideal dinner companion knows good food, plus would be a great conversationalist, so dinner with Keanu Reeves, please! Crediting the Toronto Reference Library in discovering his love for the arts shows his genuine appreciation for Toronto. He’s not the loudest ambassador of the city, but his heart of gold is Toronto bred.
What is your favourite restaurant in Toronto?
I’ve only been a handful of times, but Lake Inez never lets me down. Thoughtful, ambient, delicious, and daring. Even during the pandemic, their love for crafting dishes endured with curated dinner experiences and soundtracks that could be delivered to your home. Plus, those social media captions, have you read them?
What is your favourite thing about working at Museum of Toronto?
My favourite thing about working at the Museum is going through the transformative and generative process as projects are realized. As projects unfold, and by working alongside colleagues, collaborators, and catalysts in Toronto, I gain a fuller understanding of what shapes Toronto’s past and present. I am constantly learning new sides of this city I call home.
Sarah Tumaliuan
Associate Curator, Public Programs and Learning
Bria Dietrich
Associate Curator, Public Programs and Learning
Bria is a researcher, archivist, and curator who is passionate about the ways art can be used to build and foster community. She has an academic background in art history and fashion and holds a Master’s in Film and Photography Preservation and Collections Management from Toronto Metropolitan University. Bria has worked extensively in both public and private collections in Canada and the United States.
Tell us about a Torontonian, living or dead, that you would like to have dinner with.
80’s movies have always been and will always be my go-to for comfort watching with Uncle Buck being on the top of the list so I’d have to say John Candy. Candy grew up in and around Toronto and had deep roots in the city. He was part of Toronto’s Second City sketch troupe and a cast member of Toronto-based television series SCTV, before rising to international fame. He was also co-owner of the Toronto Argonauts from 1991-1994. Fun Fact: Oct. 31 is John Candy Day in Toronto having been designated by the City of Toronto in 2020 on what would have been Candy’s 70th birthday.
What is your favourite restaurant in Toronto?
SukhoThai on Dundas near Dufferin is a recent favourite. In my humble opinion the green curry is dream worthy.
What is your favourite thing about working at Museum of Toronto?
Getting to work with a committed and compassionate team of amazing people to help share diverse Toronto histories and stories.
Bria Dietrich
Associate Curator, Public Programs & Learning
Davin Henson
Production Lead
Davin brings an extensive array of experience in content creation to Museum of Toronto having spent the last 17 years working in production services for digital, broadcast and theatrical distribution. Starting his career in Southern California, Davin has produced content for clients that include Red Bull Media House, MTV Networks, Here TV, and Interscope Records. More recently, Davin relocated to Toronto and has developed a passion for producing content in the arts and culture sector. In his role at the Museum, Davin aims to use the power of story to contribute to a digital archive of Toronto’s historical and contemporary narratives.
Tell us about a Torontonian, living or dead, that you would like to have dinner with.
Does Prince count? He used to have a home in Toronto and I’d love to have dinner with him. If he can’t make it, I’d like to forward my invitation to Malcolm Gladwell.
What is your favourite restaurant in Toronto?
Too many to choose from! That being said, I’m always down for some Chinese-Jamaican cuisine from Patois.
What is your favourite thing about working at Museum of Toronto?
The people.
Davin Henson
Director of Digital
Programs
Heidi Reitmaier
Executive Director
Heidi loves museums. For over 20 years she has worked in visual arts institutions around the world holding positions at the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Museum of Contemporary Art Toronto and the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago. She has led public programming and learning departments at the Vancouver Art Gallery, Tate Gallery and the Institute of Contemporary Art, London and produced radio for the BBC. She returned home 4 years ago and has joined Museum of Toronto with a passion to grow the organization.
Tell us about a Torontonian, living or dead, that you would like to have dinner with.
Since joining Museum of Toronto, I have learned a lot. I would love to have dinner with Thornton and Lucie Blackburn who were formerly enslaved and came from the United States to Toronto in 1834. They were hugely influential. Amongst many things, they changed laws, built homes, fought for freedom and started a successful business. I am sure I would be inspired.
What is your favourite restaurant in Toronto?
I have two favorite restaurants in the East End. Lake Inez for their secret summer rooftop dinners and The Wood Owl, a gem but still slightly unknown in my neighborhood.
What is your favourite thing about working at Museum of Toronto?
My favourite thing about the Museum is the team. They are incredible and I am learning so much.
Heidi Reitmaier
Executive Director
April
Director of Chaos
Meet April, Director of Chaos. April brings unparalleled energy to our office. When she's not busy chasing her shadow or trying to outwit passing cars, you can find her sneaking treats, working on our project management boards, or leading everyone to the coffee shop. Her keen sense of duty includes keeping morale high with her boundless enthusiasm, and encouraging a constant game of fetch from each team member throughout the day.
April
Director of Chaos
Board
Diane Blake
Chair of the Board
Diane Blake, founder and lead sponsor of Museum of Toronto, has been a proud Torontonian since 1986. Prior to becoming an archivist, she worked in information technology, and studied at University College in London and the University of Toronto.
Diane’s interests include volunteering at a local school, supporting the apprentices at the National Ballet and serving on the Board at the Walrus foundation.
Diane Blake
Chair of the Board
Ian Bandeen
Founding Director
Ian Bandeen, a Founding Director of Museum of Toronto, is one of Canada’s leading capital markets experts. He co-founded the Canadian Securitization markets as well as the Canadian Securities Exchange, where he served as CEO until 2011.
Ian currently serves as Chairman Emeritus of the National Angel Capital Organization (NACO), as a Director and Chairman of the Finance Committee of the Art of Time Ensemble, and as a member of the Finance Committee of the board of HotDocs. He is a long-standing trustee of the S.M. Blair Family Foundation and a proud member of Canada Company.
A member of the Ontario Bar, Ian holds two law degrees from McGill University in addition to an Honours BA in economics from Queen’s University.
Ian Bandeen
Founding Director
Jesse Barké
Director
Jesse currently works in Investment Management and has previously worked in the financial engineering industry, and the non-profit sector.
Passionate about education, he is a long-term volunteer with the Loran Scholars Foundation and volunteers with other national organizations in their selection process for merit scholarships.
Jesse currently serves on the board of the Ranked Ballot Initiative of Toronto, a non-partisan, independent, grassroots campaigning organization dedicated to improving democracy in Toronto through the adoption of ranked ballots for municipal elections.
Jesse Barké
Director
Beth Hanna
Director
Beth is excited to join the Museum of Toronto Board of Directors, where she sees a compelling alignment with her own focus on the interconnections of people, place and story, and to the ability of heritage and the arts to build bridges of understanding. With over forty years of leadership in heritage conservation, including her recent tenure as CEO of the Ontario Heritage Trust, Beth brings extensive knowledge of the culture, arts, and heritage sectors in Ontario and across Canada. Beth looks forward to the important discussions ahead about sharing and realizing the museum's vision. A passionate advocate for Toronto's diversity, she loves the city's vibrant cultural expressions, from its diverse neighborhoods and restaurants to its rich array of theatre, dance, festivals, and exhibits.
Beth Hanna
Director
Adam Kahan
Director
Adam Kahan is a consultant in the non-profit sector focused on strategic planning, branding, marketing and communications, resource development and board and staff training and development.
He retired in 2015 after 13 years as Vice President, Advancement of Ryerson University where he led the university rebranding, marketing and communications, alumni relations and fundraising realizing over $300 million. He is the former Chief Strategist of the Divon Academy and was a Senior Fellow of the Brookfield Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. He was also Senior Advisor of Public Inc. As Vice President of the Canadian Club, Toronto, he Chaired both the Marketing and Programming Committees.
In his career as a leader in the nonprofit sector, he has led organizations in Canada, The United Kingdom, South Africa, the United States, and Israel, responsible for all aspects and with a fund-raising total of over $4 billion. Proudest of his wife and daughter and son and their spouses and 5 grandsons.
Adam Kahan
Director
Heather Lee
Director
Heather is honoured to join the board of Museum of Toronto at this exciting phase of the museum’s evolution and contribute to shaping its future growth. Heather has had an extensive career as an in-house lawyer in consumer banking and financial services, including roles at American Express and President's Choice Financial, and her current position as Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary at Fairstone Bank. A lifelong Torontonian, Heather cherishes the city’s cultural diversity and vibrant neighbourhoods, which have profoundly influenced her throughout her life. In addition to undergraduate degrees from McGill and Trent Universities, Heather has an LLB from Western University and an MBA from the University of Toronto.
Heather Lee
Director
Maureen Marshall
Founding Director
Maureen Marshall, Founding Director of the Museum of Toronto, currently works as an independent consultant to the cultural sector, including museums, galleries and historic attractions.
Maureen has had an extensive career as an entrepreneur and marketer, including roles at American Express and Citibank, as well as founding an online environmental products and services company. She also held a number of leadership positions in not-for-profit and community organizations, including the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and the Family Services Association of Toronto.
Maureen holds a Master of Museum Studies from the University of Toronto and an MBA from York University.
Maureen Marshall
Founding Director
Graham Ross
Director
Graham is Chief Client Officer of BLG LLP responsible for the development and implementation of the firm’s business growth, marketing and client programs. He has been in professional services business development for over 20 years.
Graham has an MBA from Wilfrid Laurier University and completed a number of executive leadership programs.
Graham Ross
Director
Taslim Somani
Director
Taslim is principal of GivingStar, an independent consultancy that helps clients in the for-profit and non-profit sectors innovate and grow, while providing compelling customer experiences online.
With over 20 years in digital marketing and marketing strategy, and half that time dedicated to the non-profit sector, Taslim is energized by the power of digital media to connect, educate and inspire.
She is passionate about the City of Toronto, and as an also an almost-lifelong-Torontonian (she arrived as a toddler), she loves and appreciates experiencing the city’s rich and diverse cultural, artistic and natural spaces.
Taslim Somani
Director
Diane Blake
Chair of the Board
Diane Blake, founder and lead sponsor of Myseum of Toronto, has been a proud Torontonian since 1986. Prior to becoming an archivist, she worked in information technology, and studied at University College in London and the University of Toronto.
Diane’s interests include volunteering at a local school, supporting the apprentices at the National Ballet and serving on the Board at the Walrus foundation.
Diane Blake
Chair of the Board
Ian Bandeen
Founding Director
Ian Bandeen, a Founding Director of Myseum of Toronto, is one of Canada’s leading capital markets experts. He co-founded the Canadian Securitization markets as well as the Canadian Securities Exchange, where he served as CEO until 2011.
Ian currently serves as Chairman Emeritus of the National Angel Capital Organization (NACO), as a Director and Chairman of the Finance Committee of the Art of Time Ensemble, and as a member of the Finance Committee of the board of HotDocs. He is a long-standing trustee of the S.M. Blair Family Foundation and a proud member of Canada Company.
A member of the Ontario Bar, Ian holds two law degrees from McGill University in addition to an Honours BA in economics from Queen’s University.
Ian Bandeen
Founding Director
Jesse Barke
Director
Originally from Niger, West Africa, Jesse was a participant in Cosmopolis Toronto: The World in One City, a project co-sponsored by Myseum. Jesse currently works in Investment Management and has previously worked in the financial engineering industry, and the non-profit sector.
Passionate about education, he is a long-term volunteer with the Loran Scholars Foundation and volunteers with other national organizations in their selection process for merit scholarships.
Jesse currently serves on the board of the Ranked Ballot Initiative of Toronto, a non-partisan, independent, grassroots campaigning organization dedicated to improving democracy in Toronto through the adoption of ranked ballots for municipal elections.
Jesse Barke
Director
Ken Greenberg
Director
Ken Greenberg is an urban designer, teacher, writer, former Director of Urban Design and Architecture for the City of Toronto and Principal of Greenberg Consultants. For over four decades he has played a pivotal role on public and private assignments in urban settings throughout North America and Europe, focusing on the rejuvenation of downtowns, waterfronts, neighborhoods and on campus master planning, regional growth management, and new community planning.
Cities as diverse as Toronto, Hartford, Amsterdam, New York, Boston, Montréal, Ottawa, Edmonton, Calgary, St. Louis, Washington DC, Paris, Detroit, Saint Paul and San Juan Puerto Rico have benefited from his advocacy and passion for restoring the vitality, relevance and sustainability of the public realm in urban life. In each city, with each project, his strategic, consensus-building approach has led to coordinated planning and a renewed focus on urban design.
He is the recipient of the 2010 American Institute of Architects Thomas Jefferson Award for Public Design Excellence and the 2014 Sustainable Buildings Canada Lifetime Achievement Award. He was selected as a Member of the Order of Canada in 2020.
Ken Greenberg
Director
Adam Kahan
Director
Adam Kahan is a consultant in the non-profit sector focused on strategic planning, branding, marketing and communications, resource development and board and staff training and development.
He retired in 2015 after 13 years as Vice President, Advancement of Ryerson University where he led the university rebranding, marketing and communications, alumni relations and fundraising realizing over $300 million. He is also the Chief Strategist of the Divon Academy and is a Fellow at the Brookfield Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. As Vice President of the Canadian Club, Toronto, he Chaired both the Marketing and Programming Committees.
In his career as a leader in the nonprofit sector, he has led organizations in Canada, The United Kingdom, South Africa, the United States, and Israel, responsible for all aspects and with a fund-raising total of over $4 billion. Proudest of his wife and daughter and son and their spouses and 5 grandsons.
Adam Kahan
Director
Maureen Marshall
Founding Director
Maureen Marshall, Founding Director of the Myseum of Toronto, currently works as an independent consultant to the cultural sector, including museums, galleries and historic attractions.
Maureen has had an extensive career as an entrepreneur and marketer, including roles at American Express and Citibank, as well as founding an online environmental products and services company. She also held a number of leadership positions in not-for-profit and community organizations, including the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and the Family Services Association of Toronto.
Maureen holds a Master of Museum Studies from the University of Toronto and an MBA from York University.
Maureen Marshall
Founding Director
Richard Mozer
Director
Richard Mozer is an Emmy-Award winning filmmaker focused on dramatic content with a unique voice who has produced acclaimed film and television projects that have won over 110 International awards including 5 Emmy awards and 6 Gemini Awards. Richard was also recently a principal in The Madcap Learning Adventure, an ambitious digital educational platform funded by The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Pearson Education.
Richard’s experience encompasses decades financing international treaty co-productions and building relationships with international production, financing and distribution partners. As CFO, he was responsible for public company reporting and managing Devine Entertainment’s multi-million dollar production slate.
Richard lives in Toronto and also serves on the board and is president of the non-profit Toronto Writers Collective.
Richard Mozer
Director
Graham Ross
Director
Graham is Chief Client Officer of BLG LLP responsible for the development and implementation of the firm’s business growth, marketing and client programs. He has been in professional services business development for over 20 years.
Graham has an MBA from Wilfrid Laurier University and completed a number of executive leadership programs.
Graham Ross
Director
Taslim Somani
Director
Taslim is principal of GivingStar, an independent consultancy that helps clients in the for-profit and non-profit sectors innovate and grow, while providing compelling customer experiences online.
With over 20 years in digital marketing and marketing strategy, and half that time dedicated to the non-profit sector, Taslim is energized by the power of digital media to connect, educate and inspire.
She is passionate about the City of Toronto, and as an also an almost-lifelong-Torontonian (she arrived as a toddler), she loves and appreciates experiencing the city’s rich and diverse cultural, artistic and natural spaces.
Taslim Somani
Director
Our
Awards
Public History Award (2022)
For: Derailed: Black Railway Porters in Canada
