Glenbow Permanently Lays Off 27 Workers

Expand

The Glenbow Museum in Calgary has permanently laid off 27 staff members prior to its reopening Aug. 3 as part of a restructuring prompted by the coronavirus pandemic.

“It is disheartening,” says Nicholas Bell, the Glenbow’s president and CEO. “Many of these colleagues are long-term employees at Glenbow, and the loss of their skills and institutional knowledge is a tremendous blow.

"These staff members are passionate, hardworking and dedicated. They have made enormous contributions to Glenbow’s success over the years, and we are so very sorry to lose them.”

Permanently laid-off staff will receive severance packages based on tenure.

Most of the museum's employees were temporarily laid off on March 24. They have received employer-paid health and wellness benefits and were able to access to the Canada Emergency Response Benefit.

The Glenbow is using the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy to support employees who continued to work after the gallery temporarily closed to the public on March 13. The museum has since recalled 15 staff members from temporary layoff.

In April, the museum offered a voluntary retirement package and, in May, it offered a voluntary resignation package. Ten employees took advantage of these programs.

“We are navigating a significant challenge,” says Bell. “As we reopen Glenbow to the public this summer, we are adapting our operations in a manner that must position us for sustainability and future growth. Glenbow is undertaking a major restructuring to facilitate how the museum will operate going forward.”

The museum said plans to revitalize its building following a $40-milllion funding announcement in February by the provincial government remain on track.

Source: Glenbow Museum