After several controversial missteps by the Royal BC Museum, CEO Alicia Dubois resigned last week.
The museum announced Dubois’ resignation on the afternoon of June 16. No reason was initially given for her departure; however, museum board chair Leslie Brown in a later statement praised her contributions and said Dubois was leaving because she “feels she is no longer best suited to the position,” and for “personal reasons relating to family.”
Dubois, a lawyer, was made CEO in February 2022. In a statement announcing her hire, the museum said her “expertise includes a strong focus on championing diversity and inclusion and intercultural understanding” and pointed to her experience with “change management.”
Under her leadership the museum worked to “decolonize” some of its most popular exhibits, including the Old Town display. The decision to close the exhibits was announced several months prior to her arrival by former board chair and then-acting CEO Daniel Muzyka.
Last spring, Dubois and then-premier John Horgan announced plans for a $790-million-dollar replacement building, but after province-wide outrage, plans were cancelled.
Dubois launched meetings around the province to collect feedback from the public and First Nations to redesign museums displays in a more inclusive way, but outside Victoria the sessions were poorly attended.
In May the museum announced the Old Town display will be reopened this summer.
“We’re committed to increasing inclusivity and accessibility to the museum through extensive engagement and co-creation of exhibits with communities, and inviting people back into this space allows further opportunities to do that,” Dubois said in a statement May 9.
The museum is now looking to appoint an interim CEO.
NOTE: This story was updated June 21, 2023 to include the latest information, and to clarify the decision to close the Old Town display was made prior to Dubois taking over the position.
