PARRSBORO, N.S. – Tim Fedak will soon be leaving as director/curator of Fundy Geological Museum, but he’s not saying goodbye to Parrsboro.
In fact, his new term position as curator of geology for the Nova Scotia Museum will see him continue to have heavy involvement with the Parrsboro museum and some of its biggest projects.
“It’s a great opportunity to push all the programs underway here forward,” said Fedak, who will begin his new job in Halifax on Dec. 1. “This position has been historically really supportive of the museum, so the great things going on with the geopark will still move forward, and the Eldon George project.”
Since the Cumberland Geological Society purchased the Parrsboro Rock and Mineral Shop two years ago, Fedak has been working on organizing George’s collection, while public engagement has resulted in $160,000 being raised for the project in that time. The next year will involve putting together a summary so an exhibit plan can be developed for the permanent display at the museum.
The effort to create a Cliffs of Fundy Global Geopark for this area will also continue moving ahead, with announcements expected in the future, according to Fedak.
“It’s like a brand new day,” he said. “Parrsboro is doing really well with Parrsboro Creative, with FORCE tidal, with infrastructure improvement… it’s a really exciting time.”
It was 20 years ago that Fedak arrived from Ontario and began visiting Parrsboro as a research student, the first of many visits to come over the next two decades. He came on board as director/curator at Fundy Geological Museum in 2014 following the retirement of Ken Adams.
His new job will see him focus on such thing as collections, exhibits, research and supporting the Special Places Act. He has adjunct status at Dalhousie University, and hopes to build more relationships between universities and the Nova Scotia Museum from a geology perspective.
He also plans to be back in Parrsboro often, and says, with a smile, the community is “not getting rid of him.”
“I’m really excited,” he said. “My wife and I have a house in Dartmouth and one here, and it will be nice to be together more frequently. Being in Halifax, I will be engaging with those colleagues there, and being a really strong advocate for Parrsboro in that arena.”
His position at Fundy Geological Museum is expected to be filled within the next two months.
A public meet-and-great send-off party will be held for Fedak at the museum on Saturday, Nov. 25, from 4-6 p.m.