Rob Flosman

Waterdown District High School, Waterdown (Ontario)

In 2013, Mr. Flosman and his students created the Waterdown Museum of History. Today, the student-run museum houses over 600 items and has an annual attendance of 1,000 visitors — a number that continues to grow. Students are involved in all aspects of the museum, including research, exhibit design and construction, preservation, media and promotions, and interpretation. The museum is open to the public for four weeks of the year, during which students act as visitor guides. Mr. Flosman and his students have forged partnerships with other museums and have hosted exhibits from the Anne Frank Centre (New York) and showcased John McCrae’s personal collection from the University of Guelph. The Waterdown Museum of History provides an authentic opportunity for students to learn the skills of historians and museum professionals. Mr. Flosman creates a community around him that embraces the Canadian history curricula and extends it far beyond the confines of his classroom.