Neil Cramer – Special Events Coordinator, Muttart Conservatory
Neil’s interest in history extends beyond the classroom. He started working at Fort Edmonton Park as a Costumed Interpreter and that activity inspired him to major in History at MacEwan University (BA 2016). As Neil’s knowledge about the past increased, he learned to build connections, put events in context, decipher meaning, and connect the past to the world around him; he learned to conduct research, gather and organize data, and communicate the results. Neil took the experiences from the classroom and built upon them in his Fort Edmonton role. He developed techniques to engage people in conversations about historical topics, entertain them, and teach them about the subject at the same time. He won an appointment to the Edmonton Historical Board to advise the City of Edmonton on historical matters. Although it seems completely disconnected, Neil reports that the skills he obtained during his history program have proved valuable in his current position as Special Events Coordinator at the Muttart Conservatory in Edmonton. The events at the botanical garden vary widely from family affairs to large scale community projects during the holidays. He needs to plan, organize, and coordinate a broad range of activities. Most significantly: “I need to figure out why the event should matter to people; why it is important that they visit the Muttart to learn about pollinators or orchids and their role in the ecosystem. I look at work previously completed and figure out the impact it had on guests. Did the event please people? Did it meet our goals of promoting the importance of plants and the conservation of ecosystems? How could the event be changed to make it a more enjoyable and beneficial experience? The topics change, but the techniques and skills I learned remain relevant.”