Christine Whelan, FEO, April 30, 2026, Volume 7, Issue 17
Clark Bernat was brought into his new position in early February. The Fort Erie Observer caught up with him to ask, ” How’s it going so far?
“It’s been great. It’s been fun. Invigorating for me, a new challenge. Everyone has been wonderful.” Clark began. He’s been trying to meet as many people as possible.
After working for Niagara Falls for 15 years and Niagara-on-the-Lake for 9 years, Clark has been taking the time to familiarize himself with the historical dynamics of the Greater Fort Erie area.
“I’ve been trying to understand what is in the collection here, what stories we can tell, how we can tell them.” He continued, “I love what museums can do for a community. I see the opportunities here, and the challenges for myself.”
Clark says he loves strategic plans, a road map. “I feel we can get a lot more done with the museums using a good, focused, strategic plan that can take care of the behind-the-scenes tasks and housekeeping, but also include some fun, dynamic things to initiate change.” Adding, “It gives the team direction.”
The plan examines the everyday necessities that keep operations moving and how the team could work more effectively. “In some way, it’s a philosophical approach to how we do things.”
One of the things Clark would really like the team to attempt to do is become even deeper, more meaningful storytellers. “Not look at a lot of quick hits but digging deeper, hopefully finding ways to tell a story in a different way, creating new experiences for those who have already heard the stories and finding those stories no one has heard before.”
Telling the Stories
“Museums have stories to tell, and there are artifacts that we collect to tell those stories. Fort Erie has a small museum full of displays. It also has artifacts in storage that need to get out there.” Clark says he’s known since day one, and even before that, this was going to be one of his priorities.
“The plan is to attend the Bertie Historical Society (BHS) meetings and bring artifacts related to that meeting’s presentation when we can.”
Bernat will focus on traditional and untraditional spaces to tell historical stories. “We have displays at the museum and at Town Hall, but not everyone goes to those locations. I need to make relationships with some locations, such as coffee shops, and tell stories in these spaces. I’d love to create partnerships in this town where we can do these types of things.” He hopes to draw in the interest of those who are newly learning by accessing these corners of the community.
When referring to speaking with the long timers of the community — families who have been here for generations — and bringing artifacts to the BHS meetings, “Me being here for two months, I’m not teaching them anything new. But it is a way to get them engaged in the museum again.”
Clark said that he enjoys working with smaller towns. It’s easier to connect with the people of the community. He had that experience with Niagara-on-the-Lake, and he looks forward to connecting with the residents of Fort Erie in the same way.
