About Binette Cultural Solutions
Yukon owned and operated, Binette Cultural Solutions offers interpretive planning and training services to clients who aspire in creating a greater impact in telling their stories.
Since the beginning, we’ve strived to:
Promote an appreciation for natural and cultural heritage,
Further the value of informal learning in museums, cultural centres and parks,
Empower interpreters in their profession.
When Sylvie founded BCS, she initially wanted to support clients in sharing their stories through physical media, like interpretive panels and brochures. Over time, she realized that interpretation was really about facilitating meanings through all the senses, and that became her muse.
For over twenty years, the company has continued to serve various clients in Yukon and advance the role that heritage plays in Yukon. It aspires to do the same for your neck of the woods.
And today, BCS recognizes the importance to innovate, address difficult questions, and have difficult conversations through exhibits and programs while staying connected to our communities.
Meet Sylvie.
I am a long-time Yukoner of francophone ancestry. Creativity and innovation are defining characteristics of my people and certainly ones of my dad. As for where storytelling originates for me, I am compelled to say that it took roots when I attended “diction” school at the age of five years old. In these days there were no kindergarten. We participated voluntarily in Ms. Denis’s program singing rhymes and performing sketches while she played the piano and directed us. Those yearly years, were certainly formative.
Holder of a Master’s in Sciences from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and certifications as Interpretive Planner and Trainer with the National Association for Interpretation, I have a real passion for Yukon’s natural and cultural heritage, as well as for its interpretation.
My crush for interpretations started 30+ years ago working as a cook (yes you read that well!) at a remote naturalist lodge of the N.W.T. This led me into an interesting journey.
I worked as seasonal Interpretive Guide for the Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre for 21 years, where I learned the value of understanding your audience in order to have more meaningful conversations and create relevant programming. In this position, I was able to explore different interpretive approaches, including the facilitated dialogue technique that helped explore difficult topics like Climate Change.
I worked as a Wildlife Viewing Technician for Yukon Department of Environment where I developed, coordinated and delivered school and public programs about the value of Yukon natural heritage. Along with overseeing the maintenance of several interpretive sites, I learned about the importance of developing strong partnerships for the delivery of successful programs.
Later as a Project Leader of the Education programs for families at the Canadian Museum of Nature, I oversaw the operations and maintenance of an educational zone and of all the programs development and delivery for that space. I worked with a team of 7 interpretive guides, planned budget and timelines for projects and learned that in order to be strategic, one should design programs plans that target audiences, contain measurables objectives and plan for an evaluation.
My experience as the Manager of the George Johnston Museum in Teslin, enabled me to better understand the constraints that small museums work with and the important role they play in rural communities. In a small museum one does everything. My responsibilities included reporting to the board on finances and activities, doing basic accounting, preparing a budget, applying for five successful grants, hiring students, training the students and the new manager and managing a capital project; the construction of a facade that was going t be painted by a local First Nation artist.
The variety of projects I have worked on since I started my company range from interpretive writing, interpretive training, program development, organizing museum hackathons to planning exhibits. New ideas and collaboration of people makes me tick.
I am also involved in my community as an emerging artist; my practice focuses on relational art through installations and performances. I have sat on several boards and committees, including the Yukon Historical and Museums Association from 2012-2020 and the Yukon Wildlife Preserve Education Committee from 2008-2010. I recently joined the board of Interpretation Canada.
