Keynote Speaker- Melissa Blunden

Melissa Blunden will be our keynote speaker for the Youth Heritage Forum on March 21st, 2026, at the Emera Innovation Exchange and Conference Centre. 

Melissa Blunden is a museum professional and cultural leader who became an Executive Director at the age of 30. She holds a BA in Anthropology and Archaeology from Grant MacEwan University and an After Degree in Cultural Resource Management from the University of Victoria.

Over the past 15 years, Melissa has built a career in the culture and heritage sector that began as a Young Canada Works Heritage Interpreter summer student at a historic grain elevator park. After graduating with her BA, she worked both internationally and across the prairies as a field archaeologist, before returning to museum roles at various institutions in Alberta, including positions as an Outreach Coordinator, Visitor Services Manager, and Executive Director of the Lacombe Museums, a rural historical society operating 3 historical buildings. In February 2024, she moved east to lead Baile nan Gàidheal | Highland Village Museum, a leading Gaelic folklife centre in North America.

She is most passionate about working with intangible cultural heritage, understanding cultural landscapes, and building strong, community-centred partnerships.

Registration is now open for the YHF, so make sure to check out the Eventbrite for more information:

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/youth-heritage-forum-tickets-1981724146268?aff=oddtdtcreator