Each summer, we employ two Gallery Animateurs to enhance the in-gallery experience at the Varley Art Gallery, interacting with visitors in welcoming, stimulating and inspiring ways. Pre-pandemic, the gallery attracted 45,000 visitors annually. In 2023, (January to September), 42,080 people attended the Varley Art Gallery. Our Gallery Animateurs interacted with the 9,088 people who explored the gallery’s summer exhibitions, including Longing Belonging, 100 Years 100 Stories commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Exclusion Act. We design all of our programs to reflect and support the diverse communities of Markham. As English and Cantonese are the first and second mother tongues spoken in Markham, during the summer Gallery Animateurs led free tours in English and Cantonese engaging 475 participants. Additionally, they programmed exhibition related free drop in art activities for people of all ages to create and explore.