May Considered Museum Month For The City of Peterborough

/

Peterborough Museum and Archives is celebrating “May is Museum Month” and encourages residents and visitors to plan a visit to a museum to learn about local heritage and culture and participate in programs, special events and exhibitions, announced Monday.

File Photo.

This year's theme is ‘Museums for Education and Research,’ which aims to highlight museums' pivotal role in learning, innovation and knowledge sharing.

The Peterborough Museum and Archives is designated as a 'Category A Collecting Institution,' meaning it collects, preserves and makes cultural property accessible to the public through exhibitions, research and online.

Accordingly, the Peterborough Museum & Archives manages:

  • over 45,000 objects in its artifact collections

  • over 400,000 original photographic negatives, 2,000 fonds and over 3,300 linear feet of archival material in its archival collections

  • the care and conservation of all objects and archival material in our collection.

Peterborough Museum and Archives provides exhibits and programming for everyone regardless of age. The Museum is self-guided and available by donation. The facility is located at 300 Hunter St. E., within Ashburnham Memorial Park on Armour Hill, in Peterborough. All visits to the archives require an appointment. Please call in advance to book your visit at 705-743-5180.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.

26th Annual Transportation Day Car and Motorcycle Show is Coming to Lang Pioneer Village Museum in July

/

Lang Pioneer Village Museum invites the public to the 26th Annual Transportation Day Car and Motorcycle Show on Sunday, July 9 to witness a timeline of transportation from across Ontario.

photo courtesy of the Lang Pioneer Village Museum.

Transportation enthusiasts will showcase their antique and classic cars and vintage motorcycles throughout the historic village from 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Take a stroll through the village or hop on board a horse-drawn wagon ride, learn more about how transportation has changed over the years and the roles that various trades played in the creation of transportation methods.

Attendees can check out a variety of 19th-century modes of transportation such as sleighs, wagons and milk carts in the Transportation Barn. Stop by the Peterborough County Agricultural Heritage Building (PCAHB) to view a Via Rail display, and enjoy music from the 50s to 80s with DJ Del and Jenny Jams.

View an antique clock and timepiece collection in the Menie General Store and see a variety of historic demonstrations throughout the village; such as broom making, shingle making at the Shingle Mill, and grinding at the Lang Grist Mill. Kids can take part in some schoolyard games and make a craft at the Ayotte Cabin.

Demonstrators and visitors can enjoy a pancake breakfast served while supplies last in the Peterborough County Agricultural Heritage Building (additional fee applies).

The Keene Lions Club food truck will be onsite selling BBQ goods and there will be fresh Empire Cheese curd and bread available for purchase in the Cheese Factory. Haven Brewing Company will be also be at the event selling traditional European beers in the beer garden.

For those wishing to bring their vehicle to display, participant registration runs from 8 a.m. to noon with a $10 registration fee that includes admission into the village. The first 200 vehicles to enter will receive a complimentary dash plaque as a souvenir of their participation. Over 25 trophies will be awarded including the coveted People’s Choice and Lang’s Choice.

Admission is $15 for adults, $10 for students and seniors (60+), $7 for youths (ages 5-14) and free for children under 5. Family admission is also available for $40 and includes 2 adults and up to 4 youths (ages 5-14). Visitors may purchase admission in advance via the Museum’s online shop, but advance purchase is not required. For more information, visit the website.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

The Annual Father’s Day Smoke and Steam Show is Back at Lang Pioneer Village

/

The Lang Pioneer Village Museum’s 2023 event season kicks off on Sunday, June 18 with the 26th Annual Father’s Day Smoke & Steam Show.

photo courtesy of lang pioneer village museum.

From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, treat dad to a nostalgic Father’s Day filled with tractors and powerful equipment.

Watch as local collectors bring to life some of the oldest antique tractors and steam engines around as they compete for over 20 awards including Best Unique Exhibit, Best Display and Lang Pioneer Village’s Choice.

Watch as tractors try to balance on a tilted platform as fast as possible or maneuver through an obstacle course while balancing a tin can on a stick. View displays of smoke and steam collectibles, hit and miss engines, antique tool collections and more. The tractor games, including lawn tractor races, begin at noon.

Throughout the Village, learn about the many ways power was generated in the 1800s. See the Shingle Mill in full operation powered by volunteers and antique engines. Enjoy a variety of historic demonstrations including spring-pole lathe, broad axe hand hewing, natural dyeing, spinning, grinding at the Grist Mill and more. Hop on board a tractor and wagon ride and tour the historic village in style. Take some time to pause and enjoy live music by Glen Caradus & Fiddling Jay. Check out the model train display brought by the Ganaraska Railway Modellers and Jim Burchell. Kids can take part in some old-fashioned games in the schoolyard and make a paper whistle to take home. Don’t forget to visit the farm animals, on loan from Harley Farms for the summer.

Demonstrators and visitors can enjoy a pancake breakfast (served while supplies last) in the Peterborough County Agricultural Heritage Building (additional fee applies). Refreshments and sweet treats will be available for purchase throughout the day at the Keene Hotel, or stop by Ben’s Kettle Corn who will be popping up fresh kettle corn. The Keene Lions Club food truck will also be onsite selling BBQ goods and there will be fresh Empire Cheese curd available for purchase in the Cheese Factory. If you haven’t already over-indulged in delicious treats, take part in the pie-eating contest on the Village Green.

The day will conclude with a tractor parade through the historic village beginning at 3 p.m.

Admission to the 26th Annual Father’s Day Smoke & Steam Show is $15 for adults, $10 for students and seniors (60+), $7 for youths (ages 5-14) and free for children under 5.

Family admission is also available for $40, which includes 2 adults and up to 4 youths (ages 5-14). Visitors may purchase admission in advance via the Museum’s online shop, but advance purchase is not required. For more information, visit the website.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

Canadian Canoe Museum Begins the Historic Move of Over 600 Watercraft and Artifacts

/

The Canadian Canoe Museum (CCM) is preparing to relocate its entire collection from its current landlocked location to a new waterfront campus across the City; inviting the public to support through new fundraising campaign ‘Move the Collection: The Final Portage.’

photo courtesy of the canadian canoe museum, facebook.

The campaign is led by avid paddling enthusiasts and local community leaders Mike Judson and Neil Morton. As a symbolic gesture of the forthcoming move of the entire collection, the two will portage a symbolic canoe throughout Peterborough, from the current museum to its new 65,000-square-foot home for the campaign's duration, which will release videos at different milestones.

The CCM’s collection consists of more than 600 canoes, kayaks and paddled watercraft (ranging up to 53’ long and weighing up to 1,500 pounds), hundreds of small artifacts and a library and archive. The collection was declared a cultural asset of national significance by the Senate in 2013.

The CCM has spent more than two years carefully preparing the collection for its upcoming relocation, cleaning and packing each artifact to ensure the utmost care during the move. The Museum has been temporarily closed since September 2022 to allow staff to remove artifacts on exhibit for the past two decades. When the new museum opens, it will also feature new exhibits, promising an enhanced and immersive visitor experience, including canoes and kayaks that have never been on public display.

McWilliams Moving and Storage has partnered with the CCM as its official mover of the collection.

“McWilliams Moving and Storage has been part of the CCM family since its inception with the first portage of museum artifacts from Dorset, Ontario, to Peterborough over two decades ago. We are honoured to continue this tradition as the Official Movers of the CCM and complete the final portage to a new architectural and cultural landmark in the city of Peterborough,” says Dan McWilliams, president of McWilliams Moving & Storage. “Having the opportunity to pack and transport these pieces of Canadian heritage allows us to be part of the journey and story of this national icon in our great City.”

As part of The Final Portage campaign, the CCM is releasing a series of videos and behind-the-scenes content this summer and fall featuring Mike Judson and Neil Morton portaging an iconic red canvas canoe past recognizable landmarks in Peterborough.

This will allow the public to follow the fundraising campaign’s progress while building excitement for the Museum’s reopening, anticipated this fall. To view the first video, visit the Canadian Canoe Museum website.

“Moving a collection of this size and scale in the span of months is no small feat for our team and supporters,” says Carolyn Hyslop, executive director of the CCM. “This move represents a pivotal moment in our museum's history. By relocating to the waterfront, we will not only enhance the accessibility and visibility of this extraordinary collection but also create a transformative experience for our visitors. We are inviting donors and sponsors to be a part of this monumental move and help us bring the legacy of paddled watercraft to a wider audience.”

“Canoeing is one of my great passions in life, and seeing this national treasure move to the water’s edge in this community I adore is a dream,” says Neil Morton, one of the campaign's Lead Portagers. “It’s fantastic to be a part of The Final Portage campaign and this historic moment with my fellow Lead Portager Mike Judson as we help carry this to the finish line!”

Surrounded by public parks, the Museum’s new home is located on a five-acre site at 2077 Ashburnham Drive that provides west-facing views of Little Lake and a connection to the Trans Canada Trail along the water’s edge in Peterborough. The purpose-built facility on the water, with an array of indoor and outdoor spaces, will allow the Museum to deliver on its mission in inspiring new ways. It will become a community space for outdoor activities, including the Museum’s canoeing and outdoor programs and events.

“Supporting initiatives like the Museum's historic move is an investment in preserving our shared heritage and cultural legacy. By contributing to this endeavour, we actively steward invaluable artifacts and ensure their accessibility to future generations,” continues Hyslop. “Institutions like ours serve as gateways to knowledge, inspiration, and understanding, and it is through your support that we enable the continued celebration and exploration of our collective history.”

The CCM invites donors and sponsors to join them in preserving history and shaping the future by supporting the campaign. Contributions will play a vital role in ensuring the safe and successful relocation of the world's largest and most significant collection of paddled watercraft.

Businesses interested in sponsorship opportunities can contact Rose Terry, philanthropy associate, via email.

To donate to the Canadian Canoe Museum, visit the link.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

Lang Pioneer Village Museum to Open May 23

/

The Lang Pioneer Village Museum announces they will be beginning their 2023 tour season on Tuesday, May 23.

photo courtesy of lang pioneer village.

May is Museum Month and a great time to start planning a trip to Lang Pioneer Village Museum. The Village will once again be bustling with costumed interpreters who will demonstrate the trades and pastimes of local settlers and Indigenous people of the 19th century.

The Museum will initially be open Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. until June 16 for spring hours. Kicking off both the Museum’s summer hours and special event season is the annual Father’s Day Smoke & Steam Show on June 18.

The Museum’s 56th season will see the return of many popular special events including the Father’s Day Smoke & Steam Show, the Transportation Day Car & Motorcycle Show, Village by Lantern Light, Applefest, Historic All Hallows’ Eve and Christmas by Candlelight. Also returning this year is a late-summer harvest celebration, the Corn Roast. The Corn Roast will give visitors an opportunity to celebrate the early harvest season, with plenty of fire-cooked corn to enjoy. Also returning is the Christmas Bazaar, which brings together a variety of local artisans at the Peterborough County Agricultural Heritage Building for a day of holiday shopping.

“Our staff and volunteers are excited to welcome everyone to the museum this summer. We've been working on opening up the heritage buildings, cleaning up the site, and freshening up our content with lots of opportunities to see and do throughout your visit with us," says museum operations manager Elizabeth King.

Visitors may purchase admission for both daily visits and special events at the door or in advance online. For those wanting to take advantage of all the museum has to offer this season, season passes are also available for purchase.

Travel back in time this season at Lang Pioneer Village Museum! The Village is open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays from May 23 to June 16, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday from Father’s Day to Labour Day weekend. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for students and seniors (60+), $5 for youths (ages 5-14), free for children under 5. Family admission is also available for $30 and includes 2 adults and up to 4 youths ages 5-14. Special event pricing varies.

For more information, visit the website.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

Canadian Canoe Museum Announces $1.775 Million Transformative Gift for New Waterfront Campus

/

The Canadian Canoe Museum (CCM) announced Thursday a transformative gift of $1,775,000 to create a vibrant, community-oriented waterfront campus along the shores of the Museum’s future home at 2077 Ashburnham Drive.

Jeremy Ward (Curator), Rodger Wright (Fundraising Cabinet volunteer), Carolyn Hyslop (Executive Director), Stu Lang (donor), Helen Batten (Landscape Architect, Basterfield & Associates Ltd.) and David Hadden (Fundraising Cabinet volunteer) during a visit to the CCM’s future home. photo courtesy of the canadian canoe museum.

The Lakefront Campus and Gathering Circle, made possible by the philanthropic efforts of former CFL player and businessman Stuart (Stu) Lang and his wife, Kim, will offer visitors the chance to learn and build connections with the land, water, and community through immersive, authentic outdoor experiences that will create a new generation of paddlers.

The CCM's future home features a 5.3-acre Lakefront Campus that will extend and enhance the museum experience, offering visitors a variety of outdoor activities both on and off the water. The 1,200 feet of shoreline, docks, boardwalk, restored and naturalized spaces, and wetland will act as a multi-purpose outdoor classroom for learners of all ages and be an active community space.

"We are incredibly grateful and fortunate for the passion, vision, and generosity of the Langs. Stu has taken great pride in helping craft an active waterfront that can complement the Museum, with many of the ideas for the Lakefront Campus coming from Stu himself. This gift, confirmed in the fall of 2022, has grown to the transformative gift it is today because of the Langs’ commitment to excellence and elevating the CCM to a national level," said Carolyn Hyslop, executive director.

A Gathering Circle outside the Museum’s main entrance will greet visitors arriving by car, bus, bicycle, or on foot. Inspired by Canadian canoe routes and water's impact on the landscape, the Gathering Circle will feature natural elements, emphasizing the relationship between land and water. A water infiltration garden, wood slat benches, and a small amphitheatre surrounded by large granite boulders and white pine trees will offer visitors a space for reflection and education before or after their adventures.

The redevelopment of the waterfront will also include an accessible, year-round boardwalk connecting the CCM to the Trans Canada Trail and the shoreline. There will be many opportunities to get out on the water with a walk-in canoe launch, two expansive seasonal canoe docks, and an adaptive canoe and kayak launch station. The docks and Canoe House will allow the CCM to host voyageur canoe tours, adult and youth paddling programs, certification courses, regattas and canoe and kayak rentals for the public.

The Lakefront Campus is an entirely new offering for the CCM, one where visitors can take their newly acquired skills and understandings outside and put them into practice immediately, creating a fully integrated visitor experience.

“Participants in a paddle carving or canoe restoration workshop will experience the excitement of testing their freshly honed skills on the water. Schoolchildren and campers will get their hands dirty while exploring the biodiversity of the wetland or learning to build a campfire. Seating and signage throughout the site will encourage visitors and trail users to take in the expansive views of Little Lake before or after visiting the galleries. And the docks, canoe racks and a connection to the Trans Canada Trail will encourage community connectivity and active, accessible transportation,” continued Hyslop.

The Lang’s are highly respected members of the Guelph community, contributing to the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC), the Guelph Humane Society and Guelph General Hospital. They are well-known champions of Queen's University, their alma mater, and the University of Guelph, where the Lang School of Business and Economics is named after Stu’s father.

Stu had a successful eight-year professional football career with the Edmonton Elks in the Canadian Football League (CFL), winning five Grey Cups. He later joined the family business, CCL Industries, and worked there for 25 years before becoming a director of the company.

Stu and Kim also have a passion for camping and canoe tripping, having attended The Taylor Statten Camps in Algonquin Park. At these camps, they both developed a life-long passion and interest in canoeing, the outdoors, and educating youth about Canadian history.

"The Canadian Canoe Museum's world-class collection deserves an outstanding home. A fully realized Lakefront Campus and Gathering Circle are essential. They will showcase the canoe's incredible history and cultural significance and connect people to the land and water in a way that only hands-on experiences can. The new museum will be a place where people can come together, learn by doing, and be inspired by the stories and traditions of the canoe. It's an investment in our past, present, and future, and we are proud to be a part of it," says Stu Lang.

The Langs join a generous group of donors and funders across the country contributing to the Inspiring Canada by Canoe campaign, which has raised 95% of the $40 million cost for the project.

The new museum is made possible, in part, by the CCM’s lead donor and government partners, including the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage and the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), the Weston Family Foundation, the City of Peterborough, Peterborough County, and the Province of Ontario.

The new museum and waterfront campus are under construction, with an anticipated grand opening in late summer or early fall. For more information or to sign-up for updates, visit CCM's website.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

Canadian Canoe Museum Provides Progress Update On New Museum; Delays Grand Opening

/

Progress updates outline that industry-wide construction challenges have delayed the Ashburnham Drive Canadian Canoe Museum’s (CCM) opening to late summer or early fall announced Thursday.

photo courtesy of the canadian canoe museum.

The CCM is creating a cultural destination to learn about Canada’s collective history, and reinforce connections to land, water and to one another through the lens of the canoe. The new museum will be located on a five-acre site with views of Little Lake and connection to the Trans Canada Trail and various public parks.

“It is an exciting time for the Canadian Canoe Museum. A little more than a year ago, we had just begun construction. Since then, we’ve achieved many milestones,” said executive director Carolyn Hyslop. “The building structure has come to life before our eyes, the mass timber façade is taking shape and the building is nearly closed in. Exhibits have been developed and are being sent to fabrication, the fundraising campaign is in its final stretch and the collection is nearly ready for its move across town.”

A national fundraising campaign has raised 95 percent of the project’s $40-million cost to date. The project is also made possible in part by the generous support of various local and national donors.

While they report steady progress has been made, the new museum’s opening will occur later than initially anticipated. The museum had originally hoped to welcome visitors in early summer 2023, but due to these delays the anticipated opening is now late summer or early fall.

CCM says the project is experiencing delays due to the pandemic and its ongoing impacts on the construction industry, affecting supply chains and material availability resulting in material shortages.

“As designers, we have seen unprecedented upheaval in the construction sector over the last two years. While there have been similar delays and supply chain issues on the CCM, through our integrated approach to project delivery, these have been minimized compared to other projects. We are pleased with the progress made and look forward to seeing the museum open to the public in 2023,” said managing principal at Lett Architects Inc. Bill Lett.

The CCM remains hopeful that the new museum will be able to celebrate its grand opening during paddling season.

“We are working very closely with the project team to recover the schedule delays, as we would be overjoyed to open earlier. With so much excitement and interest in the new museum, locally and nationally, we want to be transparent with our community about the timeline as we know many are planning trips to visit us this summer,” continued Hyslop.

To learn more about the new museum or to donate, visit the website.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

The Lang Pioneer Village Presents the Historic All Hallows’ Eve Halloween Celebration

/

Learn about spooky traditions and paranormal investigations this Halloween season at The Lang Pioneer Village’s 19th-century All Hallows’ Eve celebration on Oct. 28 and 29 at Lang Pioneer Village Museum.

Photo courtesy of The Lang Pioneer Village Museum.

From 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. each evening, discover the origins of trick-or-treating and rhymes for “soul-caking” at the Milburn House, or about coffins and body snatching at the Carpenter Shop.

Take a tractor and wagon ride and learn about paranormal investigations undertaken at Lang Pioneer Village Museum by the Paranormal Seekers, and see the ghost hunters’ specialized equipment that they use to make discoveries.

Museum goers can hear tales of the Michi Saagig people’s at Aabnaabin Camp, or visit the Print Shop for an 1800s fairytale. Witness a traditional 1890 Halloween party at the Town Hall, and learn about the history of candy corn at the General Store.

The Peterborough County Agricultural Heritage Building will have dinner covered with grilled cheese sandwiches, and the Keene Hotel will be serving hot chocolate and other treats to keep warm.

The all-ages event is $15 for adults, $10 for students and seniors (60+), $7 for youths (ages two to 14) and free for children under two. Family admission is available for $40 and includes 2 adults and up to 4 youth tickets. Children are encouraged to come dressed in a costume and are reminded to collect their treat bag at the end of the evening for the ride home.

Visitors can purchase admission in advance using the museum’s online shop, but advance purchase is not required.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

Silver Bean Café Becomes Canadian Canoe Museum’s Café Operator In New Partnership

/

Getting a latté at the Canadian Canoe Museum (CCM) is easier for next summer as they are bringing a Silver Bean Café location to the museum’s new site on Ashburnham Drive in a partnership announced on Thursday.

Photo courtesy of The Canadian Canoe Museum.

Also known as ‘Silver Bean Café on the Lake,’ the menu will consist of specialty sandwiches and salads, made-to-order breakfasts, bakery items and coffee and various grab-and-go options. Kawartha Dairy ice cream will be served in the summer while soup, chilli and other comfort foods in the winter. The café will be licensed to serve alcohol.

“We were searching for an energetic, warm and welcoming team with proven experience to manage and operate the museum’s new café, that was also community-minded and would work with us to enhance our visitor experience,” says Carolyn Hyslop, CCM executive director.

The café will offer tourists, surrounding neighbours and the general public delectable delights year-round.

Silver Bean Café is expected to be open seven days a week during the museum’s hours of operation.

The space will be able to accommodate 30 people seated inside and 32 outside on the terrace.

“It is exciting to be able to provide a location that will be open all year round and maintain a presence on another beautiful Nogojiwanong/Peterborough waterfront with stunning indoor and patio options,” said Dan Brandsma, Silver Bean Café owner. “We feel we have a natural affinity to the museum’s values/culture and (the) waterfront location and will do our utmost to add to the experience with fresh, local and delicious food and drink offerings.”

The King Street location at Millennium Park is continuing to operate seasonally (typically from May to Oct.). Oct. 15 is the last day of operation for 2022.

Lang Pioneer Village's Applefest Is Back This October

/

Learn how settlers preserved fall’s harvest and prepared for winter at the Lang Pioneer Village Museum’s Applefest on Oct. 2 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Photo courtesy of Lang Pioneer Village Museum.

Applefest attendees can view a variety of historic demonstrations throughout the village including spinning, rug hooking with the Northumberland Rug Hookers Guild, natural dyeing, chair caning, flour grinding at the Lang Grist Mill, cider pressing at the Cider Mill and more and an antique clock and timepiece display brought by the Quinte Timekeepers.

Live, traditional music will be performed by Lotus & Luke on the Weaver Shop Porch, the Cheryl Casselman Trio at the Agricultural Barn and Rob Cory in the Hotel Bar Room. In the morning, the Horse Barn will have a threshing demonstration.

Children can pick up a scavenger hunt upon arrival and try to spot as many items as they can throughout the village. The South Lake School has old-fashioned school yard games and apple-themed crafts.

The Ayotte Cabin will feature historic reenactors the 41st Battalion of Brockville Rifles, 1st Company, who will be performing drills and demonstrating military marching.

For the Applefest snacks, the Peterborough County Agricultural Heritage Building will be selling chilli and buns and many favourites including Ben’s Kettle Corn and Empire Cheese will also be for sale.

Admission is $15 for adults, $10 for students and senior (60+), $7 for youth age 5-14 and children under 5 are free.

Those interested can purchase tickets here.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.