Canoe museum opening to the public on May 13
Livestream ‘will allow those across the country to join us in celebrating this historic moment’
Excitement is building for the upcoming opening of the new 65,000square-foot Canadian Canoe Museum at 2077 Ashburnham Dr. on Little Lake.
The official grand opening ceremony is on Saturday, May 11 and will be livestreamed on YouTube from 1 to 2 p.m., with attendance by invitation only.
“An afternoon of formal remarks and celebrations will officially open the new museum,” said Carolyn Hyslop, executive director. “The livestream of the ceremony will allow for those across the country to join us in celebrating this historic moment now that all the work is coming to fruition.”
Government dignitaries, major donors, the museum’s volunteer council, construction project partners, community partners, Indigenous leaders and media will attend.
A community celebration, also by invitation only, with the museum’s community of members, volunteers and donors is on Sunday, May 12, registration required.
The public is invited to visit on Monday, May 13, when they can view the new facility and outdoor campus. Admission is free for members; $20 for adults, $18 for seniors, $15 for youth and free for children (up to 4).
Located on the traditional territory of the Williams Treaties First Nations, for the last 27 years the museum has stewarded the world’s largest collection of canoes, kayaks and paddled watercraft, now numbering more than 600.
The 20,000-square-foot Exhibition Hall begins on the second floor, featuring a new suite of exhibits which have been developed in collaboration with Indigenous peoples.
“We’ve engaged with Indigenous canoe builders and knowledge keepers across the country from the communities where the canoes and kayaks originate, to include storytellers and voices so that visitors can see and hear the languages of the people, bringing their rich stories and diverse cultures to life,” continued Hyslop.
The local Michi Saagig dialect of Anishnaabemowin is being used throughout the building and within its exhibits as well as English and French, with additional Indigenous languages being featured alongside specific watercraft.
Hyslop said that visitors will be overwhelmed by the stunning swirl of canoes and kayaks from around the world suspended in the air in the Exhibition Hall.
The two-storey museum and lakefront campus were designed by Peterborough’s Unity Design Studio
(formerly Lett Architects), with Chandos Construction Ltd. as the general contractor.
“The building looks stunning amid its beautiful, natural setting, and when you come in the front door, it is so warm and welcoming, with the natural materials in the stone fireplace and the wood and timber,” she said.
On the lakefront campus, visitors can take part in guided voyageur canoe tours or rent a canoe or kayak to explore the waters of Little Lake and the Trent-Severn Waterway.
The museum’s artisan workshops are back, with the chance to learn new skills in the Artisan and CanoeBuilding Studios, including How to be a Happy Camper, with Kevin Callan on June 1; cooking over a fire, with chef Amanda Harrison on July 18; and a wood-and-canvas canoe restoration clinic, on Oct. 19 and 20.
A variety of camps for children aged 8 to 16 years are being offered this summer, providing on-water, on-campus and in-museum experiences, along with canoe trips in Kawartha Highlands and Algonquin provincial parks.
After viewing the exhibits, guests can enjoy a coffee or meal at the on-site Silver Bean Café overlooking the lake.
For more information, please visit canoemuseum.ca.