A concept rendering of one of the seven galleries part of The Canadian Canoe Museum’s new 20,000-square-foot Exhibition Hall.
On Tuesday, July 12th, The Canadian Canoe Museum welcomed the Honourable Helena Jaczek, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, to the Museum, where she announced over $12.2 million for 33 tourism, community infrastructure and economic development projects in Peterborough, Northumberland and Kawartha Lakes.
The Canadian Canoe Museum is honoured to be the recipient of this significant investment of $750,000 to help create a new cultural and tourism destination on the Peterborough waterfront. The new museum, located on the waterfront of Little Lake along the Trent Severn Waterway, will play a vital role in shaping the region’s identity as a premier destination by offering a brand new visitor experience which will include an entirely new suite of exhibits.
With the canoe as our lens, we have a unique opportunity to share Canadians’ stories and honour the cultural histories held within the collection, aspiring to include and welcome diverse voices and perspectives from across the country.
Left to right: Steve ten Doeschate (General Manager, Kawartha Ethanol Inc), the Honourable Helena Jaczek (Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario), Victoria Grant (Chair, The Canadian Canoe Museum), and Carolyn Hyslop (Executive DIrector, The Canadian Canoe Museum).
This funding will help us share those stories by contributing to the development and installation of professionally designed exhibits that will be featured in the Exhibition Hall. The 20,000-square-foot hall features seven distinct galleries, including one dedicated to temporary or travelling exhibits. The Exhibition Hall also meets Class “A” museum conservation standards, which allows The Canadian Canoe Museum to collaborate with other national and international museums and to develop unique new visitor experiences for years to come.
Visitors will also see and hear Indigenous languages and voices from the moment they enter the Museum, thanks to funding from TD Bank Group’s Ready Commitment. The local Michi Saagig dialect of Anishnaabemowin will be used throughout the building and within exhibits alongside English and French, with additional Indigenous languages featured in relation to specific watercraft.
These exhibits will attract visitors from near and far to explore the canoe’s significance to Canada through engaging exhibits, immersive storytelling, and hands-on learning.
Helping us bring this vision of the new museum to life has been the support of our governmental partners, including the Government of Canada, the Government of Ontario, the City of Peterborough, and the County of Peterborough, alongside our lead donor, The Weston Family Foundation.
On behalf of The Canadian Canoe Museum’s board, staff, members and donors, we extend our sincere thanks to FedDev Ontario and Minister Jaczek for joining this growing swell of supporters!