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.

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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.

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Peterborough Museum & Archives Tourism Named Award Finalist For Tourism

The Peterborough Museum & Archives (PMA) is a finalist in the “Tourism” category for the 2023 Business Excellence Awards, organized annually through the Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce announced on Friday.

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The Business Excellence Awards promote the advancement of responsible business leadership and prosperity within the community in categories such as: Entrepreneurial Spirit, Local Focus, and Green Initiatives.

The Tourism category recognizes organizations with a demonstrated commitment to excellence in attracting tourists to the Peterborough and Kawarthas area according to The City of Peterborough. Considerations include guest services, marketing and unique promotions, quality of facilities, signage, and staff and volunteer knowledge.

“There are many reasons why the Peterborough Museum & Archives is worthy of this distinction,” says Dustin McIlwain, PMC visitor experience coordinator. “Naturally, tourists to the area might want to learn more about the place they are visiting, and the PMA is a great place to acquire those stories. However, the PMA takes it a step further by offering interesting programming and events, engaging exhibitions and gallery spaces that are welcoming to all.”

The PMA’s current exhibition, “To Honour and Respect: Gifts from the Michi Saagiig Women to the Prince of Wales, 1860” has been a significant attraction from a tourism perspective according to McIlwain.

“Extensive work went into creating this important exhibition, including contributions from the six Mississauga Nations, the Royal Collection Trust in England, and the Department of Canadian Heritage to name a few,” he said. “Together, we’re reconnecting a piece of tangible cultural heritage to the descendants of those who created them. It has produced multiple opportunities for learning and relationship-building which will have a positive impact on our community long after the exhibition comes to end. For now, we will continue to welcome visitors from near and far to see these gifts.”

The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony scheduled for Oct. 18 at The Venue.

Admission to the Peterborough Museum & Archives is by donation.

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Peterborough Museum and Archives to Fund Signage Project Through Tourism Relief Fund Grant

The Peterborough Museum and Archives (PMA) received $100,000 from Regional Tourism Organization 8 (RTO8) through FedDev Ontario to attract visitors and support future growth through its Signage Project.

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This is part of the Government of Canada’s Tourism Relief Fund, delivered by the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario). RTO8 received a total of $3 million from FedDev Ontario to help local tourism organizations and businesses safely welcome back visitors, recover from the impacts of the pandemic and prepare for future growth.

The investment will help the PMA adapt and recover to attract new visitors and drive economic growth in Peterborough City and County.

“The generous support of FedDev Ontario allows the PMA to move forward on refreshing its public image and expanding its capacity to better serve visitors, from near and far,” says Susan Neale, Peterborough Museum and Archives director.

The Signage Project is intended to augment the identification of the PMA within the community, and improve the visitor experience. The scope of the project will include a re-brand of the PMA’s visual identifier, campus way-finding on the PMA’s grounds and sign revitalization.

To learn more about this project visit the City’s website.

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New Exhibition Opens At The Peterborough Museum And Archives

As part of an ongoing partnership with Fleming College, Museum Management & Curatorship (MMC) students will present the exhibition Home and Away: Stories of Travel from Peterborough and Beyond at the Peterborough Museum and Archives beginning Saturday.

The exhibit explores travel through stories from the past and present. The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically changed the way we travel, which inspired the MMC students to look to the past and document a timeline of changes.

Notable artifacts include an 8-Track Adapter perfect for playing road trip soundtracks, a Victorian women’s “Going Away Outfit” that displays historical travel fashion, and a souvenir teacup from Banff.

Visitors will discover why Peterborough has long been an attractive travel destination and hear stories of Peterborians who have visited places far and wide, leaving their mark and bringing back souvenirs and memories.

“This exhibit reveals that our desire to seek new adventures, experience new places, and create lasting memories is nothing new,” said MMC Faculty Deborah Scott.

The exhibit runs from April 9 to June 5. Admission is by donation.

Upcoming exhibit information is featured on the Museum's website www.peterborough.ca/museum and the MMC students’ social media pages:

• Twitter: @MMC_Students

• Facebook: @flemingMMCStudents

• Instagram: @mmc_students

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New Exhibition 'Past Presents' Opens At Peterborough Museum And Archives

This winter the Peterborough Museum & Archives will present its newest exhibition: Past Presents. This exhibit will share the stories of various gifts that were given and received from those in our community.

“I’m hoping this exhibit brings back some nostalgic feelings for visitors,” said Kim Reid, Curator at the museum. “Past Presents is an exhibit that’s been curated in-house, using artifacts from our permanent collection that were donated by people who once lived in Peterborough. We want visitors who see these gifts on display to have moments to enjoy their own fond memories of some of their own past presents. This exhibition will surely put you in the gift-giving spirit this holiday season. As the old adage goes, it’s better to give than to receive.”

The exhibition features a variety of artifacts – each of which have their own unique story about the context in which they were given as a gift.

Objects range in age, dating from as early as the 1880s through the 1960s.

Included in the displays are a collection of dolls, quilts, small appliances, and children’s toys among other items. One of the strangest gifts is a lead plaque that was given to paperboys by the Winnipeg Free Press in 1913 at Christmas as a thank you.

Past Presents is the final temporary exhibition presented at the Peterborough Museum & Archives in 2021. The exhibition will open on Saturday and be on display until March 20, 2022. Admission is by donation.

At time of release, current COVID-related rules for visiting include self-screening for symptoms prior to entering the museum, wearing a mask while on-site, and maintaining physical distancing from others.

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Shakespeare In The Park At Peterborough Museum & Archives This Sunday

The outdoor, summer theatre touring company Driftwood Theatre presents A Midsummer Night's Dream at Heritage Pavilion at the Peterborough Museum & Archives on Armour Hill this Sunday (August 5th) at 7:30 p.m.

To mark its 18^th touring season, Driftwood is doing a capella musical adaptation of the Shakespeare classic.

Admission is free (donations are accepted), and the play will be on rain or shine.

Though the Heritage Pavilion is sheltered, audience members are advised to dress for the weather and bring a chair and a blanket.  

For more about the Driftwood Theatre Group, visit their website at Driftwoodtheatre.com.

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Pictures From 1970s Exhibit At Peterborough Museum & Archives

Photo above & at right/Julie Morris

Even though I just missed being born in the Seventies—I was born in 1980—I was delighted to check out the Bellbottom Days exhibit on at the Peterborough Museum & Archives (see the pics in this post from the exhibit). Did you know Peterborough Square opened its doors on May 1st, 1975? Did you know Pop Rocks were tested right here in Peterborough? Were you one of the teens "Scooping the Loop" around George and Water Streets, or could you be found at the Windsor Hotel, better known today as the Pig's Ear?

Photo courtesy Peterborough Museum & Archives

If you would like to learn more or take a '70s trip down memory lane, the Bellbottom Days display is a must-see. It is on until May 15th.

The museum is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and noon to 5 p.m. on weekend and holidays. The exhibit is free of charge, but donations are appreciated.

[Peterborough Museum & Archives]

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Julie Morris]

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Stuff to Do in Peterborough This Weekend (And This Is All Real News)

Friday

33rd Annual Home, Cottage, and Country Show at the Evinrude Centre, 4 p.m. - 9 p.m. $5/Adults, $2/Seniors, Kids are Free

Saturday

33rd Annual Home, Cottage, and Country Show at the Evinrude Centre, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. $5/Adults, $2/Seniors, Kids are Free

Freddy Vettes and the Flames at the Trentwinds, 7 p.m. $25.  All proceeds to the 2011 season of Little Lake Musicfest

Market Hall Performing Arts presents Live and Uncorked, 8:30 p.m. $22.50

Sunday

33rd Annual Home, Cottage, and Country Show at the Evinrude Centre 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. $5/Adults, $2/Seniors, Kids are Free

4th Line Theatre presents Artist Talk Series at the Peterborough Museum and Archives, 2 p.m. Free but limited seating

To submit info for "Stuff to do in the Patch This Weekend", email evan@ptbocanada.com. Follow us on Twitter @Ptbo_Canada.

Stuff To Do In The Patch This Weekend (Including Watching A Polar Plunge!)

Saturday:

Peterborough Symphony Orchestra presents Latin Heat featuring Marion Newman - Showplace Performance Centre - 8 p.m.

Africville Productions presents Celebrating Difference - The Venue - 8 p.m., Tickets $25 at the door

Sunday:

Kawartha Wilds Tracking Club - 9 a.m., meet at the Camp Kawartha Environment Centre. An opportunity to track and trail local wildlife (map) - FREE 

Family Sundays at Art Gallery of Peterborough - 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., FREE

31st Annual Polar Plunge (see graphic at right), Rotary Park, Ennismore - 2 p.m.

To submit info for "Stuff to do in the Patch This Weekend", email evan@ptbocanada.com. Follow us on Twitter @Ptbo_Canada.