Peterborough Museum and Archives Presents An Exhibition on Lost Liberties Starting June 20

The Peterborough Museum and Archives is bringing ‘Lost Liberties – The War Measures Act,’ a travelling exhibition from the Canadian Museum of History that invites visitors to reflect on the difficult balance between national security and individual liberties in times of crisis.

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The exhibit runs from June 20 to Sept. 13.

It explores the fears, racism and crises that drove the suspension of civil liberties in Canada during the First World War, the Second World War, and the 1970 October Crisis. In each crisis, the federal government applied the War Measures Act, which had serious impacts on the civil liberties of many individuals, groups and communities in Canada. 

Lost Liberties examines, notably, the internment of Canadians of Ukrainian origin and other nationalities during the First World War, the internment of Italian Canadians and the internment and forced relocation of Japanese Canadians during the Second World War, and the arrest of hundreds of people in Quebec during the 1970 October Crisis. 

“The exhibition sheds new light on the enduring impact of this act on Canada and its people, and allows the public to learn more about these difficult chapters in Canadian history,” said Dr Xavier Gélinas, curator, political history of the Canadian Museum of History and co-curator of the exhibition.  

“Lost Liberties not only places these crises in their historical context, but it also examines them through multiple perspectives and, above all, presents poignant first-hand accounts from the men, women and children who lived through them,” said Dr Mélanie Morin-Pelletier, historian war and society of the Canadian War Museum and co-curator of the exhibition. 

Developed by the Canadian Museum of History and generously supported by a grant from the Endowment Council of the Canadian First World War Internment Recognition Fund.

The Peterborough Museum and Archives, 300 Hunter St. E., is open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and most holidays. 

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Peterborough Museum & Archives Awarded Over $45,000 In Provincial Grant

Peterborough Museum & Archives (PMA) has been awarded $45,433 through the Community Museum Operating and Pay Equity Grants Program (CMOG) from the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Gaming. 

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This annual provincial funding supports community museums that meet Ontario’s museum standards of operation, ensuring that museums preserve, present and share the province’s rich cultural heritage said Susan Neale, PMA director.

“The CMOG and Pay Equity program recognizes the vital role that community museums play in education, culture and heritage preservation,” she explained. “This funding helps the PMA continue to deliver engaging exhibitions, meaningful educational programs and responsible stewardship of our community’s history.” 

According to the City, applicants to the program are required to submit a comprehensive report on performance measures and finances and to demonstrate compliance with the provincial museum standards for community museums, including governance, collections management, conservation and public access.

Funding received through the program supports PMA operations, including collections care, preservation, and public access initiatives that connect visitors with Peterborough’s heritage

“We’re proud that the Peterborough Museum & Archives continues to earn provincial recognition for its dedication to preserving our community’s heritage,” said Councillors Alex Bierk and Lesley Parnell. “This funding reflects the strength of the PMA’s commitment to maintaining professional museum standards and engaging our community in its shared history.” 

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Peterborough Museum and Archives Celebrates Successful Summer Camp Season

The Peterborough Museum and Archives (PMA) has announced the successful completion of its 2025 summer camp season.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

“The funding we received through the Canada Summer Jobs and Young Canada Works in Heritage Organizations made a tremendous difference,” said Faryn Stanley, Museum Education Officer. “It allowed us to recruit talented young leaders, enhance our programming and ensure accessibility for families in our community.” 

There were grants provided by Canada Summer Jobs. This initiative was part of the Government of Canada’s Youth Employment and Skills Strategy and Young Canada Works in Heritage Organizations, a federal program dedicated to youth employment and heritage, administered by the Canadian Museums Association. It directly contributed to youth employment and skill-building.

According to the City of Peterborough, these programs not only helped the PMA meet its staffing needs but also provided young people with valuable experience in leadership, teamwork and community service.

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Ontario Museum Association Recognizes Peterborough Museum and Archives With Award of Excellence in Special Projects

The Peterborough Museum & Archives (PMA) has been recognized with the Ontario Museum Association Award of Excellence in Special Projects for its role in the “To Honour and Respect: Gifts from Michi Saagiig Women to the Prince of Wales, 1860” exhibition project on Friday.

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The Award recognizes innovative initiatives, approaches or techniques that profoundly advance the museum profession.

The exhibition featured 13 quilled wiigwassii makakoon (birch bark baskets) on loan from His Majesty King Charles III, through the Royal Collection Trust, United Kingdom. The makakoon were created by women of Hiawatha First Nation and gifted to the Prince of Wales on Sept. 7, 1860, when he visited on a cross-Canada Royal tour.

The exhibition focused on education, revitalization, and skill-building. Traditional quillwork and the Michi-Saagiig Nishnaabemowin language were integrated into the exhibition, project materials, and events. Interactions with the makakoon provided powerful moments to pass down traditional skills, strengthen intergenerational connections, foster healing, and promote cross-cultural understanding.

“The complex partnerships brought together for this project have helped to continue to strengthen the relationships between the PMA and local Indigenous communities,” said Dr. Amy Barron, Program Coordinator, Heritage Programs, Haliburton School of Art + Design, Fleming College. “Hopefully, this project can serve as a model for the loan of other Indigenous artifacts from overseas institutions, allowing these ancestors a chance to return home.”

‘To Honour and Respect: Gifts from Michi Saagiig Women to the Prince of Wales, 1860’ was a partnership between Hiawatha First Nation, the Mississauga Nation, the PMA, the Royal Collection Trust and the co-Curators, Dr. L. Beavis and Dr. L. Peers.

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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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