2017 What a year! Celebrations for

Canada’s 150th was the theme for

most Museums across the country

and while we celebrated with the

opening of several 150th inspired

exhibitions such as “Bruce Roots”,

“As the Crow Flies” and “The Last

Frontier” we also had much to be

proud of since Bruce County

turned 150 as well. “The Last

Frontier” exhibition focuses on the

settlement of the area and also

marked a significant moment as it

completed the transformation of

the lower level gallery space since

reopening in 2005. On the national

stage, Bruce County was well

represented as we were

approached by the Canadian

Museum of History to loan the

Crozier Norfolk Jacket (North West

Mounted Police) as part of the

CMH’s History Hall for 2017. This

important part of Bruce County’s

history will be on loan and

displayed in the nation’s capital for

the next five years.

Continuing our work aligning to

our strategic plan, the BCM&CC

has accomplished many

noteworthy projects in 2017. The

launch of the Museum Explorer

Pass in partnership with Bruce

County Libraries, allows for access

to the BCM&CC free of charge. The

engagement with Saugeen First

Nation and Chippewas of Nawash

Unceded First Nation in

community consultation for the

redevelopment of the First Nations

gallery in 2018 was enlightening

and the start of continued

community involvement beyond

the exhibition. Our “Fields of

Dreams” exhibition and cultural

programming highlighted the lives

of our local community seasonal

residents and provided a basis to

further explore the traditions of

Mexican culture. The progression

of the Financial Feasibility Study

allowed the BCM&CC to evaluate

the possibility of a new build

project and further define the

project through community

stakeholder engagement. These are

just a few highlights of the many

projects, programs and activities

that were accomplished in 2017.

Of course none of these projects

would be possible without the

wonderful and generous support

of our members, visitors, sponsors,

volunteers, donors, businesses and

community members. Through the

engagement of their time, ideas

and support we are able to make

the BCM&CC a welcoming,

diverse and inclusive space for all

who walk through our doors.

As 2017 comes to an end, I would

like to thank everyone for another

successful year for the Bruce

County Museum & Cultural

Centre. I wish you all happiness,

good health and peace for the

upcoming year and invite you to

join us as we explore the new

possibilities for the BCM&CC in

2018!

Best regards,

Cathy McGirr,

Director, Museum &

Cultural Services

Cathy McGirr at opening of Fibre Art Exhibition “As the Crow Flies”

THE YEAR IN REVIEW

Thanks!2,637 Facebook Likes

605Members

70 School Visits

2,063+ Students

69 Active Volunteers

13 NEW Volunteers

EXCITING HIGHLIGHTSAs the Crow Flies

In celebration of Canada’s 150th

we curated a fibre art show with a

twist! “As the Crow Flies” focused

on interpretation of Canada with

multi-fibres as multi-media artists

displayed their skills. Museum

visitors enjoyed this fine exhibit

from May to September.

Toy’s the Inside Story

From May to September, Museum

members and guests experienced

what happens behind the scenes of

our favorite toys. Thousands saw

that you need a steady hand to win

at Operation®, what makes Jack

jump, and what is inside a dancing

Elmo®! Our enthusiastic special

guest emcee, 9-year-old Corbin,

opened the exhibit to a full house

in May. That evening was filled

with crafts, entertainment and

delicious food!

The Last Frontier

In June we opened the most recent

addition to our permanent

galleries, “The Last Frontier”,

which completes Bruce County’s

pioneer days. This permanent

exhibit pays homage to Bruce

County early settlers, providing

two programming counters that

host community partners and

volunteers demonstrating

domestic and industrial activities.

During the opening reception,

author Robin Hilborn spoke of his

research and participation in the

exhibit’s creation.

Attendees helping to decorate the Museum’s cardboard boat in July

The crowd eagerly awaiting “Toys, The Inside Story” opening

A Museum member recieving a HennaTattoo during the opening of “My Story,My Tattoo” in November

7th Annual Marine Heritage

Festival

The Marine Heritage Festival was

once again a fantastic weekend

event that began at the Museum

with the “Launch Party” on the

Friday night. We kicked off this

nautical weekend by offering free

admission to the Museum during

Friday evening’s events that

included delicious food and great

entertainers. On the front lawn,

children and adults alike were

entertained by “Bob Robb”, while

many helped with decorating the

Museum’s cardboard boat. The

Museum was bustling with

activity including a bubble show in

the theare, Authentic Voices

Production vignettes in the

exhibits, and the patio was a full

house enjoying the musical

offerings of the “Bobby Dean

Blackburn Trio”. The Museum

team was successful at Saturday

Bruce County CAO Kelley Coulter (3rd from right) opening “The Last Frontier”with sponsors and exhibit contributors

Sandy Lindsay and Hi-Berry Farms Mexican Migrant wrokers during the openingof “Fields of Dreams” in September

Director Cathy McGirr welcoming the Bert Henderson exhibit

morning’s competitions, placing

second in the Cardboard Boat races

and beating two competitors in the

first-ever “Chi-Cheemaun Big

Canoe Challenge” tug of war.

Bert Henderson: A Living Legacy

Juried Exhibition

In September we collaborated with

the Southampton Art Centre, in

celebration of their sixtieth

anniversary, hosting our latest art

show. This exhibit featured a

juried selection of art works

created by those who have been

touched by the Southampton Art

Centre. This artwork was

displayed alongside the works of

Bert Henderson, Southampton Art

School founder. During the

opening reception, attendees were

able to view “The Legacy” a

documentary created by Richard

Thomas that follows the

Southampton Art School

beginnings.

Fields of Dreams

The world became a little closer

this fall, with the exhibit “Fields of

Dreams” that highlighted migrant

workers from Mexico who travel to

Canada, more specifically Saugeen

Shores, under the Seasonal Farm

Workers Programs with the goal of

making a better life for their

families at home. This exhibit was

an extraordinary photography

display by photographer and

journalist Sandy Lindsay who

shared stories the migrant workers

told themselves. The same week

that “Fields of Dreams” opened, an

earthquake shook Central Mexico

causing more than 300 deaths,

6,000 people injured, and

significant structural damage.

During this exhibit, we collected

donations, in total raising $347 that

was contributed to the Red Cross.

My Story, My Tattoo

This fall and into the new year, we

are host to the travelling exhibit

“My Story, My Tattoo” from

Wellington County Museum and

Archives. This phenomenal

photography exhibit exposes that

tattoos are living images that may

signify important personal stories.

Participants in the travelling

exhibit represent every lifestyle –

everyone from a cancer survivor to

teachers and their students, a fire-

fighter and a farmer. All of the

individuals were open and honest,

and their stories and personalities

are represented in the

photography, audio stations and

video. You still have time to enjoy

this exhibit, as it will be on display

until January 31, 2018!

2017 was a productive year for

Collections with several behind-

the-scenes projects as well as work

on the permanent gallery “The

Last Frontier” and other

exhibitions.

With the addition of a new

cabinet, Collections rehoused part

of the military collection. The new

cabinet allowed for 791 items,

including military medals, badges

and identification items, to be

rehoused and located in a central

area, and freed up much needed

shelf space. With the help of

volunteers, nearly 600 items were

reorganized in Artifact Storage,

This bonnet chest was made for John Polfuss Sr. of CarrickTownship by an unknown furniture maker in the Formosaarea around 1890. The chest is part of a set that waspassed down through several members of the family, and itnow joins one of its mates, already in the Museum’s collection.

Around a century after its creation, this 160th Bruce Battalion wall hanging came home to Bruce County. Takenhome as a gift by James Todd of Crief, Scotland, it waspassed down through the Todd family to his grandson,who resides in London, England. During the First WorldWar, Todd was wounded in France and it is thought thathe convalesced near a member of the 160th who thengave his creation to him. The identity of the maker is unknown.

including dairy

implements, metal and leather

working tools, agricultural

implements and personal items.

This project will continue through

2018.

Don’t forget we are online!

Throughout 2017 we continued to

work on adding items to our

Online Collections website

(collections.brucemuseum.ca)

including new donations and

items from Artifact Storage. To

date there are over 750 objects

online and that number will

continue to grow, so check back

frequently!

2017 saw some fantastic donations.

There were just shy of 30

donations, totalling near 70 items.

Most donors were sharing family

heirlooms, but there were also

donations from community groups

and a transfer from the Huron

County Museum & Historic Gaol.

There were many wonderful

donations, too many to show here,

but below are some highlights.

With great objects like this, we

can’t wait for what 2018 will bring!

COLLECTIONS IN REVIEW

This year we featured a variety of programs appealing to many interests, with family programming, an

amazing workshop series, theatrical productions, special guest lectures and cultural programming.

The Adventure Talk Series this year focused on Canadians helping others around the world. We hosted six presenters whohad used travel to help humanitarian causes. Pictured here are children in Cali, Colombia who attend a Church that is supported through work by the United Church in Southampton.

PROGRAMS & EVENTS

Family Heritage Day brought a diverse group of instructors to engage attendees in activities and displays about BruceCounty's unique heritage. Pictured on the left are dancers from the Celtic Academy of Canada instructing the public and onthe right Edith Beech teaching rope making skills.

We hosted Authentic Voices Productions, a Youth Theatre group comprised of sixtalented young actors and led by Veronica Davidson. The group brought BruceCounty’s history to life on the stage and in the exhibits with original scripts writtenand performed throughout the months of July and August. This was in celebrationof Bruce County’s 150th Anniversary.

One of our Special Guest Wednesdays went off with a real bang this year withan 1812 Black Powder Cannon Crew descending upon us to fire their workingcannon and teach visitors about how these weapons played an important role inthis historic war.

Mike Sterling presented using his Bernoulli Involute, an instrument based on thelogarithmic spiral and the chromatic scale, tying together the study of mathematics and music in the “Geometry of Music” lecture part 3 of 4. He wasjoined for this lecture and concert by four special guests: Sandy Lindsay; Jim andLee MacDonald; and Harry Carson who all interpreted the song “Going Home.”

Medieval Day was very exciting thisyear, with live armed combat demonstrations on the patio overlooking Fairy Lake. The weatheron Earth Day was lovely letting peoplerelish the market-style atmosphere created by the medieval reenactors inside and then revel in the sunshine,while watching the fights and enjoyinglunch.

The Wine Tasting was hosted by Sandbanks Winery from Prince Edward Countyand highlighted six different wines, which were paired with delicious canapésfrom the Elk and Finch chef and caterers. This was another sold out event thatbrought together connoisseurs to learn more about this ancient beverage.

During July and August each Tuesdayand Thursday afternoon, First Nations Cultural Demonstrators brought elements of their heritage to the Museum. Pictured here is Jaylynn Jingle Dancing in her Traditional Regalia. Jaylynn and her brotherZachary also led the public through theMuseum engaging in interactive storytelling using a book called “JingleDancer” which helped to inspire Jaylynn to dance.

To celebrate Canada’s 150th Birthday, Reel Canada provided free licensing forvenues such as us to screen a Canadian Film free of charge for the public. Thisyear a film called “The Grand Seduction” was screened about a rural Newfoundland town luring a doctor to stay and help treat the residents.

In conjunction with our “Fields of Dreams” exhibit we hosted a Day of the Dead celebration in October, to celebrate and honour the Mexican culture and heritagethat plays such a large role in Bruce County each growing season. The Day ofthe Dead is a sacred and beautiful festival that takes place in Mexico each yearto remember and celebrate with the spirits of loved ones who have passed on.

The theme for this year’s After Hours Museum Mixer was “Under the Big Top.”Some of the highlights were: the stilt walkers who interacted with attendees; circusskill workshops; great carnival-themed food from the Flying Chestnut; and a stunning aerial performance by Angola Murdoch of Lookup Theatre.

Speaking of Wildlife brought the wonder of wild animals to us this summer withfour shows featuring: a wolf cub; a porcupine; a black rat snake; a great hornedanimal and a skunk to name a few! Speaking of Wildlife is a company thathouses and cares for injured wildlife and trains them so they can be ambassadorsfor conservation!

The film “Frontrunners” was producedby local author and journalist LauraRobinson and tells the story of a groupof ten Indigenous Youth, trained aslong distance runners while attendingresidential school in Manitoba, whowere asked to run the Pan Am torch800 km to open the 1967 Pan Amgames. After this amazing run, thegroup then had to hand the torch tonon-Indigenous athletes who then lit thecentral flame in the Winnipeg stadium.Fifty years later, having received a for-mal apology and having had a chanceto light the torch for the 1997 Pan Amgames, four of the original Frontrunnersor Niigaanibatowaad made anotherjourney to share their stories with alarge crowd at the Museum.

We formed a new partnership with thegroup Sweetgrass and Thistles, in orderto work towards bringing togethermembers of the Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities in ourarea. A series called the Bimaadiziwin(the Good Path) Workshops, led byMarilyn Roote, allowed participants tolearn words in Anishnabemowin andhow to make a dream catcher. This series ended with a screening of the“Secret Path”, by Jeff Lemire and GordDownie, about the tragic story ofChanie Wenjack as he tried to escaperesidential school.

Education and

Children’s Programs

We had another exciting year of

Education Programs here at the

Museum! 1,450 students and 290

adult chaperones participated with

our school programs. Our Museum

Mobile programs were delivered to

an additional 613 students during

17 mobile visits. Students had

unforgettable hands-on learning

experiences as they interacted with

Museum artifacts, completed

STEM challenges, made and

sampled special treats, created

works of art, and much more. Our

most popular programs this year

included LEGO™, First Nations,

Ancient Civilizations, and

Pioneers.

“Teens Engaged at Museum” (Te@m) members participated in a two day leadership workshop, building their resumés andmaking new friends

Collaborating with community

partners is important to the

Museum. This year we had the

opportunity to work with G.C.

Huston to host their 7th annual

local Heritage Fair, as well as

partner with Bruce Power to help

create and deliver an Eco-Mentors

program to 230 grade 6 students

for Earth Week. We have also

continued the work that began in

2016 with our Educational

Advisory Group to continue

learning about the needs of the

students and teachers we serve

and enhancing the educational

programming we offer.

Children’s Programming was as

full as ever with the return of

popular programs such as Eco

Explorers, LEGO™ Fridays, Night

at the Museum, and PA Day

movies. Holiday programs

featured Valentine’s Day, Easter,

Halloween and winter holidays.

Preschoolers and their caregivers

enjoyed Museum Munchkins, a

program designed especially for

0-4 year olds. For youth and teens,

we ran Teens Engaged at the

Museum (“Te@m”) in July: a two

day leadership workshop which

helped attendees gain confidence

and boost their resumes as they

explored what it means to be a

leader.

Finally, a year at the Museum

wouldn’t be complete without

camp! Kids from all over the

County and visitors to the area

Back by popular demand, KidZone campers got messy during “Messy Week”!

Grade 6 students learning about the importance of our pollinators from Bruce Power and Museum staff

Students lived a day in the life of a peasant during our Ancient Civilizations program in April

Eco Explorers got their hands dirty as they learned how tomake suet feeders with special guests from MacGregor PointProvincial Park

Preschoolers sang, danced, created, learned and played at Museum Munchkins.Here the “munchkins” are listening to a story read by Mrs. Deb from Kindermusik.

came to enjoy March Break and

Summer KidZone Day Camps. We

saw 50 children over March Break

with 99% of spots filled, and 112

children over the summer with

98% of spots filled. Partnering with

the Southampton Art Centre for

the second time, we once again

added a one week “Art Inventors”

camp where children channeled

their inner inventor and received

creative inspiration from the

Museum setting.

ARCHIVES & RESEARCH

Archives and

Research Room

Thank you to all of our visitors,

researchers, volunteers, partners

and donors over the last year. We

enjoy helping people find their

own version of Bruce County’s

history, whether it be family,

locality or subject based.

Collections.brucemuseum.ca

We are continuing to make our

records more accessible through

our Online Collections website

enabling you to prepare for your

research visit at the BCM&CC,

view collections material or

browse photographs! Digital and

hard-copy prints of our

photograph collection are available

for purchase by clicking the

“Request Image” button on the

enlarged photograph. Records are

being added bi-weekly, so check

back often to see what’s new. The

First World War era newspapers

from Paisley, Port Elgin, Walkerton

and Wiarton are scanned and

available for online viewing as

downloadable PDF documents.

(Type: AX2016.021* into the Online

Collections search box to locate the

records with links to the PDF

newspapers).

The following archival records are

available online:

• Archives: 4,451

• Photographs: 3,856

• Library: 737

• Records online from Krug

Family fonds: 1,736 including

an inventory of over 22,000

identified photographs

• Records online from Lindsay

Thornburn photograph

collection: 74, including an

inventory of over 20,000

photographs of people. This

collection consists of images of

Port Elgin area businesses,

events and activities with more

being added regularly.

The Research Room is a hive of activity with people digging into a variety of subjects including family and homes.

Veterans with Bruce County connections can be found at Bruceremembers.org byclicking on “Menu” at the top left corner and “Find People”

The mobile shelving in the archives holds thousands of pounds of the County’sdocumentary heritage

A rural farmhouse in the winter Port Elgin Skating Carnival in January 1956 by LindsayThornburn

Over 120,000 page views in the last

year! Descriptions and images

viewed include family, business,

organization, and government

records, such as minutes, ledgers,

letters, diaries, photographs,

postcards, certificates, videos, local

history books, family histories, and

more!

BruceRemembers.org

We have also continued to add to

the Bruce Remembers website.

There are thousands of Bruce

County residents who served in

various capacities in the armed

forces. If we have missed anyone

you are aware of please let us

know.

Military Personnel: Over 35,000

page views in the last year!

Archival Donations:

2017 Donations: 92

2017 Municipal Transfers: 9

Linear Feet added to Archival

Collection: over 75 linear feet or 25

shelves worth of material.

Brenda Vanderploeg receiving her Volunteer Service Award

VOLUNTEER PROGRAM

Helping to make 2017 another

fantastic year at the Museum, is a

team of dedicated volunteers. On a

combined basis, our volunteers

contributed over 4,605 hours this

year. That is the equivalent of three

full-time employees working 35

hours a week for the full year. This

is a substantial contribution to the

running of the Bruce County

Museum & Cultural Centre. The

volunteer team currently has 69

active volunteers. This year the

team welcomed two new youth

and eight new adult volunteers.

Each year the Ontario Museum

Association hosts “Awards of

Excellence” at their annual

conference. Seven of our

volunteers received 2017 Ontario

Volunteer Service Awards for the

time they have dedicated to the

Museum. The group included:

Devon Tanner and Amelia

Newbould as youth volunteers

and five adult volunteers: Dr. Rob

Campbell, Robin Hilborn, Gary

Maycock, Michael Sterling and

Brenda Vanderploeg.

Volunteering opportunities at the

Museum are diverse and

interesting with opportunities to

assist with: school programs,

children’s camps, lectures,

concerts, teen workshops, food

and beverage tasting events,

guided tours, visitor services,

gardening, exhibit openings,

exhibit interpretation, archives and

collections inventory, digitization,

assisting archive researchers, script

writing, installing traveling

exhibits, and folding, stuffing and

stamping when needed. Our

volunteers make each one of these

and other programs and projects

possible.

As we close out 2017, we would

like to take this opportunity to

once again thank our volunteers

for helping us to deliver

unforgettable experiences! We are

always happy to welcome new

volunteers, if you know someone

looking for rewarding volunteer

work, please have them contact us

at B3@brucecounty.on.ca.

Volunteer Connie Barker teaching embroidery during Medieval Day

Volunteers Susan Bodkin (left) and Brenda Vanderploeg asVictorian Maids at the Victorian Christmas Tea

Volunteer Gary Maycock at the As The Crow Flies fibre artshow exhibit opening

Volunteer Heather Wallace teaching pie baking skills tomembers of the public at the Last Frontier exhibit opening

Dr. Rob Campbell helping a student emboss a coin duringthe Ancient Civilizations program

33 Victoria St. N., Southampton ON N0H2L0 (519) 797-2080 Toll Free: 1-866-318-8889 www.brucemuseum.ca