The leaves are changing, the weather is becoming more and more brisk, and the days of summer are begin to feel far away. From the entire Canoe Museum family I hope that everyone had a lovely long weekend and perhaps got in that one last paddle of the season. Personally, fall is my favourite season and I love those last few paddles before the weather turns cold. Fall is certainly in full swing here at the Canoe Museum and we have plenty to offer the canoe enthusiast or anyone else who is beginning to miss those days of summer.
Fall colours in the Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park
Tessa & Ryan. Your Thursday night dream team!
This fall, the Canoe Museum has put together an incredible lineup of events and programming. We really do have something for everyone and for all ages. For one, due to popular demand we have brought back our Late Night Thursdays which were a huge hit during the summer. On Thursdays the museum will be open for FREE from 5:00pm to 8:00pm. That’s right, Free Admission every week until December 18th. During that time we are also offering a FREE guided tour of the museum at 7:00pm. So spread the word and certainly do not miss this chance to visit the world’s largest collection of canoes and kayaks.
On October 23rd and 30th we will also have some special Halloween programming happening at the museum during Late Night. We will have Halloween treats, crafts and a special Halloween themed scavenger hunt. From 6:00pm to 7:00pm we will be doing some wool felting and from 7:00pm to 8:00pm you will be able to partake in some soapstone carving. This is a great opportunity to try some of the museum’s great programming absolutely for FREE and a great way to spend the evening as a family. Please note that the activities are catered to kids under 10 and their families. So be sure to bring the kids out check out the collection and give their costumes a trial run at the museum!
Some visitors from Vancouver enjoying our “Can I Canoe You Up the River?” exhibit during Late Night Thursdays.
We also have some absolutely amazing events and talks coming up over the next few weeks. Hopefully many of you will be attending our Beaver Club Gala coming up in just a couple days. It should be an incredible evening of good food, good people, and great entertainment provided by host Shelagh Rogers and special guest David Hadfield. If you are unable to attend the Gala then do not fret for we have plenty more to offer in the next few weeks.
On October 25th the Museum will be hosting the Luste Lecture and this year we are absolutely thrilled to have Skip Pessl as our special guest. Author of Barren Grounds: The Story of the Tragic Moffatt Canoe Trip, Skip Pessl will be recounting some of his experience as a part of that tragic expedition and holding a Q&A. The event will also feature a behind-the-scenes tour with our wonderful curator Jeremy Ward and refreshments. This event is absolutely FREE for members of the Canoe Museum or members of the Wilderness Canoe Association. If you are not a member yet you can by your museum membership online, in person, or over the phone with the museum. You could also attend the event as a non-member for $25 a person and you may purchase tickets at the door or call the museum in advance at 705-748-9153. I truly cannot think of a better way to spend a Sunday afternoon so mark your calendars for this one-of-a-kind event.
Finally, on November 6th, the Museum will be hosting best-selling author Roy MacGregor as he tells the tale of the great Tom Thomson, the mysteries of his demise and the woman he left behind. Canoe Lake CSI will focus on some of the forensic work that is being done to determine the final resting place of one of Canada’s most famous artists. The Canadian Canoe Museum is extremely pleased to have Peter Gzowski College as a co-sponsor for this event and to be able to offer FREE admission to Trent University Students as well as our members. Anyone else who wished to attend may do so for $5 or pay-what-you-can. The galleries will be open during this event and I am excited to say that I will be leading a tour at 5:30 for anyone who wished to explore the galleries before the talk. The presentation will begin at 7:00pm and a book signing and refreshments will follow.
I’m sure with so much going on fall is going to fly by. Remember that the best way to experience the Museum is as a member. We offer Individual Memberships for $30 a year and Family Memberships for $45 a year. These get you in free to the museum, get you a discount in our fabulous gift-shop and on workshops, get you entry into exclusive events and much more. You can get your membership right now by calling the Canoe Museum at 705-748-9153, in person, or online. We can’t wait to see you.
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