Guelph Museums

It Happened Here: Royal Opera House to the River Run Theatre
2023-02-02 | Ontario
Banner Image: Royal Opera House Performance, c. 1899. 2009.32.1893, Guelph Museums
In this episode of It Happened Here, Education Coordinator Ken Irvine shines a spotlight on the stages and screens of Guelph, past and present.
This episode premiered on Feburary 2, 2023 on YouTube.

Watch the episode:

Tales from the Hill - Guelph Guild of Storytellers
2023-02-09 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Toronto) | Guelph Civic Museum, 52 Norfolk Street, Guelph, Ontario, N1H 4H8, Canada
Tales from the Hill returns to the Civic Museum in-person! Tales from the Hill is presented by the Guelph Guild of Storytellers and features a guest teller in addition to Guild tellers. The evening includes hot cider, light refreshments, and conversation. Guests are invited to register a telling or participate during the open mic storytelling.
Tales from the Hill runs on the second Thursday of each month from October to May.
Guests can arrive at 6:30 pm for casual socializing, call to order at 7:00 pm for storytelling, followed by time for more visiting.

Military Lecture: Canadians in the Turkish War of Independence, 1919-1922
2023-02-16 19:00 | Guelph Civic Museum, 52 Norfolk Street, Guelph, Ontario, N1H 4H8, Canada
Banner image: Evren Altinkas

Watch the recording.
Donations will be collected at this event for the Canadian Red Cross Earthquake in Turkiye and Syria appeal.
At the end of the First World War, as a result of the Mudros Armistice, the Ottoman State was occupied by Allies. British, French, Italian and Greek forces occupied some strategic locations and cities within Turkey. By May 1919, the Turkish War of Independence started under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk in Anatolia.
British forces were composed of soldiers and military officers from the Dominions, including Canada. During the Turkish War of Independence, a few Canadian military personnel served for Britain in Turkey. This talk will focus on some of those Canadian military personnel and their roles in the Turkish War of Independence.
“Canadians and the Turkish War of Independence, 1919-1922” is presented by Evren Altinkas. The lecture premieres both in-person at the Civic Museum, and online via our Facebook livestream. The recorded conversation will be available on Facebook, YouTube, and our Museum Everywhere Portal after the event.
To attend the conversation in-person, registration is required through Eventbrite.
Guelph Museums Military Lecture series is presented in partnership with the Laurier Centre for the Study of Canada.
Robert Frew, one of the Canadians active in Turkey during the Turkish War of Independence

About Evren Altinkas:
Evren Altinkas received postgraduate degrees from King’s College London in 2000 and from Dokuz Eylul University in 2003. He obtained his doctoral degree from Dokuz Eylul University in 2011 based on his dissertation comparing the development of the concept of intellectuals in Europe and in Ottoman State/Turkey. Since July 2018, Altinkas is affiliated with the Department of History, University of Guelph. His research areas are the History of the Middle East, Turkish History, Intellectual History and the Transformation from Ottoman Empire to Modern Middle East and Turkey. He received the Chevening Scholarship for the academic year of 1999-2000, and was a MESA Global Academy Fellow for the academic years 2020-2021 and 2021-2022. Altinkas is an editor of H-TURK. Dr. Altinkas has several academic articles and book chapters published and has 3 articles about the Turkish War of Independence and the Unionist connection in publication progress as of January 2023.

Who What Wear: 200 Years of Local Fashion
2023-03-04 - 2023-09-03 | Civic Museum, 52 Norfolk Street, Guelph, Ontario, N1H 4H8, Canada
Told through the clothes they wore and the pictures they took, Who What Wear shares stories and experiences of people in the place we have called Guelph for over 200 years. This exhibition features night clothes and undergarments, work and sport uniforms, street wear and dress finery, shoes, accessories, and fashion ephemera – from about 1800 to present day.

Military Lecture: We Both Survived - The Soldier-Horse Relationship in the First World War
2023-03-23 19:00 | Guelph Civic Museum, 52 Norfolk Street, Guelph, Ontario, N1H 4H8, Canada
Banner image: “Vimy” and its Mother. The foal was born on the height from which it takes its name. (20th Bty., C.F.A.)
Horses and mules were essential to the ability of the Canadian Expeditionary Forces to operate in the First World War. Equines hauled supplies, ammunition, artillery, as well as acted as cavalry. Working alongside each other across the Western Front, soldiers developed relationships with their equine charges. Emily Oakes’ presentation will examine how the soldier-horse relationship functioned in the Canadian Expeditionary Forces and its effects on the soldiers, such as J.E.B. Seely or John McCrae, who wrote about their bonds with their horses.

“We Both Survived”: The Soldier-Horse Relationship in the Canadian Expeditionary Forces During the First World War takes place Thursday, March 23, 2023 at 7 pm. The lecture premieres both in-person at the Civic Museum, and online via our Facebook livestream. The recorded conversation will be available on Facebook, YouTube, and our Museum Everywhere Portal after the event. *Due to technical difficulties, posting of the recording of this lecture has been delayed. We hope to have it available soon.”
To attend the conversation in-person, registration is required through Eventbrite.
Guelph Museums’ Military Lecture series is presented in partnership with the Laurier Centre for the Study of Canada.
Watch the Recording:

About Emily Oakes:
Emily is a Ph.D. student in the Department of History at Wilfrid Laurier University. Her research focusses on the historical relationships between humans and horses in Canadian society. She is also interested in Canadian military history, having written her MA major research paper on the soldier-horse relationship in the First World War. Emily is archives manager at the Laurier Centre for the Study of Canada

It Happened Here: The Dairy Bush
2023-03-30 | Ontario
Banner Image: Mills Hall, Ontario Agricultural College, c. 1930. 2005.48.4, Guelph Museums
Reforestation, buried ciders, and a sky hill – The Dairy Bush had it all! In this episode of It Happened Here, Education Coordinator, Ken Irvine shares the story of the Dairy Bush, a seemingly unassuming forest in the middle of the city…or is it?
Photos Courtesy of:

“Fred Stone” – Guelph Museums, Grundy 22
“William Brown” – University of Guelph Archives
“Brown’s wood plaque” – Charmaine Irvine
“Mills Hall” – Guelph Museums, 2005.48.4
“1955 Ariel view Dairy Bush” – Department of Integrative Biology permission given by Prof. Alex Smith
“Edmund Zavitz” – University of Guelph Archives
“Doug Larson” – Doug Larson
“OAC review cover” – University of Guelph Archives
“10 Sass Peepre” – University of Guelph Archives
“T-shirt image” – Azimut Laurentides Orienteering club permission given by club – President Martin Valiquette
“Ski pole basket” – Prof. Alex Smith’s personal images

This episode premiered on March 30, 2023 on YouTube and Facebook.

Watch the episode:

No Word For Art: Exploring the Indigenous Roots of Creativity
2023-04-11 - 2023-10-29 | Guelph Civic Museum, 52 Norfolk Street, Guelph, Ontario, N1H 4H8, Canada
Told from historical and contemporary perspectives, and through the story of beads, guest curator Naomi Smith shares the ways of the First Nations people of the Woodlands and Northeastern regions of Ontario. No Word for Art features Indigenous beadworks as creative expressions of survival, crafted by historical artists. The exhibition also includes contemporary beadworks that reflect traditional beading techniques and imagery.
“Honouring our traditions is my voice within and beyond my culture and community. Traditionally, there is no word for ‘art’ in Native languages, yet artistry and visual expression are critical in defining who we are as First Nations people. It is this path I wish to exemplify through my teachings and my work.”
— Naomi Smith

Military Lecture: Duty, Honour & Izzat - The Sikh Military Tradition
2023-04-20 19:00 | Guelph Civic Museum, 52 Norfolk Street, Guelph, Ontario, N1H 4H8, Canada
Banner Image: Indian infantry carrying Maxim Guns under fire, Great War, 1918, Historical Images Archive.
From the Mughal and British Empires, to the Anglo Sikh Wars, Great Wars, the UN, and beyond, the Sikhs have a long, rich, and colourful military history. Unfortunately, their contributions have largely been not only forgotten but intentionally kept out of narratives both past and present. Hear the roar of the Lions of Punjab through a powerful presentation about the military legacy of the Sikh soldier. Bole So Nihal…Sat Sri Akaal!
Duty, Honour & Izzat – The Sikh Military Tradition is presented by Pardeep Singh Nagra. The lecture premiered both in-person at the Civic Museum, and online via our Facebook livestream. The recorded conversation is available on Facebook, YouTube, and our Museum Everywhere Portal.
Guelph Museums’ Military Lecture series is presented in partnership with the Laurier Centre for the Study of Canada.
Watch the Recording

About Pardeep Singh Nagra:

Pardeep Singh Nagra enjoys collecting antique cars and riding motorcycles. He voluntary serves as director of the Sikh Heritage Museum of Canada where he has hosted the three most recent Canadian Ministers of Defense. He is an award-winning, avid historian and artefact collector, including over 2000 Sikh toy soldiers. Pardeep has presented and spoken around the world highlighting the honour, valour and legacy of the Sikh military tradition including at The Military Museums of Calgary and the Pentagon. He serves on the Board of Trustees of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights and is committed to reconciliation.
His love of sports had led to many interesting athletic accomplishments, including being a high school tennis champion, elite ball hockey player, qualifying for the Boston Marathon, and being a national level boxer for which a Hollywood movie (Tiger) was produced based on his journey. His work and service has been recognized and valued as he is the recipient of the YMCA Canada Peace Medal, University of Toronto Arbor Award, Region of Peel Chair’s Award for Community Service, Auxiliary Constable of the Year with Peel Regional Police, and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal.

Mother's Day Tea
2023-05-14 13:00 - 16:30 | Civic Museum, 52 Norfolk Street, Guelph, Ontario, N1H 4H8, Canada
Tea is a serious affair at Guelph Museums! This Mother’s Day, treat mom to an afternoon of tea and treats at the Civic Museum. Relax and enjoy fresh scones, jam, baked treat, fresh fruit and bottomless pots of McCrae Private Blend and Guelph Town Garden Blend teas.
There will be two seatings: 1 PM and 3 PM
Admission to the Guelph Civic Museum is included in the ticket price. Please feel free to browse the museum before or after you enjoy your tea.
Buy tickets

Guelph Pipe Band Public Practice
2023-06-14 19:00 - 20:00 | McCrae House, 108 Water Street, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 1A6, Canada
Pull up your lawn chair and enjoy the sound of bagpipes at the end of the day.
https://guelphpipeband.com/

Tea at 2
2023-06-20 14:00 - 16:00 | McCrae House, 108 Water Street, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 1A6, Canada
Tour McCrae House, and then relax and reflect over tea, scones and fresh fruit in the peaceful backyard garden.
Please book each seat individually, there are 16 seats available per seating. Save your spot through Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/mccrae-house-tea-at-two-tickets-636734880167.
The fee of $17.00 per person + tax may be paid at the McCrae House reception desk the day of your Tea service. Cash, debit & credit payments are accepted.
If you are unable to keep your reservation, please notify Guelph Museums by cancelling online in advance or by calling the direct line at McCrae House – 519-836-1482.
PLEASE NOTE: Tea is served outside, in the backyard of McCrae House. Please dress according to weather conditions. We recommend casual clothing and comfortable shoes. In the case of severe inclement weather, afternoon tea may be cancelled. If this occurs, we will attempt to contact you in advance to reschedule your reservation.

Touching Sound: A tactile art installation created by Olivia Brouwer
2023-07-10 00:00 - 2023-08-23 23:30 | Guelph Civic Museum, 52 Norfolk Street, Guelph, Ontario, N1H 4H8, Canada
Touching Sound is a three-dimensional collage created by individuals with sight loss, following a sensory-led nature walk and workshop at the Guelph Arboretum in late-June 2023. The six participants were asked to rely on their senses of touch, smell, and hearing to navigate their walk, and to record their feelings, memories, and associations through a “deep listening” practice grounded in the environment. The walk informed what was created in the workshop, which consisted of mixed media, abstract, mobile sculptures. . Audio recordings made by the participants can be found near their sculpture as touch-activated buttons.
Touching Sound is supported by the Canadian National Institute for the Blind and funded by the Ontario Arts Council.
Meet the artists:
Olivia Brouwer is a partially blind artist based in Cambridge, Ontario. Olivia creates mixed media paintings, prints, sculptures, and sound art of abstract interpretations of our natural surroundings while inviting both sighted and non-sighted audiences to interact and perceive using the senses of touch and hearing.
Dawn Matheson is an interdisciplinary artist from Guelph, Ontario, with a social practice, co-creating within diverse populations living with difference or disability, using the medium of video, installation, and sound. Dawn hopes to interrupt civic and social spaces with unexpected moments of beauty, curiosity, and joy.

Guelph Pipe Band Public Practice
2023-07-12 19:00 - 20:00, 2023-08-02 19:00 - 20:00 | McCrae House, 108 Water Street, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 1A6, Canada
Pull up your lawn chair and enjoy the sound of bagpipes at the end of the day at McCrae Memorial Gardens.
https://guelphpipeband.com/

Fourth Friday: Melanatté and Rhapsodius
2023-07-28 19:00 - 21:00 | Guelph Civic Museum, 52 Norfolk Street, Guelph, Ontario, N1H 4H8, Canada
Andrew Craig – aka Rhapsodius – a true Renaissance man in the arts, brings two exciting new initiatives to this very special Fourth Friday.
The evening will begin with a performance of Melanatté, a hybrid of Classical/Opera and African music featuring soprano Denise Williams. Following a short intermission, Rhapsodius will take the stage with a new body of work.
Weather-permitting, these performances will take place under the stars on the patio at the Civic Museum. Otherwise, they will move indoors.
Please note these performances will not be livestreamed.
On the Fourth Fridays of each month, admission is free to the Civic Museum from 5 pm to 9 pm, with free concerts beginning at 7 pm.
Seating is limited. You can save your spots on Eventbrite.
About the Artists
“Melanin”: a naturally-occurring pigment that is often one of the defining characteristics of
Blackness. “Latté”: a creamy beverage, born out of European culture, that is both strong and
sweet, and that elicits deep pleasure when consumed. Thus, Melanatté is the hybrid name
given to this musical project that combines some of the most famous vocal melodies from the
Western European Art Music tradition with the harmonies and rhythms of the African Diaspora.
Melanatté takes the undisputed “hits” from the Classical and Romantic music canon and places
them in a modern Black context, making them accessible to multiple generations of music
lovers, right across the spectrum. Melanatté is the brainchild of Canadian artistic polymath
Rhapsodius, who has produced tributes to Quincy Jones and Oscar Peterson, and performed
for Nelson Mandela – twice. Rhapsodius creates the musical magic carpet upon which
acclaimed Canadian soprano Denise Williams truly soars. Williams, a 30-year veteran of the
concert, opera, and theatre stage, has electrified audiences from Canada to Cuba, and many
points in between. Moving effortlessly between vocal styles, Denise Williams offers powerfully
authentic renditions of the most beloved songs – all in a fresh, sometimes striking new musical
context that will have audiences clamouring for more.
Melanatté is creamy, caffeinated, Canadian Classical Contemporary Crossover – not Soul Food,
but Soul Beverage. Sip – and enjoy!
Rhapsodius – literally, “made of rhapsody” – is a confluence of things. Singer,
multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger, director, producer, playwright, educator, activist – all
these rivers, and more, flow one into the other to create this artist whose boundary-crossing
work defies convention. Artists aren’t supposed to do all of these things – and yet, Rhapsodius
moves between disciplines and styles with ease. Rhapsodius has worked with a who’s who of
artists in music, theatre, dance, and film, both in Canada and abroad. He has directed
high-profile tributes to icons Quincy Jones and Oscar Peterson, opened for Bobby McFerrin,
and performed for Nelson Mandela – twice.
Deeply and equally schooled in the Western European Art music tradition and the music of the
African Diaspora, and unwaveringly dedicated to groove, Rhapsodius brings new sounds into
the space – sounds that are everything you know and nothing you recognize, all at once.
Rhapsodius makes it his mission to create music that makes you lose yourself in the sounds,
and yet savour the process of finding yourself again

Cinema in the City: The Sandlot
2023-08-11 20:00 - 23:00 | Margaret Greene Park, 80 Westwood Rd, Guelph, ON, N1H 7X&, Canada
Cinema in the City is a free outdoor movie series presented in parks throughout the city. Bring your blankets, chairs, and snacks to Margaret Greene Park for a Friday night screening starting at dusk (approximately 9:00 pm)
The Sandlot
It’s the early 1960s and 5th-grader Scotty Smalls has just moved into town with his folks. Kids call him a dork–he can’t even throw a baseball! But that changes when the leader of the neighborhood gang recruits him to play on the nearby sandlot field. It’s the beginning of a magical summer of baseball, wild adventures, first kisses and fearsome confrontations with the dreaded Beast and its owner who live behind the left field fence in this hilarious and warmhearted comedy.
It’s been 30 years since we first experienced the Sandlot shenanigans. Rediscover this summer classic with your whole family.
Pre-show activity
Before the film rolls, test your baseball knowledge with trivia questions tossed out by The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.
Thanks to our presenting sponsor and community partners:

Backyard Theatre: Ridge
2023-08-17 19:00 - 2023-08-26 20:30 | McCrae House, 108 Water Street, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 1A6, Canada
Ridge
Written by Brendan McLeod
Directed by Julia Course
Music by Brendan McLeod & Adrian Glynn
Backyard Theatre returns to McCrae House this summer with a solo version of RIDGE.
Often called “the battle that made Canada,” Vimy Ridge resulted in over 10,000 Canadian casualties.
In RIDGE, Brendan McLeod examines misconceptions and varying perspectives around the battle of Vimy Ridge, while drawing parallels to other formative events in our nation’s past. Featuring innovative musical interpretations of First World War soldier songs (often referred to as ‘Trench Songs’), RIDGE probes difficult yet necessary questions about how and why we grieve. Trench songs were written by frontline soldiers during the First World War. Essentially protest songs, they were often parodies of well-known tunes. To accompany the storytelling and thought-provoking narrative, McLeod also performs a selection of these songs on multiple instruments. The result is a poignant and stripped-back collection of work that emphasizes the emotional content of the lyrics and continues the long tradition of folk music reshaping songs over time — the same way soldiers reshaped these songs in the trenches.
A vivid, kinetic ride through history, as well as an intimate, personal examination of our connection to the past, RIDGE is a visceral work that passionately argues against the exploitation of young lives.
Get your tickets on Eventbrite!
About the Artists
Brendan McLeod
McLeod is the author of a novel, a poetry collection, and six theatre shows. His band, The Fugitives, has been nominated for a JUNO, as well as six Canadian Folk Music Awards. He is a two-time literary finalist for the KM Hunter Awards.
Julia Course
Course is a veteran theatre actor with over 15 years of professional theatre acting experience, primarily at the Shaw Festival, as well as a history of creating and producing independent theatre productions with the group Theatre Animal. Her next directorial project is next year’s OVER THE RIDGE, which combines the text from RIDGE with contemporary dance.
About the Show
The Text
Though not exhaustive, the main sources for this work are: Vimy, Pierre Berton; Victory at Vimy, Ted Barris; The Vimy Trap, Ian McKay and Jamie Swift; Vimy Ridge: A Canadian Reassessment, edited by Michael Bechtold, Geoffrey Hayes, Andrew Iarocci; Into the Blizzard, Michael Winter; Trench Warfare, Sue Bradford Edwards; Vimy: The Battle and The Legend, Tim Cook; Liberalism, Surveillance, and Resistance: Indigenous Communities in Western Canada, 1877-1927, Keith Douglas Smith.
The Songs
All songs are First World War-era songs, predominantly written by soldiers. In most cases, these were parodies, which used the melodies of well-known songs at the time, the lyrics rewritten to reflect the soldiers’ circumstances. McLeod has rewritten the melodies and arrangements, both to more readily access the emotions of the lyrics, but also to continue folk music’s long tradition of reshaping songs over time, the same way soldiers reshaped these songs in the trenches.
The Readings
The readings are verbatim soldier accounts from the First World War, as well as historical accounts taken from the texts listed above.
PRESS
“Poignant and sobering”
— The Globe and Mail (Top 10 Arts Pick, 2020)
“Serves to give the sacrifices of those who served and died a human dimension beyond mythology.”
— Vancouver Sun
“Riveting…The way history was meant to be told.”
— Entertainment Vancouver
http://guelphmuseums.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Brenand-McLedo-Video-Greeting-1.mp4

Cinema in the City presents Buffy Sainte-Marie: Carry It On
2023-08-18 20:00 - 23:00 | York Road Park, 85 York Road, Guelph, ON, N1E3E6, Canada
Cinema in the City is a free outdoor movie series presented in parks throughout the city. Bring your blankets, chairs, and snacks to York Road Park for a Friday night screening starting at dusk (approximately 8:50 pm)
Buffy Sainte-Marie: Carry It On
Experience the story of this Oscar-winning Indigenous artist from her rise to prominence in New York’s Greenwich Village folk music scene through her six-decade groundbreaking career as a singer-songwriter, social activist, educator, and artist.
Madison Thomas’ feature documentary is a joyous, challenging account of this cultural and musical icon’s lifelong commitment to music and sharing the truth.
Buffy Sainte-Marie: Carry It On features never-before-seen archival material, new performance footage and interviews with Sainte-Marie, Joni Mitchell, Sonia Manzano, John Kay, Robbie Robertson, Jackson Browne, Alanis Obomsawin and others.
Content advisory: themes of abuse and addiction
Pre-show performance by Layla Staats
Layla Staats is an Indigenous filmmaker, speaker, and activist from the Turtle Clan from Six Nations of the Grand River. She uses her voice and platform to highlight systemic issues continuously affecting Indigenous communities. Her music and films reflect her experience and the realities many others face.

Thanks to our presenting sponsor and community partners:

Fourth Friday: Cachada
2023-08-25 19:00 - 21:00 | Guelph Civic Museum, 52 Norfolk Street, Guelph, Ontario, N1H 4H8, Canada
Every Fourth Friday of the month enjoy free admission to the Civic Museum from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., and a free concert starting at 7 p.m. Through the summer, if weather permits, bring your lawn chairs and enjoy music on the patio!
Get your tickets here!
Due to high demand for seating, please arrive at the Museum and take your seat by 6:50 pm. Spaces not claimed by this time may be re-assigned to rush line visitors.
Please let us know in advance if you can no longer attend so we can release the ticket to others wishing to attend.
About Cachada:
Cachada is the sound of modern Salvadoran cumbia. The band performs under the direction of Salvadoran songwriter, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist, Jorge Gavidia Morales and also features the talents of: Ana Raquel Guaricha (voice), Oriana Barbato Guerrero (bass), Bea Constandil (guiro), and Pato “Irie” Martinez (cajon). The ensenmble is a handpicked selection of pan-Latin musicians who are an established part of Toronto’s Latin, jazz, and reggae music scenes. Cachada performs a repertoire of strictly original music that fuses hip hop, reggae, and Latin jazz into their traditional cumbia sound; creating one of the most explosive Latin dance bands to hit the streets of Toronto.
“Jazzy” Jorge Gavidia Morales (vocals, violin, guitar) – El Salvador
Ana Raquel (vocals) – El Salvador
Oriana Barbato Guerrero (bass) – Chile
Bea Constandil (guiro) – Chile
Pato “Irie” Martinez (cajon) – Brazil
Check out some of their music here: https://youtu.be/QTZW6jDxtlM

Cinema in the City: Wonder Park
2023-08-25 20:00 - 23:00 | Orin Reid Park, 120 Goodwin Drive, Guelph, ON, N1L0B3, Canada
Cinema in the City is a free outdoor movie series presented in parks throughout the city. Bring your blankets, chairs, and snacks to Orin Reid Park for a Friday night screening starting at dusk (approximately 8:30 pm).
Wonder Park
Buckle up for an epic adventure where anything is possible! A young girl named June with a big imagination makes an incredible discovery – the amusement park of her dreams has come to life. Filled with the world’s wildest rides operated by fun-loving animals, the excitement never ends. But when trouble hits, June and her team of furry friends begin an unforgettable journey to save the park. Action-packed and brimming with laughs, Wonder Park is a ride the whole family will love.
Pre-show activities
Come early to get the best seats. While you wait, create crafts with Guelph Public Library and buttons with Monavenir Conseil Scolaire Catholique.
Thanks to our presenting sponsor and community partners:

Best of Creative Encounters
2023-08-31 13:00 - 16:00 | Guelph Civic Museum, 52 Norfolk Street, Guelph, Ontario, N1H 4H8, Canada
Summer break is nearly over but that won’t stop Creative Encounters and the Civic Museum from having fun! Join us on August 31st from 1 PM to 4 PM at the Guelph Civic Museum for captivating activities straight from Creative Encounters suite of 2023 STEM Summer Camps! From amazing demonstrations to hands-on crafts to take home, prepare for family friendly fun to celebrate your summer and get excited for a new school year!

Know Your Neighbours
2023-09-11 | ONLINE
In honour of Welcoming Week, Cinjutha Leon interviewed members of various communities in Guelph to gain an understanding of their moves to Guelph, their community here, and what their lives in Guelph are like.
Find out more about Welcoming Week here: https://www.guelphwellingtonlip.ca/welcome-week-2023-events/
Know Your Neighbours: Arab Community

Know Your Neighbours: Chinese Community

Guelph Pipe Band Concert
2023-09-13 18:30 | McCrae House, 108 Water Street, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 1A6, Canada

Unsettling The Grand: Legacies of Settlement in the Grand River Valley, from 1700 to the Present Day
2023-09-16 08:00 - 2024-02-04 17:00 | Guelph Civic Museum, 52 Norfolk Street, Guelph, Ontario, N1H 4H8, Canada
What do John Galt and the Canada Company, the Upper and Lower Canadian Rebellions of 1837-38, a canal-building enterprise, and current (and future) land claims all have in common?
Using a Two-Eyed Seeing approach, this exhibition examines the failed enterprise of the Grand River Navigation Company (1832-1861) as a lens through which we can explore historical and contemporary relationships between Indigenous and settler-colonial communities within and along the Grand River watershed.
The exhibition dives into the rich and varied historical tapestries of human settlement in the lands currently known as the Grand River Valley in Southern Ontario, from 1700 to present day.
In addition to historical archives, the display includes stories and creative expressions by Indigenous and settler artists who annually paddle the Grand River in symbolic renewal of the Two Row Wampum.
Cover images: Left: Mohawk Canal, just east of the Alfred Street bridge in Brantford, circa 1911 (earliest postmark for this card is September 2, 1908) Right: Photo courtesy of Two Row on the Grand / http://www.tworowonthegrand.com/
Unsettling the Grand is guest curated by Robert Flewelling and funded in part by a grant from The Guelph Community Foundation—Musagetes Fund.

Left: Map of Grand River, 1821(Ridout)Right: Plan of theGrand River & Location of 6 Nations of Indians, 1828 (Lugger)

Military Lecture: Battle for Hill 70 with Matthew Barrett
2023-09-21 19:00 - 20:30 | Guelph Civic Museum, 52 Norfolk Street, Guelph, Ontario, N1H 4H8, Canada
On 15 August 1917, the Canadian Corps for the first time under the command of General Arthur Currie captured the German strongpoint at Hill 70 near Lens, France. Through Their Eyes: A Graphic History of Hill 70 and Canada’s First World War, illustrated by Matthew Barrett and co-written with Robert Engen, depicts this remarkable but costly victory in a unique way. With comic book-style artwork, the book invites readers to reimagine the First World War through the eyes of the Canadian soldiers who lived it and to think more deeply about how we visualize and narrate the past. By provoking questions about historical accuracy, truth, and meaning, this work focuses on a specific battle of the First World War while also considering the ways history is researched, shared, and represented. Combining image and text not only invites readers to consider different ways to interpret history, it also importantly helps us understand our own role in connecting, constructing, and imagining the stories of the past.
Watch The Recording

About Matthew Barrett

Matthew Barrett has a History PhD from Queen’s University and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Canadian War Museum in 2021. He published two books in 2022: Scandalous Conduct: Canadian Officer Courts Martial, 1914–45 and Through Their Eyes: A Graphic History of Hill 70 and Canada’s First World War. He is currently managing editor for the journal Canadian Military History.
Military Lectures are offered in partnership with the Laurier Centre for Military, Strategic and Disarmament Studies.

Fourth Friday: Eko Gemah
2023-09-22 19:00 - 21:00 | Guelph Civic Museum, 52 Norfolk Street, Guelph, Ontario, N1H 4H8, Canada
Guelph Culture Days kicks off with a Fourth Friday concert by Eko Gemah, renowned for their authentic renditions of Andean music from South America. Playing traditional instruments, this band of talented musicians delivers folk music that is loud, boisterous, and danceable.
Every Fourth Friday of the month enjoy free admission to the Civic Museum from 5 to 9 p.m., and a free concert starting at 7 p.m.
Weather-permitting, this performance will take place under the stars on the patio at the Civic Museum. Otherwise, they will move indoors.
Tickets are available on Eventbrite.
About the Artist:
Eko-Gemah is a folk music band playing sounds from the South
American region of the Andes. The group uses traditional and
contemporary instruments to interpret rhythms and melodies
unique to that corner of Spanish America. Some members have
been performing this music for decades and younger members
are receiving the baton from those experienced performers.
The traditional wind instruments played include bamboo flutes
and pan-type flutes of different sizes, stringed instruments of
various sizes and tunings, and many percussive instruments that
are commonly found in the music. Lyrics to songs are most often
in the Spanish language, and some songs the group interprets in
Quechua and Aymara.
Percussive drums are made with wood, rope and sheep or goat
skin and is common. Commonly called the “bombo”, these
instruments are used in music from Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Argentina
and Uruguay. The most characteristic string instrument from the
region is the “charango”, a small 10 string instrument likened to
the ukulele. The “tiple” is a 12-string parlour guitar type and is
originates in Colombia. The “Venezuelan Cuatro” is another
ukulele type instrument that the group uses. Contemporary
instruments used included the Spanish guitar, electric bass,
electric guitar, cajon, and bongos.
The original Eko-Gemah group was founded over thirty years
ago. The current group is one in transition, with the baton being
handed over by the founders to the next generation. We perform
at cultural festivals, folk festivals and special events.
Members of the Group
Antonio Duran, founding member: Guitar, charango, cuatro, vocals and
various percussive instruments.
René M. Crespo, founding member: Guitar, charango, tiple and vocals.
Diego Duran, next generation member: Quena, quenacho, zampoñas,
toyos, sikus, various percussions and vocals.
Maria Elena Balyta Crespo, next generation member: Charango, tiple,
violín, ukulele, various percussions and vocals.
Peter Vincent Balyta Crespo, next generation member: Electric guitar,
bass guitar, zampoña, toyos, sikus, various percussion instruments, and
vocals.
Elisa Crespo Guardado, newest member: Violin, charango, tiple and
vocals, with more instruments to follow.

Light A Candle To Curse The Dark
2023-09-23 08:00 - 2024-02-04 17:00 | Guelph Civic Museum, 52 Norfolk Street, Guelph, Ontario, N1H 4H8, Canada
Amid the pomp and plump of Canada’s sesquicentennial, fifteen metalsmiths from across the country marked the occasion by crafting new sculptures from melted-down post-Confederation silver. Each piece is an expression of form and function – art object and candleholder – that, together, nod to the past and offer a glimpse of the future.
The original silver came from two Canadian families, who had used it over five generations but increasingly less often. They recognized that their tea and coffee sets, serving dishes, and cutlery had greater material value to the artists. They imagined something beautiful could be made from the old metal.
The metalsmiths transformed the silver into candleholders, each inspired by the accomplishments of Canadian women in the arts. Known as the “Illuminations” series, each piece includes a recognizable element from the source silver.
At Guelph Civic Museum, the candleholders are displayed within an exhibition that considers the local Victorian-era, when the fledgling colony aspired to silver service status. The exhibition looks frankly and truthfully at the colonial period, positioning “Illuminations” as its centre, and drawing from the artifacts, archives, and images in the museum’s collection.
Featured artists: Beth Alber (Toronto), Jackie Anderson (Calgary), Mary Anne Barkhouse (Kwakiutl First Nation), Anne Barros (Toronto), Brigitte Clavette (New Brunswick), Lois Etherington Betteridge (Guelph), Fiona Macintyre (Merrickville), Charles Funnell (Coburg), Chantal Gilbert (Ville de Québec), Elizabeth Goluch (Halifax), Mary K. McIntyre (Toronto), Kye-Yeon Son (Halifax), Myra Tulonen Smith (Almonte), Anne-Sophie Vallée (Montreal), and Ken Vickerson (Toronto).
Thank you to Laura Brandon (retired curator, Canadian War Museum) and Ann Malone-Bianconi (manager, interior design and crown collection, National Capital Commission) for loaning the “Illuminations” series to Guelph Museums. We also acknowledge key contributions from Keith Betteridge (photography), Rob Brandon, and Anne Greenlay.

Non-Fiction by Myra Tulonen Smith

Creative Writing by Kye Yeon-Son

Horticulture by Elizabeth Goluch

Film, Television & Video by Mary McIntyre

Gastronomy by Chantal Gilbert

Photography by Anne Barros

Architecture by Beth Alber

Sculpture by Marie Anne Barkhouse

Fashion & Textile by Fiona MacIntyre

Design by Ken Vickerson

Music by Jackie Anderson

Drawing and Painting by Brigitte Clavette

Theatre by Anne-Sophie Vallee

Craft by Lois Betteridge

Dance by Charles Funnel

Shibori Handpainted Silk Scarves with Karen Dodds
2023-09-23 10:00 - 16:00 | Guelph Civic Museum, 52 Norfolk Street, Guelph, Ontario, N1H 4H8, Canada
Join Guelph-based fibre artist Karen Dodds for this fun and creative workshop.
Karen will lead you through a full day workshop where you design and create your own silk scarf. Shibori is a fabric dyeing technique which resists dye and produces patterns on fabric. Learn about colour theory, dye mixing and common shibori dyeing methods.
Registration is required. Get your tickets on Eventbrite
Additional kit fee of $20 for all supplies, payable in class to Karen, cash only.
Students will purchase materials kit to make one scarf.
Please note: There will be a lunch break during the workshop. Participants may bring a bagged lunch or leave the museum to go get lunch in the area.
About Karen:
Karen Dodds is the owner/operator of Elvenwoods hand painted silk clothing is in Guelph, ON Canada.
Elvenwoods’ clothing designs are flowing and suit a variety of body shapes and sizes. Karen strives to create distinctive, quirky, boho chic designs that are colourful, feel lovely to the touch and are fun to wear. She makes all designs in her Guelph studio by hand. She uses many techniques on the silk such as cold batik, direct painting with a brush, shibori dyeing and eco printing with leaves found close to home.
Felted accessories are made by wet felting wool, silk, bamboo, tencel fibers onto a base of silk. She also uses many textile techniques in jewelry making such as weaving, knitting and crocheting.
Please visit https://www.elvenwoods.ca for more information about Karen.

Fables In Yarn: Guelph Exhibition by Alisa McRonald
2023-09-26 10:00 - 2023-10-15 17:00 | Guelph Civic Museum, 52 Norfolk Street, Guelph, Ontario, N1H 4H8, Canada
Visit Creative in Residence Alisa McRonald’s community led textile punch needle art piece at the Guelph Civic Museum during Ontario Culture Days.
This exhibition will be on display for the duration of the listed dates. Registration is not required to visit the exhibition. Registration will provide updates and reminders of the event.
Program Description:
Alisa McRonald is a contemporary textile artist who experiments with themes of folklore, fables and the esoteric. For her residency, Alisa will create colourful, contemporary punch-needle wall-hangings. During the Festival, visitors are invited to visit the Guelph Civic Museum to see a punch needle art piece created collaboratively between the artist and the public. Visitors are invited to identify themes within the work.
About the Artist:
Alisa McRonald’s woven and needle-punched weirdos live in the ironic pop-culture paradise of a Queer GenX Feminist. As a contemporary textile artist, she has always straddled the line between art and craft. Alisa’s sustainable creative practice involves making her own tools and textiles through scavenging and recycling as a way to connect her current work to the past. Alisa maintains her art practice in Guelph where she is a mentor, teacher and facilitator. She has exhibited and performed both nationally and internationally, and has been featured in the publications, curatorial lists and shops of institutions like Ontario Craft Council and the Textile Museum of Canada.
This program is a part of the Creatives In Residence series by Ontario Culture Days.
Ontario Culture Days is dedicated to fostering the public’s engagement with Ontario’s arts, culture and heritage as a means of enriching our communities while supporting the vibrancy and sustainability of our sector.

Film Screening: The Nature of Healing
2023-09-30 13:00 - 15:00 | Guelph Civic Museum, 52 Norfolk Street, Guelph, Ontario, N1H 4H8, Canada
To acknowledge the histories and honour the lived experiences of residential school survivors on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Guelph Museums and the Guelph Film Festival co-present a public screening of The Nature of Healing, in collaboration with JamLab Productions.
Following the screening, we will welcome five Survivors whose stories are shared in the film: Elders John Elliott and Bud Whiteye and Grandmothers Dawn and Roberta Hill and Sherlene Bomberry. They will be joined by Faith Howe/JamLab Productions, Kimber Sider/Guelph Film Festival, and Dawn Owen/Guelph Museums for a post-screening dialogue.
Visitors are encouraged to spend time, before and after the film, with the exhibitions: Where the Rivers Meet; No Word for Art: Exploring the Indigenous Roots of Creativity (curated by Naomi Smith, Chippewas of Nawash); Unsettling The Grand: Legacies of Settlement in the Grand River Valley, from 1700 to the Present Day; and Light A Candle To Curse The Dark on view at the Civic Museum.
Tickets are available on Eventbrite.
About the Film
The Nature of Healing is the spoken truth of seven Survivors of Mohawk Institute, Canada’s first and longest running Indian residential school. From victim to survivor to activist, this is a story of resistance, resilience, and a healing path.
What began as a simple conversation about the Mohawk Village Memorial Park, which the Survivors have been building for 10 years, became a full feature documentary. When completed, the Park will commemorate the 15,000 children who were taken from more than 60 communities. They lost their families, communities, culture, identity, and, for some, their lives.
The 139 residential schools, operated in partnership with the Canadian Government and Churches, were Canada’s sanctioned system of dehumanization: neglect, brutality, and child abuse in all its forms, in order to obliterate the Red Nation footprint.
The Elders, Grandfathers, and Grandmothers who speak out now do so not only for themselves, but for the thousands of children across Turtle Island who never could.
Watch the Trailer Now
