May is Ontario Museum Month, an opportunity to celebrate the province’s 700-plus museums, galleries and heritage sites and their amazing historical and cultural assets and stories.

This month, Haldimand County’s three unique Museums are pleased to invite visitors to view a wide variety of exhibitions. On display at the Cayuga Heritage Centre until the end of June, With This Ring I Thee Wed; at Edinburgh Square Heritage & Cultural Centre in Caledonia The Haldimand Photography Club is showcasing its Spring Exhibition, which is displayed until the end of May; and, at Selkirk’s Wilson MacDonald Memorial School Museum, you can check out Child’s Play: A History of Toys through August 25.

Residents and visitors are invited to attend several Haldimand Museums events throughout the month of May:

The Heritage Centre, 19 Talbot Street West, Cayuga:

Friday, May 5 at 1 p.m. – Coronation Celebration
This special presentation to celebrate the Royal Coronation will look at some of the most notable royal coronations and explore the life of King Charles III.

Tuesday, May 9 at 6 p.m. – Historic Kitchen Gardens
A hands-on workshop looking at how these gardens were strategically planted to produce food and medicines.

Wednesday, May 10 at 1 p.m. – Salute to Mothers
An afternoon tea followed by a talk on famous mothers.

Tuesday, May 16 at 6 p.m. – TV Mania
The history of television and how its invention revolutionized entertainment for the masses.

Wednesday, May 17 at 1 p.m. – All That Jazz
This afternoon’s presentation will focus on the 1920s in Canada and Haldimand County.

The cost for each regular program is $10/person; afternoon tea is $15/person.

Mother’s Day Workshops for Children will be offered at Edinburgh Square Heritage & Cultural Centre (80 Caithness Street East, Caledonia) on Saturday May 13 and Wilson MacDonald Memorial School Museum (3513 Rainham Road, Selkirk) on Saturday, May 6. Youngsters are invited to these fun-filled sessions to create one-of-a-kind gifts for Mom on her special day. Cost per child is $29; additional information is available online at  www.haldimandcounty.ca/heritage-culture/.

On May 18, International Museums Day, Haldimand Museums will host a special Trivia Night at the Cayuga Legion. A fast-paced evening of fun and entertainment beginning at 6:00 p.m. and featuring general knowledge questions is open to teams of up to four people. Cost per person is $25 which includes snacks, sandwiches and prizes will be awarded to the first and second place finishers.

Pre-registration is required for all events. Register online at  link.haldimandcounty.ca. or in person at the Haldimand County Administration Building, 53 Thorburn Street South, Cayuga.

For additional information about Haldimand Museums programs, visit www.haldimandcounty.ca/heritage-culture/ or email museums@haldimandcounty.on.ca.

This spring, the Wilson MacDonald Memorial School Museum is offering a series of fun, engaging and artistically themed workshops for children aged 5-12 years.

Taking place in Haldimand’s unique one-room schoolhouse, the Saturday workshops will focus on creating one-of-a-kind arts and crafts for each holiday using techniques such as woodworking, painting and gardening.

Saturday, Apr. 1 – Easter Workshop
Participants can help the museum get ready for its Easter egg hunt, create some crafts and sample some sweet treats.

Saturday, May 6 – Mother’s Day Workshop
Focusing on scrapbooking, this workshop will teach kids how to make a special memory for mom.

Saturday, June 10 – Father’s Day Workshop
Kids can construct a puzzle piece creation and make some sweet treats to share with dad.

All the workshops run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and cost $29 per child. Registration is available online or in person at the Haldimand County Administration Building, 53 Thorburn St. S., Cayuga.

All programs take place at the Wilson MacDonald Memorial School Museum, 351 Rainham Rd., Selkirk. For more information call the museum at 905-776-3319 or email museums@haldimandcounty.on.ca.

The Heritage Centre in Cayuga is celebrating spring with four events and a new exhibition titled ‘With this Ring, I Thee Wed.’ The exhibition runs from April 4 to June 24 and will feature wedding gowns, dresses and ensembles that span the period from 1840 to the present.

Tuesday, Apr. 11 (6 p.m.) – Workshop: Preserving your Family Heirlooms
Participants will learn how to preserve their family’s most treasured heirlooms at this hands-on workshop.

Wednesday, Apr. 12 (1 p.m.) – Presentation: With this Ring
Highlighting the Heritage Centre’s latest exhibition, ‘With this Ring, I Thee Wed,’ this presentation will focus on the history of wedding attire, customs and traditions.

Tuesday, Apr. 18 (6 p.m.) – Presentation: Let Them Eat Cake
This presentation focuses on the history of mills and bakeries in Haldimand County.

Wednesday, Apr. 19 (1 p.m.) – Tea and Presentation: Royal Rules
Attendees can enjoy homemade scones, sweet treats, and a delightful talk on the rules members of the Royal Family are expected to follow in public.

The cost for each regular program is $10 per person and the afternoon tea is $15 per person. Pre-registration is required for all programs. Register online or in person at the Haldimand County Administration Building, 53 Thorburn Street South, Cayuga.

All programs take place at the Cayuga Library + Heritage Centre, located at 19 Talbot Street West. For more information, contact the Heritage Centre at (905) 318-5932, ext. 6613 or email museums@haldimandcounty.on.ca.

Edinburgh Square Heritage & Cultural Centre is pleased to announce an exciting line-up of programming, events and exhibitions for April 2023.

Saturday Discovery Day Workshops for kids return April 1 with the ‘Easter Egg-stravaganza’ Workshop. Children can enjoy a day of fun crafts, tasty treats and an ‘eggcellent egg hunt.’ April 22 will feature an Earth Day Workshop where kids can create recyclable art and learn about ways to keep the Earth happy and healthy.

Saturday workshops run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and are geared toward children 6 to 10 years of age. The cost for each session is $28.25 per person. Pre-registration is required. Register online at link.haldimandcounty.ca or in person at the Haldimand County Administration Building, 53 Thorburn Street South, Cayuga.

Beginning April 11, the Haldimand Photography Club returns to Edinburgh Square for its annual exhibition featuring the work of talented local photographers and highlighting a blend of wildlife, landscapes and portraiture images.

The Centre is also pleased to host a Paddle Painting Workshop with Gina Wilson McIntee on the evening of Friday, Apr. 21. Gina, an established artist, will inspire and share why it’s important to love ourselves first and embrace the precious gifts we hold. Nature, wildlife and water are all a part of the scene participants will paint. Finished paddles will be a reminder that people are part of a larger community and bigger picture. To register contact Tamara at  905-229-0911 or email paddlesofthegrand@gmail.com.  The workshop runs 7-9 p.m. and costs $70 per person (includes materials and supplies).

Edinburgh Square Heritage & Cultural Centre is located at 80 Caithness Street East, Caledonia. For more information about programs and activities contact Edinburgh Square at 905-765-3134 or email museums@haldimandcounty.on.ca.

Throughout March, the public is invited to visit Haldimand County’s Administration Building (HCAB) in Cayuga to learn more about the community’s local sporting history.

Haldimand Museums have installed an exhibit featuring William “Hipple” Galloway, a star athlete in the late 1800s who grew up and went to school in Dunnville.  Born in Buffalo, NY in 1882, Galloway moved to  Dunnville with his family when he was six years old. During his school years, he developed into an outstanding athlete, excelling in baseball and hockey. Galloway became the first Black Canadian player in organized baseball. He was also an exceptional hockey player. In 1898, at just 16 years of age, he joined the Woodstock team in the Central Ontario Hockey Association (COHA), part of the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA). He played his first game on January 20, 1899, and, by mid-1899, was considered one of the top players in the COHA. In 2021, William was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.

Coming  March 6 is a celebration of the life and legacy of local tennis champion, Louise Cook Brown with an exhibit of memorabilia and a feature on HCTV. Born in Dunnville in 1923, Brown graduated from Dunnville High School in 1940, by which time she was already an avid and excellent tennis player, including becoming the Dunnville Tennis Club’s champion in 1939. By 1957, Brown had become a singles and doubles champion in the Canadian Open, Ontario Open and Quebec Open. She was also an 11-time Ontario Open singles champion and captain and player on the Canadian Federation Cup Team. Brown played her opening match at Wimbledon in 1963 against 21-time Grand Slam winner, Margaret Court. Known as a mentor in the sport, she served as Secretary of the Ontario Tennis Association from 1965 to 1970 and was a Top 10-Ranked player in Canada for twenty consecutive years. During her lifetime, Louise Brown was considered the “Grand Dame” of Canadian Tennis.

The Haldimand County Administration Building is located at 53 Thorburn Street West, Cayuga, ON. For more information, email museums@haldimandcounty.on.ca.

This March, the Heritage Centre in Cayuga is hosting four events.

Tuesday, Mar. 7 (6 p.m.) – Presentation: If the Shoe Fits
Footwear is one of Canada’s oldest industries. In 1950 there were 292 footwear factories in Canada producing 33.9 million pairs of shoes. In this presentation, participants will hear the history of shoes including various designs from the 18th century to today.

Wednesday, Mar. 15 (1 p.m.) – Tea and Presentation: Exploring our Irish Roots
This event features a special afternoon tea with homemade scones and other sweet treats, followed by a presentation on all things Irish including a look at Irish settlement, customs and traditions. The Irish began to immigrate to Canada in 1825, and by 1867 they comprised 24 per cent of Canada’s population. Many Irish citizens who settled in this area arrived to work on the Grand River Canal.

Saturday, Mar. 18 (12:30 p.m.) – Presentation: When Irish Eyes are Smiling
Participants at this presentation will explore the history of St Patrick’s Day and the superstitions, customs and traditions that accompany this most Irish of celebrations.

Wednesday, Mar. 22 (1 p.m.) – Presentation: Finding Your Roots
This hands-on workshop teaches participants how to search for family information using archives and online resources.

The cost for each regular program is $10 per person and the afternoon tea is $15 per person. Pre-registration is required for all programs. Register online or in person at the Haldimand County Administration Building, 53 Thorburn Street South, Cayuga.

All programs take place at the Cayuga Library + Heritage Centre, located at 19 Talbot Street West. For more information, contact the Heritage Centre at (905) 318-5932, ext. 6613 or email museums@haldimandcounty.on.ca.

This February, the Heritage Centre in Cayuga is hosting four events.

Tuesday, Feb. 7 (6 p.m.) – Road to Freedom
In honour of Black History Month, this presentation focuses on the history of the Underground Railroad and Black settlement in Haldimand County.

Tuesday, Feb. 14 (6 p.m.) – Valentine’s Day Mystery
The community is invited to enjoy an evening of mystery exploring a Haldimand County true crime event. Participants will have an opportunity to follow the evidence and figure out the outcome of the case.

Wednesday, Feb. 15 (1 p.m.) – Tea and Presentation: For the Love of Chocolate
Valentine’s Day is all about love, romance and chocolate. This presentation features afternoon tea and a chocolate tasting followed by a talk on the history of chocolate and how it became connected with Valentine’s celebrations.

Tuesday, Feb. 21 (6 p.m.) – Wrapped in Secrets
This presentation details how quilts and other objects were used to help escaping slaves find their way to freedom and, later in the 20th century, how secret messages were sent using quilts during WWI and WWII.

The cost for each regular program is $10 per person and the afternoon tea is $15 per person. Pre-registration is required for all programs. Register online or in person at the Haldimand County Administration Building, 53 Thorburn Street South, Cayuga.

All programs take place at the Cayuga Library + Heritage Centre, located at 19 Talbot Street West. For more information, contact the Heritage Centre at (905) 318-5932, ext. 6613 or email museums@haldimandcounty.on.ca.