Meet the Artisan: Crazy4Crafts

Mary Cooke of Crazy4Crafts will be back in the vendor tent this year with her handmade puppets and character hats. Her repertoire includes Sesame Street, Ninja Turtles and superhero puppets as well as Minion dolls, and blankets.

The Old-Fashioned Christmas & Outdoor Artisan Market takes place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, November 20th at the Goulbourn Museum. In addition to the Artisan Market, families can pose for a photo with Santa in the Village Store, pen letters to the North Pole with help from the Calligraphy Society of Ottawa, watch a bona fide blacksmith at work, and try their hand at vintage holiday crafts. Enjoy free hot chocolate and apple cider, roast marshmallows by the fire, and buy warm comfort food from The Hot Potato Company for lunch.

Goulbourn Museum’s Curator Manager, Kathryn Jamieson, left, with Museum Member John Maguire.

Goulbourn Museum’s Curator Manager has won an Ontario Museum Association (OMA) Award of Excellence.

Kathryn Jamieson received the 2016 Promising Leadership Award of Excellence at the OMA Annual Conference in Mississauga on Thursday night. The OMA Award of Excellence in Community Engagement is presented to emerging professionals, of any position or institution, who have shown promising leadership within the museum community. An emerging professional is an individual within the first ten years of their professional career.

“The Awards of Excellence is our opportunity to recognize those institutions and individuals who exemplify their roles in the museum sector, reminding us of the impact museums have on their communities, and on Ontario as a province,” says Marie G. Lalonde, Executive Director of the Ontario Museum Association.

Former colleague, Laura Gibbs, a museum coordinator with the City of Toronto, says Ms. Jamieson has taken every leadership challenge and opportunity that has been presented to her with integrity, a willingness to learn, curiosity and tact.

“This is very well deserved,” says Goulbourn Museum Chairperson, Keith Hobbs, who expressed the Board of Directors’ congratulations to Kathryn Jamieson on receipt of the OMA award. “The museum and surrounding community are well served by her enthusiasm and proficiency.”

Ms. Jamieson has successfully taken on the challenge of transforming the museum into a community hub whose attendance has increased by over 180% in the four years that she has occupied this position. She plans to expand and develop the museum even further.

Ms. Jamieson is a member of the Ottawa Museum Network Board of Directors, on which she has been Treasurer, Vice-Chair, and Chairperson, and through which she is involved in multiple other committees. She is also the Co-Chair of the Ottawa Museum and Archives Collection Committee, and has recently begun teaching in the Applied Museum Studies program at Algonquin College. Ms. Jamieson is a leader in the Ontario museum community, dedicated to improving her museum at the community level, mentoring the next generation of heritage professionals, and advocating for museums and heritage to become a governmental priority.

Goulbourn Museum is a registered charity located in Stittsville. It tells the story of Ottawa’s oldest military settlement and offers interactive and hands-on exhibits. Its collection includes over 9,000 artefacts as well as a collection of over 40,000 artefacts from an archeological dig in Richmond.

We’re thrilled to have Eve’s Elements join our Outdoor Artisan Market this year!

Eve’s Elements incorporates objects to adorn you: metal, leather, ceramic and glass are transformed into necklaces, earrings and bracelets for your pleasure.

“Colour, texture and shape inspire me to create handmade jewellery – pieces as enjoyable to wear as they are to share,” says artist Eve Elliott.

The Old-Fashioned Christmas & Outdoor Artisan Market takes place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, November 20th at the Goulbourn Museum. In addition to the Artisan Market, families can pose for a photo with Santa in the Village Store, pen letters to the North Pole with help from the Calligraphy Society of Ottawa, watch a bona fide blacksmith at work, and try their hand at vintage holiday crafts. Enjoy free hot chocolate and apple cider, roast marshmallows by the fire, and buy warm comfort food from The Hot Potato Company for lunch.

The Museum’s Old-Fashioned Christmas & Outdoor Artisan Market is fast approaching on Sunday, November 20th. The vendor tent will be bursting with talented artisans including Claude LeBel of Redefined Wood.

Claude LeBel has been producing beautiful woodturned creations such as bowls, platters, bottle stoppers, and pens for over nine years. His one-of-a-kind pieces are made with domestic and exotic woods. Form and function are important elements in his designs because he believes that not only should his pieces be nice to look at, they should be used and enjoyed as well.

Claude has studied under world-renowned woodturners such as Mike Mahoney and Jimmy Clewes. Claude is passionate about the creative woodturning process and his artistic flare adds to the beauty and uniqueness of his creations.

The Old-Fashioned Christmas & Outdoor Artisan Market takes place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, November 20th at the Goulbourn Museum. In addition to the Artisan Market, families can pose for a photo with Santa in the Village Store, pen letters to the North Pole with help from the Calligraphy Society of Ottawa, watch a bona fide blacksmith at work, and try their hand at vintage holiday crafts. Enjoy free hot chocolate and apple cider, roast marshmallows by the fire, and buy warm comfort food from The Hot Potato Company for lunch.

The Goulbourn Museum is located at 2064 Huntley Rd. in Stittsville.

The Goulbourn Museum is seeking a part-time employee to fill the fixed-term contract position of Collections and Programming Administrator (CPA). This is a contract position for Maternity Leave coverage. The CPA will provide excellent customer service; perform collections management duties; assist with programming, special events, research and exhibitions; write articles for the Museum’s newsletters and social media; and, record the minutes at the Board of Directors’ meetings.

The successful candidate will have a background in museum studies, history, social science, education or related discipline and experience working in a museum environment. He/she will be able to multi-task and work independently as well as in a team setting. She/he will be able to work outside in a variety of weather conditions, perform physical labour and be willing to work flexible hours.

The CPA may work up to 30 hours per week, but a typical work-week will see two 7.5 hour shifts on weekends with the occasional weekday shift. During the summer months, there may be the potential for an increase in hours. Some evening and weekday and statutory holiday work is required. This fixed-term contract begins in mid-November and could extend up to 72 weeks. The wage for this position is $14.00 per hour. Post-secondary students are encouraged to apply.

Candidates require excellent English language and computer competency skills. French language skills and knowledge of basic hand tools are an asset. There is no public transportation to the Museum site. Applications will only be accepted by email at goulbmus@rogers.com until 12:00 noon on Friday, October 28, 2016. Please include the position you are applying for in the subject line.

Goulbourn Museum shares the story of Ottawa’s oldest military settlement and early life in the former Goulbourn Township. Located just south of Stittsville in Ottawa’s west end, Goulbourn Museum houses a diverse collection of artefacts and many interactive exhibitions. These include The 100th Regiment of Foot, dedicated to the soldiers who settled Goulbourn Township in 1818; Goulbourn Township’s Pioneers, about early life in the communities; and The Village Store where children can dress in costume to barter or shop for supplies. Goulbourn Museum is located at 2064 Huntley Road, Stittsville, ON.
613-831-2393 | www.goulbournmuseum.ca

The Goulbourn Museum is currently accepting vendor applications for its Old-Fashioned Christmas & Outdoor Artisan Market.

The market will be held on Sunday, November 20th from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the Goulbourn Museum (2064 Huntley Road in Stittsville). This is a juried show and all products must be handmade. There are just 15 spaces available for this market.

Deadline for applications is September 16, 2016.

Click HERE to apply.

Hélène Rivest, centre, with Goulbourn Museum’s Curator Manager, Kathryn Jamieson, and Chairperson Keith Hobbs.

Each year, the Board of Directors selects a recipient for the Museum’s Heritage Advocacy Award. This award recognizes those who have made an outstanding contribution to the Goulbourn Museum.

This year the Board selected someone who is a Museum member, a longtime volunteer and a donor. This person is also extremely dedicated to volunteering in many capacities beyond the Museum and throughout the community.

Hélène Rivest is a true advocate for both heritage and community. She tirelessly donates her time to various organizations and activities, including here at the Goulbourn Museum, but also with the Stittsville Food Bank, the Stittsville Village Association, the Goulbourn Township Historical Society, the Richmond Agricultural Society, the Rotary Club, the Stittsville-Goulbourn Horticultural Society, the Royal Canadian Legion, Ottawa Race Weekend and Big Sisters.

Another cause that is very close to Hélène’s heart is the Kidney Foundation of Canada. It all started when Stittsville resident Craig Dunbar needed a kidney transplant. Hélène went through the required testing but unfortunately wasn’t a match for Craig. She was still determined to help, so the two of them became involved in the Living Donor Paired Exchange Program which connects matches incompatible pairs with compatible pairs and results in a chain of transplants. She was able to donate her kidney to a complete stranger two years ago, and has continued raising money for the cause through local fundraising activities like the Kidney Walk.

Here at the Museum, Hélène has been a longtime member of the organization. She volunteers her time and expertise in a variety of ways, from assisting at our special events like the Old-Fashioned Christmas & Outdoor Artisan Market, to mending and organizing our costume collection. Each year Hélène joins Museum staff to adjudicate the Home School History Fair as well. This involves listening to presentations from children aged 8 to 14, and providing both encouragement and constructive criticism, before deciding which students will move on to the next level of the competition. Hélène is also quick to brag about her local museum and has written testimonials on our behalf.

Congratulations Hélène!

Father’s Day Flashback is fast approaching and it’s shaping up to be a wonderful day.

The Museum’s new exhibition Healing Hands – Medicine During the World Wars will launch at the event which takes place Sunday, June 19. This exhibit focuses on the Canadian Red Cross, Canadian Nursing Sisters, and veterinarians and was made possible thanks to a financial grant received from the Government of Canada’s World Wars Commemorations Community Fund.

Reenactors from the WWI Canadian Army Medical Corps (recreated) will be transforming the Museum grounds into a Casualty Clearing Station and Forward Aid Post.

Additional attractions will include Big Sky Ranch Animal Sanctuary, an old-fashioned photo booth, vintage games (including wooden stilts), a caricature artist, children’s crafts and games, plus an ice cream vendor and a BBQ. And don’t miss our silent auction and a chance to bid on some amazing prizes including tickets to an Ottawa Senators’ home game!

Children can also play in the revamped Village Store which now features costumes and food from the WWII era. It is also the new home of the Ashton General Store’s postal wicket which was generously donated to the Museum last month.

Author Larry Cotton will be in the Museum from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. to sign copies of his latest book in the Whiskey & Wickedness series about the Rideau military settlements. Local collectors will be bringing old music back to life on their phonograph exhibit that includes both disc and cylinder phonographs.

Father’s Day Flashback is sponsored by Minto Potter’s Key and takes place from 10 a.m to 3 p.m. Admission is free but you’ll want to bring some cash for lunch and treats (not to mention silent auction prizes!).

See you on Father’s Day!

Jamie Stirling is one of two students we have hired for the summer. As Museum Assistant her duties include everything from programming to grounds maintenance! Hers will be the friendly face you see when you visit the Museum or accompany your kids to one of our Family Craft Days.

“This summer will be my first experience working in a museum setting and I am extremely excited to get started! I have wanted to work in museums and with artefacts ever since “Bring your Kid to Work” Day in the 9th Grade when I saw construction workers at the Parliament Buildings. I was scared they were going to change the buildings so I decided I wanted to make sure that didn’t happen. Having grown up in Stittsville I’m delighted for the opportunity to work at the Goulbourn Museum and learn more about where I grew up!

I am currently studying in the Applied Museum Studies program at Algonquin College. I will begin my second year of the program in September and I am hoping to do my third year placement in Scotland next winter. After completing the program, I would like to continue learning about creating educational programs or caring for museum collections.

I’m looking forward to the summer and helping the staff at Goulbourn Museum share our town’s history and take part in creating a sense of community for the Goulbourn Township.”

Thank you to the Government of Canada and the Young Canada Works Program for their financial support for this position. 

James Riley is one of two students we have hired for the summer. As our Curatorial Assistant his main duties include working with the Museum’s collection.

“I am currently enrolled at Algonquin College in the Applied Museum Studies program and have a bachelor’s degree in Greek and Roman Studies from Carleton University.  I have always been a fanatic when it comes to history and the opportunity to work at the Goulbourn Museum is akin to receiving my personal golden ticket. Being able to work with artefacts, study the history of the Goulbourn area, and engage with museum visitors is a great chance to gain experience in a museum related field.  I may also get the chance to dress up as a character from Goulbourn’s historic past for events and even wear a top hat on rare occasions.

Aside from wearing top hats, which is reason enough for working at the Goulbourn Museum, I hope to one day work as a Collections Specialist or Conservation Technician at any of the museums in Ontario.

I look forward to working with the Goulbourn Museum this summer and hope to make a lasting impression on the community as a whole throughout the coming months.”

Thank you to Service Canada and the Canada Summer Jobs Grant Program for their financial support for this position.