May is Museum Month, and Norfolk County will join over 700 museums, galleries, and heritage sites across Ontario in celebration, marking the start of the 2024 summer tourism season. Below, discover the upcoming programs, events, and exhibits at local facilities.
Delhi Tobacco Museum & Heritage Centre
Two new exhibits are scheduled to open in May 2024. The first, “Feeding the Gangs: Culinary Arts on the Farm,” explores the women who cooked for harvest workers, as featured in the Canadian Tobacco Grower magazine. The second exhibit, “Tobacco Kilns of Norfolk County,” highlights Larry Monczka’s photographs, capturing the beauty and gentle decay of these iconic buildings alongside their architectural significance.
In alignment with the museum’s commitment to multicultural education, guest author Nadine Williams will lead a project titled “Fabric of our Being” in Delhi, which involves creating a handcrafted quilt with students from Delhi Public School, exploring and celebrating the International Decade for People of African Descent.
Waterford Heritage and Agricultural Museum (WHAM)
WHAM will launch its highly anticipated Waterford and Townsend Barns Project, which combines over 20 years of the Waterford & Townsend Historical Society’s research with hundreds of photographs in an online interactive portal; the project highlights the rural landscape through historic barns and agricultural outbuildings.
The Board Exhibit is a special community exhibition in partnership with the Waterford Skate Park. The display includes 112 skateboard decks created by local artists, designers, athletes, and youth. A must-see Finale Celebration ticketed event will happen Friday, May 10, with an auction, refreshments, cash bar, and more.
WHAM, along with the Norfolk County Heritage & Culture Department, will be launching a pop-up exhibit at the St. Williams Heritage Festival on May 11 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the St. Williams Community Centre. This celebration explores the vibrant history of the village.
Nominations for the Norfolk County Agricultural Hall of Fame are now open. Launched in 2014, this initiative honours achievements and innovations in agriculture and rural development. Past inductees include educators, journalists, artists, scientists, and policymakers. Members of the community can nominate a deserving member by June 29.
Norfolk County Archives
Norfolk County Archives will unveil its latest exhibition, “Reforesting Norfolk.” This display delves into the historical significance of Norfolk’s renowned Forestry Farm and its role in redefining sustainability practices and promoting reforestation initiatives across Ontario. Visitors are invited to explore this compelling narrative during regular hours from Tuesdays to Fridays throughout May, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Port Dover Harbour Museum
Opening May 10, “From Her Hands” highlights Norfolk’s women potters of the 1960s and ’70s, featuring Donna Matthews, Ruth Peets, Donna Ryerse, Jean Woolley, and Didi and George Eerenberg, with an accompanying exhibition catalogue available.
On May 31, Tom Lewis presents “Songs and Lore of the Sea” at Port Dover Harbour Museum, offering a captivating journey through maritime music and storytelling, complemented by opener, Ian Bell. Tickets are $20 each, available online or in person.
Additionally, Common Threads invites fibre artists and needleworkers to gather at the museum on the first Thursday of each month for a relaxing crafting session.
For further details on any Heritage and Culture in Norfolk County, explore NorfolkHeritage.ca.
