Members of the Canadian Industrial Heritage Centre (CIHC) met with Will Bouma, MPP for Brantford-Brant, to celebrate the opening of the new “Brantford/Brant and Norfolk County: Inventors, Industries, and Marketing” exhibit at the Paris Museum and Historical Society on Saturday, June 22, 2024.
The provincial government’s Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) awarded CIHC with a $35,800 Resilient Communities grant earlier this year, and the organization has since used the funds to team up with the Brantford Historical Society, Paris Museum and Historical Society, the South Dumfries Historical Society (St. George Museum), the Waterford Heritage and Agricultural Museum and Brant Theatre Workshops to bring the exhibit to life.
“Congratulations to the Canadian Industrial Heritage Centre for being awarded this grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation,” said Bouma. “The collaboration with four local museums will showcase the history of industry and the industrial processes that helped build Ontario, well done.”
“Inventors, Industries, and Marketing” is the first of three interactive multi-use pop-up exhibitions that will rotate between the four museums throughout the year to showcase the area’s industrial heritage. Several items currently on display include a Massey-Ferguson jacket and hat, as well as a Cockshutt Plow Company jigsaw puzzle and plastic model tractor.
“Through this collaborative project, we aspire to rekindle interest in museum visits and engage visitors in a dynamic and educational exploration of our heritage,” read the CIHC press release. “The exhibits celebrate the history of local industries, the remarkable individuals behind them, and their impact on both society and the environment. Through our joint efforts, we will bring stories to life by creating interactive fold-up exhibits, accompanied by live performances, that can be packed up, transported, and set up in other museums or community locales.”
The CIHC was incorporated as a charitable heritage organization in 2002 and has since promoted Canada’s industrial past by bringing stories to life through a variety of interactive educational projects centered around industry, labour and environmental history. The organization preserves data, resources and artifacts to promote a greater awareness of industrial achievement and their cultural contributions to the development of Canada.
Stan Cho, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming, said the OTF grant is an important contribution that will help CIHC to remain in the heart of the community.
“Whether it’s helping people learn new things, connect with their community, or simply have fun, organizations like CIHC deliver experiences that make a difference,” said Cho. “That’s why grant support through the Ontario Trillium Foundation is so important. This funding will help ensure they remain at the heart of the community for decades to come.”
Kimberly De Jong’s reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative.The funding allows her to report rural and agricultural stories from Blandford-Blenheim and Brant County. Reach her at kimberly.dejong@brantbeacon.ca.
