EVENTS POSTPONED OR CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19 OUTBREAK
Being that so many of our ardent and wonderful supporters are of the age of retirement, we really do feel responsible in doing our bit to support the efforts to slow the spread of Covid-19. Therefore we will be following all guidelines of social distancing and isolation in relation to museum operations. As such, the museum will be closed until further notice.
This unfortunately means that museum events in the coming weeks will be cancelled or postponed. These events include our DAVID THOMPSON GALA DINNER which was set to take place on Saturday, April 25th, 2020. A gathering of this size at this time would be reckless even if isolation periods were not extended as far as the end of April. Those who purchased tickets will be refunded by the director/volunteer that they purchased their ticket from. Close on the heels of the David Thompson Gala dinner was our Annual General Meeting which too will have to be cancelled. In lieu of a sit down meeting at the museum we will prepare meeting materials as would have been reported in person and distribute them among the membership so that you are all still informed.
As for the museum itself, all key holders are asked not to enter the building until notified otherwise with exception of the curator who will monitor the collection and building, along with township personnel as required. We will update you all as time progresses and in the meantime we wish you the most in health and safety. Please take care of yourselves.
Thank you.
Being that so many of our ardent and wonderful supporters are of the age of retirement, we really do feel responsible in doing our bit to support the efforts to slow the spread of Covid-19. Therefore we will be following all guidelines of social distancing and isolation in relation to museum operations. As such, the museum will be closed until further notice.
This unfortunately means that museum events in the coming weeks will be cancelled or postponed. These events include our DAVID THOMPSON GALA DINNER which was set to take place on Saturday, April 25th, 2020. A gathering of this size at this time would be reckless even if isolation periods were not extended as far as the end of April. Those who purchased tickets will be refunded by the director/volunteer that they purchased their ticket from. Close on the heels of the David Thompson Gala dinner was our Annual General Meeting which too will have to be cancelled. In lieu of a sit down meeting at the museum we will prepare meeting materials as would have been reported in person and distribute them among the membership so that you are all still informed.
As for the museum itself, all key holders are asked not to enter the building until notified otherwise with exception of the curator who will monitor the collection and building, along with township personnel as required. We will update you all as time progresses and in the meantime we wish you the most in health and safety. Please take care of yourselves.
Thank you.
2020 EVENT CALENDAR
The below is for general reference only, please see the above Cover-19 notice. All 2020 events are postponed or cancelled until otherwise stated.
**Please see our "Support the Cause: Museum Rentals" page if you'd like to host an event at the museum**
EVENT ABSTRACTS:
Cornwall Heritage Fair-February 22nd, 2020 9am-4pm
Visit our booth at the Cornwall Heritage Fair hosted by the Cornwall Square and learn about area heritage and history groups, including genealogy groups, that operate locally.
"250th Anniversary of the Birth of David Thompson Gala Dinner" Saturday, April 25th, 2020 at 6pm
Join us for a wonderful evening celebrating the life of David Thompson, one of Canada's greatest explorers and former Williamstown resident and partner of the North West Company. Guests will be treated to a prime rib dinner with dessert included, catered by Prestige catering of Cornwall, with special toasts to Thomspon and others done up in Beaver Club style. The evening will also include the unveiling of the specially commissioned David Thompson Bicentenary Portrait by Montreal artist, Aino Lutter. A cash bar will be available throughout the evening. Cocktails start at 6pm and dinner starts at 7pm. Tickets are $75 each and available for sale at the museum or from GNLM directors. This event will take place at the Tartan Hall upstairs in the Char-Lan Recreation Centre in Williamstown.
Gardening at the Museum May- August 2020
For the past few years, the local summer camp children have come to the museum each week to enjoy and immersive and education garden program where they maintain their own garden, identifying and caring for plants. They also learn important ecological aspects such as pollination and composting. Harvesting is an important and well loved chore where the kids get to cook and prepare the things they’ve grown to eat. A group of dedicated volunteers has been working hard at the museum planting the garden in the last few weeks and Wendy Wert has worked hard planning the garden activities throughout the chillier months!
Education Day “a day in the life of 1790s Williamstown” with the Sir John Johnson Manor House
On Education Day, local school children visit the Sir John Johnson Manor House, a prominent point of Glengarry settlement, and the Glengarry, Nor’Westers & Loyalist Museum, which was built as a school in Williamstown in 1862. On this day, students watch demonstrations on various aspects of settler life of the late eighteenth century and try their hand at activities such as cursive writing with a quill, building shelter, and marching like a soldier. Other fun is had building shelters and sampling the food staples of the day that are cooked on site over an open fire. This popular event has become a right of passage over the years for the Grade 7 students who attend.
Victoria Day Weekend Beginning of Summer Hours Saturday, May 16th, 2020
The museum is open daily from Wednesdays to Mondays (including holidays) from 10am to 5pm. Special tours can be booked by contacting us at 613-347-3547 or gnlmuseum@gmail.com.
"David Thompson" Exhibit Saturday, May 16th-Tuesday, August 4th, 2020
Our feature exhibit for the 2020 season will commemorate the life of Canadian explorer and surveyor, David Thompson, and coincide with the 250th anniversary of his birth. Trekking and mapping over 1 million miles of trade routes, Thompson's life took him all around what is now considered Canada. His work was invaluable to the fur trade and expansion westwards and his detailed maps were used for decades after his death. Visit our exhibit this summer as we commemorate a great Canadian figure!
GNLM Annual General Meeting Tuesday, May 12th, 2020
This meeting is open to all 2020 members to attend and we ask that you please RSVP as a complimentary dinner will be served by the directors after the proceedings.
Thursday Tea Talks Thursdays afternoons 2pm-4pm in June & July
Check out our separate ‘Tea Talks’ event listing for details and speakers!
Williamstown Fair Art Exhibit August 7th-9th, 2020
Each year the St. Lawrence Valley Agricultural Society (aka the ‘fair board’) uses the Williamstown Room of the GNLM to display the lovely array of art work entered into the fair competition. Admission to the museum is free during fair time and you can also find us Heritage Hall.
Annual Wine & Cheese Fundraiser Wednesday, August 19th, 2020 7pm-9pm
In this elegant evening event, members of the museum and wider public can socialize while sipping on wine and enjoying assorted fine cheeses. This is a long running annual fundraiser for the museum and features raffled items.
Doors Open August 2020 TBC
Admission to the museum and many other local heritage sites is free on this weekend as part of an initiative to get people out to enjoy their local cultural institutions!
Prince Edward County Bus Trip September 9th, 10th, & 11th, 2020
Our Annual Bus trip organized by a dedicated committee of directors is back for the fourth year in a row! This year the trip will take place in September, so we'll get to enjoy the last beautiful summer colours before autumn sets in! This trip will take us westward to Prince Edward County and Kingston, areas that have become known for their vibrant tourism industries. While details are still being figured out and the itinerary is in the early stages, we do know that we will be staying at the lovely Waring House for our two nights of accommodation.
Christmas Craft Workshop (in lieu of the Museum Festive Market)
Please check back for more details on what we'll be making and workshop availability closer to the date!
Museum Christmas Tea Thursday, December 10th, 2020 2pm-4pm
In the summer we host weekly talks on Thursday afternoons. This trend is revived once in the cold weather for our Museum Christmas Tea where we serve all sorts of holiday indulgences and regal you with Christmas themed tales. The same $5 donation towards the museum is suggested for this talk.
Hogmanay; Scottish New Year’s Eve Thursday, December 31st, 2020
Ring in the New Year in a true Glengarry fashion with our traditional Scottish-style Hogmanay! Hogmanay is hosted at the museum by both the Williamstown Fire Department and the GNLM. Each year we have outdoor fun with sleigh rides, fireworks, and a bonfire—those Scots sure do love their fire! Indoor fun can be found in the way of good food, a cash bar, and live Celtic music! This is the perfect family event for winter and also a great alternative to expensive New Year’s Eve outings as our Hogmanay is free to the public (of course we never turn down a donation to help out the museum and firefighters). Please check back prior to the ‘eve of’ for any pertinent weather updates.
.......stay tuned for any updates!
- Cornwall Heritage Fair at the Cornwall Square-Saturday, February 22nd, 2020 9am-4pm
- Preparations and Planting starts for our Youth Gardening Program at the Museum begins in May
- GNLM Annual General Meeting-Tuesday, May 12th, 2020 TBC
- “Education Day: a Day in the Life of 1790s Williamstown” with the Sir John Johnson Manor House TBD
- 2020 Summer Season Hours begins Saturday, May 16th, 2020
- David Thompson Exhibit-May 16th-August 4th, 2020
- Tea Talks-Thursdays in June & July 2pm-4pm (see separate Tea Talk Calendar)
- Girl Guides Visit with the Sir John Johnson Manor House-Saturday, June 5th, 6th, & 7th 2020
- Art Exhibit for the Williamstown Fair August 7th, 8th, & 9th, 2020
- Doors Open Weekend TBC
- Annual Wine & Cheese Fundraiser-Wednesday, August 19th, 2020 7pm-9pm TBC
- 2020 Autumn Hours begins Saturday, September 5th, 2020
- Williamstown Ribfest with the Williamstown Volunteer Fire Department TBD
- Prince Edward County Bus Trip September 9th, 10th, & 11th, 2020
- Williamstown Santa Claus Parade TBC
- Christmas CraftWorkshops (in lieu of the Museum Festive Market)
- Museum Christmas Tea- Thursday, December 10th, 2020 2pm-4pm
- Hogmanay Scottish style New Years Eve-Thursday, December 31st, 2020
**Please see our "Support the Cause: Museum Rentals" page if you'd like to host an event at the museum**
EVENT ABSTRACTS:
Cornwall Heritage Fair-February 22nd, 2020 9am-4pm
Visit our booth at the Cornwall Heritage Fair hosted by the Cornwall Square and learn about area heritage and history groups, including genealogy groups, that operate locally.
"250th Anniversary of the Birth of David Thompson Gala Dinner" Saturday, April 25th, 2020 at 6pm
Join us for a wonderful evening celebrating the life of David Thompson, one of Canada's greatest explorers and former Williamstown resident and partner of the North West Company. Guests will be treated to a prime rib dinner with dessert included, catered by Prestige catering of Cornwall, with special toasts to Thomspon and others done up in Beaver Club style. The evening will also include the unveiling of the specially commissioned David Thompson Bicentenary Portrait by Montreal artist, Aino Lutter. A cash bar will be available throughout the evening. Cocktails start at 6pm and dinner starts at 7pm. Tickets are $75 each and available for sale at the museum or from GNLM directors. This event will take place at the Tartan Hall upstairs in the Char-Lan Recreation Centre in Williamstown.
Gardening at the Museum May- August 2020
For the past few years, the local summer camp children have come to the museum each week to enjoy and immersive and education garden program where they maintain their own garden, identifying and caring for plants. They also learn important ecological aspects such as pollination and composting. Harvesting is an important and well loved chore where the kids get to cook and prepare the things they’ve grown to eat. A group of dedicated volunteers has been working hard at the museum planting the garden in the last few weeks and Wendy Wert has worked hard planning the garden activities throughout the chillier months!
Education Day “a day in the life of 1790s Williamstown” with the Sir John Johnson Manor House
On Education Day, local school children visit the Sir John Johnson Manor House, a prominent point of Glengarry settlement, and the Glengarry, Nor’Westers & Loyalist Museum, which was built as a school in Williamstown in 1862. On this day, students watch demonstrations on various aspects of settler life of the late eighteenth century and try their hand at activities such as cursive writing with a quill, building shelter, and marching like a soldier. Other fun is had building shelters and sampling the food staples of the day that are cooked on site over an open fire. This popular event has become a right of passage over the years for the Grade 7 students who attend.
Victoria Day Weekend Beginning of Summer Hours Saturday, May 16th, 2020
The museum is open daily from Wednesdays to Mondays (including holidays) from 10am to 5pm. Special tours can be booked by contacting us at 613-347-3547 or gnlmuseum@gmail.com.
"David Thompson" Exhibit Saturday, May 16th-Tuesday, August 4th, 2020
Our feature exhibit for the 2020 season will commemorate the life of Canadian explorer and surveyor, David Thompson, and coincide with the 250th anniversary of his birth. Trekking and mapping over 1 million miles of trade routes, Thompson's life took him all around what is now considered Canada. His work was invaluable to the fur trade and expansion westwards and his detailed maps were used for decades after his death. Visit our exhibit this summer as we commemorate a great Canadian figure!
GNLM Annual General Meeting Tuesday, May 12th, 2020
This meeting is open to all 2020 members to attend and we ask that you please RSVP as a complimentary dinner will be served by the directors after the proceedings.
Thursday Tea Talks Thursdays afternoons 2pm-4pm in June & July
Check out our separate ‘Tea Talks’ event listing for details and speakers!
Williamstown Fair Art Exhibit August 7th-9th, 2020
Each year the St. Lawrence Valley Agricultural Society (aka the ‘fair board’) uses the Williamstown Room of the GNLM to display the lovely array of art work entered into the fair competition. Admission to the museum is free during fair time and you can also find us Heritage Hall.
Annual Wine & Cheese Fundraiser Wednesday, August 19th, 2020 7pm-9pm
In this elegant evening event, members of the museum and wider public can socialize while sipping on wine and enjoying assorted fine cheeses. This is a long running annual fundraiser for the museum and features raffled items.
Doors Open August 2020 TBC
Admission to the museum and many other local heritage sites is free on this weekend as part of an initiative to get people out to enjoy their local cultural institutions!
Prince Edward County Bus Trip September 9th, 10th, & 11th, 2020
Our Annual Bus trip organized by a dedicated committee of directors is back for the fourth year in a row! This year the trip will take place in September, so we'll get to enjoy the last beautiful summer colours before autumn sets in! This trip will take us westward to Prince Edward County and Kingston, areas that have become known for their vibrant tourism industries. While details are still being figured out and the itinerary is in the early stages, we do know that we will be staying at the lovely Waring House for our two nights of accommodation.
Christmas Craft Workshop (in lieu of the Museum Festive Market)
Please check back for more details on what we'll be making and workshop availability closer to the date!
Museum Christmas Tea Thursday, December 10th, 2020 2pm-4pm
In the summer we host weekly talks on Thursday afternoons. This trend is revived once in the cold weather for our Museum Christmas Tea where we serve all sorts of holiday indulgences and regal you with Christmas themed tales. The same $5 donation towards the museum is suggested for this talk.
Hogmanay; Scottish New Year’s Eve Thursday, December 31st, 2020
Ring in the New Year in a true Glengarry fashion with our traditional Scottish-style Hogmanay! Hogmanay is hosted at the museum by both the Williamstown Fire Department and the GNLM. Each year we have outdoor fun with sleigh rides, fireworks, and a bonfire—those Scots sure do love their fire! Indoor fun can be found in the way of good food, a cash bar, and live Celtic music! This is the perfect family event for winter and also a great alternative to expensive New Year’s Eve outings as our Hogmanay is free to the public (of course we never turn down a donation to help out the museum and firefighters). Please check back prior to the ‘eve of’ for any pertinent weather updates.
.......stay tuned for any updates!
For more details on event activities, times, and tickets call 613-347-3547 or email gnlmuseum@gmail.com