Community Building Fund Helps Park House Museum Adapt Programming for COVID

Amherstburg, ON – In September 2021, the Park House Museum received a $19,700 grant from the Government of Ontario’s Community Building Fund – Operating stream. This grant, delivered by the Ontario Trillium Foundation, has assisted with staffing and equipment costs and allowed the museum to continue offering fun, inclusive programs for the community – even amidst the pandemic.

“I would like to thank the Ontario Trillium Foundation for awarding the Park House Museum the Community Building Fund grant,” said Essex MPP Taras Natyshak. “This grant will enhance the preservation of many artifacts and provide a place to study our local heritage for many generations to come. The Park House Museum is an integral part of the Town of Amherstburg’s preservation of its past, present and future.” 

This grant helped the Park House Museum adapt its most popular programs for outdoor delivery. The museum was able to purchase tables, tents, chairs, and an audio system, and in October 2021, restructured its ghost stories to an outdoor setting, launching with a sold-out event, Ghost Stories Off the Back Porch. By December, the new supplies allowed the museum to resume participating in community events such as Bright Lights Windsor and Amhersburg’s River Light Opening. 

After assessing the fall events' strengths and areas of improvement, staff were able to revolutionize one of the most popular components of the museum’s education programs: Hands-On Tinsmithing. The Park House Museum is dedicated to preventing the spread of COVID-19, and with the purchase of new program tools, was able to issue each student their own set of tools for the program. Moreover, the museum can now offer the Hands-On Tinsmith program both in-person and online (via Zoom or Google Classroom).

This grant has not only given the Park House Museum the materials needed to transform its programs, but has helped the museum implement and sustain programming. In 2022, several returning and new outdoor programs are planned, including weekend hands-on tinsmithing workshops, outdoor lectures, and a Tacos and Tin experience program. More details will be released once the dates are set. 

"Hands-on activities, inclusivity, and immersive history are crucial components of programming at the Park House Museum,” said Stephanie Pouget-Papak, Curator. “At the onset of the pandemic, our limited resources greatly affected our ability to facilitate programming. While this created a financial strain on our museum, which operates as a non-profit, we were most disheartened at the loss of building in-person connections with our visitors through our programs. Our anticipated 2022 programming is most welcomed by our staff; this revitalization has been made possible through this grant and the continued support of our community."

We are looking forward to sharing our revitalized programming, supporting the mental well-being of our visitors through renewed socially distanced programs, and creating social involvement and community engagement while challenging stereotypes and welcoming diversity among our participants. After losing its long-time sponsor during the pandemic, the museum is currently looking for an annual sponsor replacement to assist with the rising operating costs and to help maintain affordable programming for the public.  More information is available at parkhousemuseum.com.

The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is an agency of the Government of Ontario, and one of Canada’s leading granting foundations. Last year, nearly $112M was invested into 1,384 community projects and partnerships to build healthy and vibrant communities and strengthen the impact of Ontario’s non‐profit sector. In 2020/21, OTF supported Ontario’s economic recovery by helping non‐profit organizations rebuild and recover from the impacts of COVID‐19. Visit otf.ca to learn more.