News from Sarah Holla, Acting Executive Director of the Goulbourn Museum
It has been a busy and rewarding couple of months at Goulbourn Museum! From hands-on heritage workshops and community outreach to professional development and collections care, our team continues to find new ways to bring local history to life and connect with our community.
Here’s a look at what we’ve been up to in September and October.
September brought opportunities to learn, share and connect. Through professional development with the Ottawa Museum Network and the Canadian Conservation Institute at the Diefenbunker, I participated in X-ray fluorescence (XRF) training, exploring technology that can help identify materials in artefacts without damaging them. This new knowledge will support future research and strengthen our ability to understand and care for the objects entrusted to the Museum.
Our programming brought heritage skills to life through an adult calligraphy workshop, made possible with the help of longtime volunteer and 2025 Volunteer Award recipient Richard Draffin. Our Past to Present programming also connected local history with participants at the Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre.
Beyond our doors, we connected with 1,200 visitors over three days at the Richmond Fair! We also joined Ottawa’s 200+ Bytown Together celebration and participated in the second annual Stittsville Business Association Members & Community Partners Networking Evening, creating further opportunities to build relationships and share the Museum’s work with new audiences.
October continued this momentum with a wooden spoon carving workshop in partnership with Ottawa City Wood Shop and professional development through the Ottawa Museum Network’s Defusing Angry Customers workshop. Our Hands-On History: 100th Regiment Music & Military Presentation brought music and military history together for an engaging community experience, with support from the 1137 Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa Cadet Corps.
Community outreach remained a priority, with Alyssa continuing Past to Present programming for seniors at the Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre and members of the 14th Stittsville Sparks. We also welcomed families for Fang-tastic Creations on October 31, featuring Halloween crafts and face painting.
Looking ahead
We are proud to share that Goulbourn Museum will host Spirit Bear and Children Make History, a travelling exhibition in partnership with the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada. This is an exciting first for the Museum and an important opportunity to bring this meaningful learning experience to our community. We look forward to sharing more details soon.
Behind every workshop, presentation and community event is a great deal of work by our staff, Board of Directors, volunteers and community partners. We are grateful for their dedication and for the continued support of a community that makes this work possible.
And there is more to come! Our annual Old Fashioned Christmas returns on Sunday, November 22, from 10:00am to 3:00pm. Follow us on social media for event updates and mark your calendars for a festive day at Goulbourn Museum. We look forward to celebrating the season with you!
Poppies of Goulbourn – More than 1,000 handmade poppies donated this year!
These poppies will come together in a sea of red outside Goulbourn Museum, creating a moving tribute to those who served and sacrificed. Each poppy represents the time, care and creativity of someone in our community, and we are deeply grateful to everyone who helped make this year’s display possible.
Hundreds of handmade creations come together to form a beautiful tribute in time for Remembrance Day. Thanks to the generous support of Stittsville Fire Station 81 firefighters, the installation will bring this remarkable sea of poppies to life for our community to see.
Poppies of Goulbourn is a reminder that remembrance is something we share. Together, we honour the past, recognize the sacrifices made for our future and keep the spirit of remembrance alive in our community. We invite you to visit the museum to view the display.
Family Programming:
Frosted Fun family craft day will help you get into the winter spirit with a fun and festive craft day! Create skiing snowmen, decorate your own pinecone Christmas tree, and try salt-painting a snowflake. It’s the perfect way to celebrate the season with hands-on holiday fun. The craft day will be held on Saturday, December 12, 2026 from 10:00am – 2:00pm at the Goulbourn Museum. The cost is $5.00 per child and registration is required (use this link to register).
Adult Programming:
Heritage Rug Hooking Project workshop is designed for participants ages 16 and up. Discover the art of rug hooking in this hands-on workshop. Led by Jennifer Hudebine of the Ontario Hooking Craft Guild, she brings over 25 years of experience in fibre arts including tole painting, needle felting and rug hooking. This workshop will teach the basics of rug hooking, completing a 4×4 fiber arts project, creating a pattern inspired by nature. The step by step process is designed for beginners and no previous experience is needed, our class size provides a supportive learning experience. Join us for an inspiring evening that combines artistic expression with a deeper appreciation for sustainability art practices. The workshop will be held on Sunday, December 13, 2026 from 10:00am – 2:00pm at the Goulbourn Museum. The cost is $70.00 per participant and registration is required (use this link to register).
Community Event:
One of our most cherished community traditions, an Old Fashioned Christmas, takes place on Sunday, November 22 from 10:00am to 3:00pm. Step into the holiday spirit with a festive day of vintage-inspired fun, family activities, local shopping and seasonal treats. Gather with friends and neighbours, enjoy the sounds of the season, and make some wonderful holiday memories together.
There’s something for everyone to enjoy:
- Visit with Santa and share a little Christmas magic.
- Enjoy hands-on crafts and creative activities for kids.
- Warm up by the fire pit with seasonal treats.
- Sip hot chocolate or apple cider and savour the flavours of the season.
- Discover local vendors and community organizations offering unique finds and festive inspiration.
- Enjoy live music and entertainment throughout the event.
- Enter for a chance to win amazing raffle prizes!
Whether Old Fashioned Christmas is part of your family’s holiday tradition or you are joining us for the first time, we look forward to welcoming you for a day filled with community spirit and old-fashioned Christmas charm.
If you are a local business and would like to donate a prize to our raffle baskets, please reach out to info@goulbournmuseum.ca.