Celebrate Museum Month in Oakville with new exhibits and fun programs and events

May is Museum Month across Ontario. In Oakville, the town is excited to share ways the community can celebrate locally. Starting May 1, residents can help preserve, celebrate and make memories with the Oakville Museum through a variety of engaging exhibits, programs, and events. 

The Home Team Wins: Oakville’s Hockey Clubs starting May 4

This new exhibit opens at Sixteen Mile Sports Complex on May 4, 2024! The display shares the history behind Oakville’s hockey teams, from their modest beginnings on local frozen ponds and rivers to the ice rinks they compete in regularly at the local, provincial and national levels. Focusing on the Oakville Blades Junior C Team, the show opens just in time as the Blades compete for Hockey Canada’s prestigious Centennial Cup national title beginning on May 9, 2024 at Sixteen Mile Sports Complex. 

Debwewin: The Truth Project Exhibition on May 18

Visit the Oakville Museum on Saturday, May 18 from 1 to 4:30 p.m. to celebrate Museum Month and International Museum Day, which is celebrated across the world on May 18. Debwewin: The Truth Project Exhibition provides the community with an opportunity to better understand the past and present Treaty relationships in what is now Oakville. This exhibit, a partnership between the Oakville Museum, the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, and the Oakville Community Foundation, shares the history and culture of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation through community knowledge, archival documents, videos, and interactive components. 

Spring Tea and Tour on May 11

Join the Oakville Museum on Saturday, May 11 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. or 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. for a special spring tour and treat. For $30, participants will be taken on a guided tour of the restored historic Erchless Estate to explore the rich and diverse history of Oakville and given a takeaway treat box. Visit the Oakville Museum Programs and Events page to purchase tickets and learn more about the event. 

Bootleggers and Beverages: A Prohibition Night Out on May 31

Step back in time to the roaring twenties on May 31 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Museum Coach House. Residents 19 years and older are invited to enjoy a night of revelry and nostalgia and learn about Canada’s fascinating involvement in prohibition and the temperance movement. The event, in collaboration with local business Flourish and Bask, will also include mixologist Zac Kvas speaking about popular cocktails, both past and present. Visit the Oakville Museum Programs and Events page to purchase $90 tickets and learn more about the event. Spots are limited so register now to avoid disappointment. 

Hunting for History Scavenger Hunt at the Oakville Museum  

During Oakville Museum’s opening hours, children of all ages can tour through the museum looking for interesting artifacts and historical features. Complete the scavenger hunt and win a prize! Children must be accompanied and supervised by an adult caregiver. The last tour of the day starts at 4 p.m. with tours lasting approximately 30 minutes. For a full museum experience, plan for a one-hour visit. Please call to book larger groups of 10 or more.

For more events and activities, including weekend offerings throughout May and the annual Victoria Day opening weekend of Oakville’s First Post Office located in Lakeside Park, visit the Oakville Museum Programs and Events page. 

Background

• Mayor Rob Burton has proclaimed May as Museum Month.
• Oakville Museum is among about 800 museums across Ontario offering world-class collections and exhibits.
• International Museum Day is observed around the world on May 18 each year. Since 1977, the International Council of Museums the celebrated this day annually to pay tribute to the international museum community and highlight the important role museums play as institutions that contribute to the vitality and health of communities.