Exhibition

Collection

The Whitchurch-Stouffville Museum and Community Centre houses a collection of approximately 18,000 artifacts.

How do we decide what is added to the collection?

The acceptance of any item is based on the importance and relevance of that item to our Vision and Mission Statement, in particular, those items that best serve to illustrate the natural history, human settlement and historical development of Whitchurch and Stouffville. The Museum must also consider the resources available to care for the item after acceptance. The time frame parameters for collection states that the item must have been created at least 45 years prior to to the present date.

Collection Categories under which objects are acquired:

Permanent Collection: The majority of objects being acquired for the Museum's Collection fall within this category. These are authentic, historical objects in complete or nearly complete conditions. They will only be used for exhibit and research purposes.

Hands-On Collection: These objects may be duplicates of items already in the permanent collection or modern reproductions. They may be used as interpretive tools for education, exhibition, and special event purposes.

Props Collection: An object for which no donor information, no collection records and no accession information can be found. This category of item can be used as a prop. They can be used for exhibit or educational programming, but do not have significant historical value.

Restoration Collection: Items that are to be used in the restoration of an artifact in the Permanent Collection, or as replacement parts for an artifact in the Permanent and Hands-On Collection.

What is the Life Cycle of an Artifact?!

Permanent Exhibit

A permanent exhibit opened in late 2015 in the former Vandorf Public School. It traces the development of Whitchurch Township and the village of Stouffville to 1971 when the Region of York was created and the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville was created. Components of this exhibit will be changed annually to interpret new stories from our community.

Current/Upcoming Exhibits:

The Whitchurch-Stouffville Museum & Community Centre presents changing annual exhibitions to engage you. Our intimate Exhibition Gallery hosts our annual and travelling exhibits. Elements of our permanent collection are frequently used to enhance off-site exhibits. Our exhibitions are open during the Museum's regular operating hours. General admission applies.

The current exhibit running now is: Archaeology Alive! The Jean-Baptiste Lainé Site in Whitchurch-Stouffville. Explore and learn about this amazing archaeological site, uncovered in southeast Whitchurch-Stouffville between 2003 and 2005. Engage with artifacts on loan from the Canadian Museum of History and the Huron-Wendat Museum, a 3-D gaming experience, and oral histories from Huron-Wendat Nation members.

This exhibit will run until June, 2020. The exhibit is available to be seen during regular hours of operation. General admission applies.

Recent past exhibits include:

A Stitch in Time: examples of intricate hand-stitched creations
Made in Canada: focused on military themed artifacts from the museum's collection and the stories that they tell
All in this Together: looked at what life was like for Canadians who were at home during war-time.

If you have ideas for future exhibits, please contact the Museum!