What's On
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Feature Exhibitions
Untold Oshawa highlights stories that have not been included in previous published history books and works. The aim is to expand the commonly accepted narrative of Oshawa’s history, to develop a local history that includes different points of view, and to examine different aspects of our community’s past.
This exhibit is a starting point of a more inclusive story. Here, you will find stories of some of Oshawa’s early Black settlers, a look into the impact of labour unions in Oshawa, and a focus on the experiences of women and children.
Buy your copy of Untold Oshawa: An Expanded History, available at the Oshawa Museum Shop! Shop in person at Guy House or online: 
https://bit.ly/UntoldOshawa
Oshawa has a unique maritime perspective that often goes unnoticed and underappreciated. For centuries, the waterways of Lake Scugog, Oshawa Creek, and Lake Ontario have provided Indigenous Peoples and settlers with a natural navigation system and the backdrop for the commercial, agricultural, and residential development that would later become the city of Oshawa. From Ship to Shore: Looking at Oshawa's Relationship with Lake Ontario celebrates the city's port history, the marine industry, and contributes to an overall sense of pride in being part of a port city.
Oshawa’s waterfront has more than two centuries of stories to tell, from hunting and fishing, ship building, trade, railways, steamboats, pleasure crafts and ocean-going vessels. The waterfront and specifically the Oshawa Harbour have played an important role in the settling of our area, and continues that function as a vital element of the City's growth and economic development today.
Visit From Ship to Shore's Digital Exhibit via Digital Museums Canada
From Ship to Shore is developed with an investment by Digital Museums Canada.
A Carrying Place is on display in Robinson House. This immersive exhibit connects our community with their past, embraces the present Indigenous community, and builds towards a spirit of reconciliation and partnership.
A Carrying Place showcases objects recovered from the Grandview and MacLeod archeological sites and interprets the culture of the ancestral Wendat that lived in this area from 1380 – 1450 CE, and it examines the arrival and impact of European immigrants. This exhibition looks at the Indigenous community today, featuring displays from partner organizations, including the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nations, the Oshawa and Durham Region Métis Council, and the Durham District School Board.
Month of March and March Break
Beyond Words: Dictionaries and Indigenous Languages of Canada
Pop-Up Exhibit, Language Museum of Canada, Verna Conant Gallery
Beyond Words: Dictionaries and Indigenous Languages highlights the complex relationship between Indigenous languages and dictionaries over several centuries, from word lists and dictionaries developed for exploration, colonization, conversion and assimilation purposes, to online language materials being developed by Indigenous communities to transmit the elders’ language knowledge to today’s youth. This exhibit is created by the Canadian Languages Museum.
https://www.languagemuseum.ca/
April and May
CFUW 80th Anniversary Celebration 1945 - 2025
Pop-Up exhibit, Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW), Verna Conant Gallery
After the end of the Second World War, thoughts and energies turned from supporting the war effort to improving life in Canada. In Oshawa, women university graduates came together with the aim of working towards better conditions for women and their families and of encouraging more women to achieve a university education.
An initial organizational meeting in the spring of 1945 saw twelve women from Oshawa, three from Whitby, and two from Brooklin gather to discuss forming a local branch of the Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW). Community service has always been a goal of CFUW and advocacy focusing on improving the lives of women and girls.
The CFUW activity in Oshawa is centered on raising money to present scholarships to assist women entering university.
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Feature Events
January 3 - Yoga in the Gallery
9am, Guy House, Oshawa Museum - Free, with donations kindly accepted
- Breath deep, and start the new year with sun salutations with Yoga in the Gallery! This is a 1-hour drop in class. Space is limited, so please RSVP to book your spot.
January 19 - Tea & Talk: Chinese-Canadian History: An Oshawa Perspective
1pm, Guy House, Oshawa Museum - $10/person ($5/OHS Member)
- This month's Tea & Talk examines the long, and at times difficult, history of Chinese immigration to Canada from the perspective of local families and their experiences.
simpletix.com/e/tea-talk-chinese-canadian-history-an-oshaw-tickets-197615January 21 – Speaker Series, in partnership with Oshawa Libraries
6pm, McLaughlin Library Auditorium
- Samantha George, Curator, Parkwood NHS: Behind the Scenes as a Film Set at Parkwood
For more info, please visit oshawahistoricalsociety.org
January 26 - Craft Circle
12:30-3:30pm, Guy House, Oshawa Museum - Drop-in, free to attend
- Grab your needles and hooks, and join other crafty people at Guy House for an afternoon of knitting, crochet, and other creative activities in a welcoming environment. All are welcome!
February 16- Family Day at the OM
Drop-in, 12-4pm
- Details to come! Check back soon!
February 18 – Speaker Series, in partnership with Oshawa Libraries
6pm, McLaughlin Library Auditorium
- Jill Passmore, Visitor Experience Coordinator, Oshawa Museum: Windfields Farm
For more info, please visit oshawahistoricalsociety.org
February 23 - Craft Circle
12:30-3:30pm, Guy House, Oshawa Museum - Drop-in, free to attend
- Grab your needles and hooks, and join other crafty people at Guy House for an afternoon of knitting, crochet, and other creative activities in a welcoming environment. All are welcome!
March 1-2 - Bonnet Workshop, in partnership with The Costume People
- Check back for further details & how to register
March 10-14 - March Break at the OM
- Check back for further details
March 18– Speaker Series, in partnership with Oshawa Libraries
6pm, McLaughlin Library Auditorium
- Adam Bunch: Toronto Book of Love
For more info, please visit oshawahistoricalsociety.org
March 23 - Tea & Talk: The writers of Oshawa (in honour of World Storytelling Day)
1pm, Guy House, Oshawa Museum - $10/person ($5/OHS Member)
- World Storytelling Day is March 20. To celebrate, this month's Tea & Talk looks at authors who have connections to Oshawa and share stories they have written.
March 30 - Craft Circle
12:30-3:30pm, Guy House, Oshawa Museum - Drop-in, free to attend
- Grab your needles and hooks, and join other crafty people at Guy House for an afternoon of knitting, crochet, and other creative activities in a welcoming environment. All are welcome!
March 8, 15, 22, 29 - Oshawa Museum at Purple Woods
- Look for Oshawa Museum staff at the annual Purple Woods Maple Syrup Festival, hosted by Central Lake Ontario Conservation Area.
April 12-13 - Parasol & Gloves Workshop, in partnership with The Costume People
April 15– Speaker Series, in partnership with Oshawa Libraries
6pm, McLaughlin Library Auditorium
- Tony Leah: The Truth About the ’37 Oshawa GM Strike
For more info, please visit oshawahistoricalsociety.org
April 27 - Craft Circle
12:30-3:30pm, Guy House, Oshawa Museum - Drop-in, free to attend
- Grab your needles and hooks, and join other crafty people at Guy House for an afternoon of knitting, crochet, and other creative activities in a welcoming environment. All are welcome!
May 3 - Doors Open Oshawa
12-4pm, Henry House & Guy House, Oshawa Museum
- Tour through Henry House, and Guy House is also open, with activities (TBD) and the Oshawa Museum Shop
May 4 - Grandview Neighbourhood Walking Tour: A Jane's Walk
2pm, Meeting location TBD
- Discover the history going back hundreds of years in the Grandview neighbourhood of north Oshawa. This walk is offered for FREE as a Jane's Walk (with donations kindly accepted)
May 11 - Tea & Talk: Topic TBD
1pm, Guy House, Oshawa Museum - $10/person ($5/OHS Member)
- Check back soon to see what this month's topic is.
May 18 - Grandpa Henry's Picnic
12-4pm, Henry House, Oshawa Museum - Admission by donation
- We're celebrating all things Henry with tours, activities, and games!
May 20 – Speaker Series, in partnership with Oshawa Libraries
Annual Meeting, Oshawa Historical Society
6pm, McLaughlin Library Auditorium
- Melissa Cole, Curator, Oshawa Museum: Milk Stories: Dairies of Oshawa
For up-to-date information about the Annual Meeting, please visit the OHS Website: https://oshawahistoricalsociety.org/
May 25 - Craft Circle
12:30-3:30pm, Guy House, Oshawa Museum - Drop-in, free to attend
- Grab your needles and hooks, and join other crafty people at Guy House for an afternoon of knitting, crochet, and other creative activities in a welcoming environment. All are welcome!
June 7 - Union Cemetery Tour
2pm, Meet at King Street Gates, 760 King St. W., Oshawa - $5/person or FREE for OHS Members
- Take a tour through Oshawa’s largest cemetery, Union Cemetery, where Oshawa Museum staff will share stories of notable people from Oshawa who are laid to rest here. Check back for info on the tour's theme!
June 21 - Indigenous Peoples Day
12-4pm, Robinson House, Oshawa Museum - Free, with donations kindly accepted
- In honour of Indigenous Peoples Day, the exhibit, A Carrying Place, is open for free tours through the afternoon.
June 29 - Craft Circle
12:30-3:30pm, Guy House, Oshawa Museum - Drop-in, free to attend
- Grab your needles and hooks, and join other crafty people at Guy House for an afternoon of knitting, crochet, and other creative activities in a welcoming environment. All are welcome!
Friday mornings - Yoga in the Garden
Drop in 9am-10am, Henry House Gardens, Oshawa Museum - Free, with donations kindly accepted
- Start your weekend with a yoga practice at the lake! There is a different instructor every week!
July 1 - Canada Day at the Lake
2-6pm, Henry House, Oshawa Museum
- Check back for more info
July 5 - Port Oshawa Pioneer Cemetery Tour
1pm, Meet at Guy House, Oshawa Museum, $5/person or FREE for OHS Members
- Take a walk to Oshawa's oldest cemetery, and discover more about those who are laid to rest within. Along the way, Oshawa Museum staff will chat about places of interest through Lakeview Park.
July 19 - Music in the Gardens with the Oshawa Civic Band
1:30pm, Henry House Gardens (date and time subject to change)
- Grab a lawn chair and join The Oshawa Civic Band at the Oshawa Museum for an afternoon of brass band music.
July 20 - Tea & Talk: Topic TBD
1pm, Guy House, Oshawa Museum - $10/person ($5/OHS Member)
- Check back soon to see what this month's topic is.
July 27 - Craft Circle
12:30-3:30pm, Guy House, Oshawa Museum - Drop-in, free to attend
- Grab your needles and hooks, and join other crafty people at Guy House for an afternoon of knitting, crochet, and other creative activities in a welcoming environment. All are welcome!
Friday mornings - Yoga in the Garden
Drop in 9am-10am, Henry House Gardens, Oshawa Museum - Free, with donations kindly accepted
- Start your weekend with a yoga practice at the lake! There is a different instructor every week!
August 3 - Drive Shed Tours and a look at the Carriage Collection
12-4pm, Henry House, Oshawa Museum
- To celebrate the McLaughlin Day weekend, take a look at our carriage collection, then take a tour of Henry House.
August 24 - Craft Circle
12:30-3:30pm, Guy House, Oshawa Museum - Drop-in, free to attend
- Grab your needles and hooks, and join other crafty people at Guy House for an afternoon of knitting, crochet, and other creative activities in a welcoming environment. All are welcome!
- NOTE DATE CHANGE - Due to the Labour Day weekend, this event is taking place on the second last Sunday
Friday mornings - Yoga in the Garden
Drop in 9am-10am, Henry House Gardens, Oshawa Museum - Free, with donations kindly accepted
- Start your weekend with a yoga practice at the lake! There is a different instructor every week!
September 6 - Union Cemetery Tour
2pm, Meet at King Street Gates, 760 King St. W., Oshawa - $5/person or FREE for OHS, Parkwood or Legion Members
- Take a tour through Oshawa’s largest cemetery, Union Cemetery, where Oshawa Museum staff will share stories of notable people from Oshawa who are laid to rest here. Theme: WWI & WWII Soldiers, in partnership with Parkwood NHS and the Royal Canadian Legion
September 13-14 - Scenes from the Cemetery
2-4pm, Union Cemetery; tour times: 2pm, 2:20pm, 2:40pm, 3pm
Ticket link: TBD
September 16 – Speaker Series, in partnership with Oshawa Libraries
6pm, McLaughlin Library Auditorium
- Dani Crosby: The Warren Mill Mural
For more info, please visit oshawahistoricalsociety.org
September 21 - Tea & Talk: Topic TBD
1pm, Guy House, Oshawa Museum - $10/person ($5/OHS Member)
- Check back soon to see what this month's topic is.
September 28 - Craft Circle
12:30-3:30pm, Guy House, Oshawa Museum - Drop-in, free to attend
- Grab your needles and hooks, and join other crafty people at Guy House for an afternoon of knitting, crochet, and other creative activities in a welcoming environment. All are welcome!
September 30 - Truth & Reconciliation Day
A Carrying Place open for free admission
Times TBD, Robinson House
Friday mornings - Yoga in the Garden
Drop in 9am-10am, Henry House Gardens, Oshawa Museum - Free, with donations kindly accepted
- Start your weekend with a yoga practice at the lake! There is a different instructor every week!
October 4 - St. Gregory's Cemetery Tour
2pm, 1111 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa - $5/person or FREE for OHS Members
- Take a tour through Oshawa’s Catholic cemetery, exploring its history and stories of those who are laid to rest here. In partnership with Catholic Cemeteries & Funeral Services - Archdiocese of Toronto
October 21– Speaker Series, in partnership with Oshawa Libraries
6pm, McLaughlin Library Auditorium
- Mike McDonnell: European Battlefield Photography
For more info, please visit oshawahistoricalsociety.org
October 25- Halloween at the Harbour
6-8pm, Oshawa Museum - $5/person or FREE for OHS Members
- Join us for a spooky evening at Halloween at the Harbour! Attendees will enjoy various activities around the Oshawa Museum. Check back for more details!
October 26 - Craft Circle
12:30-3:30pm, Guy House, Oshawa Museum - Drop-in, free to attend
- Grab your needles and hooks, and join other crafty people at Guy House for an afternoon of knitting, crochet, and other creative activities in a welcoming environment. All are welcome!
November 18– Speaker Series, in partnership with Oshawa Libraries
6pm, McLaughlin Library Auditorium
- Jeremy Neal Blowers, Executive Director, Canadian Tank Museum: The Canadian Tank Museum
For more info, please visit oshawahistoricalsociety.org
November 22-23 - Hat Workshop, in partnership with The Costume People
- Check back for further details & how to register
November 30 - Craft Circle
12:30-3:30pm, Guy House, Oshawa Museum - Drop-in, free to attend
- Grab your needles and hooks, and join other crafty people at Guy House for an afternoon of knitting, crochet, and other creative activities in a welcoming environment. All are welcome!
December 6 - An Evening of Lamplight
6-8pm; $5/person (free for OHS members)
- Make spirits bright and merry at An Evening of Lamplight, where the Oshawa Museum opens the doors to our historic homes to celebrate the holiday season. Check back for more details
RSVP: link coming soon
December 14 - Tea & Talk: Holiday Traditions
1pm, Guy House, Oshawa Museum - $10/person ($5/OHS Member)
- Celebrate the holiday season and join us for a look at Victorian Christmas traditions, learn more about how Hanukkah is celebrated, and new year celebrations. Topic subject to change
December 21 - Craft Circle
12:30-3:30pm, Guy House, Oshawa Museum - Drop-in, free to attend
- Grab your needles and hooks, and join other crafty people at Guy House for an afternoon of knitting, crochet, and other creative activities in a welcoming environment. All are welcome!
Stay up to date with the latest happenings at the Oshawa Museum
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Plan Your Visit
The Oshawa Museum is open year round for tours - learn more about how you can experience the Home to Oshawa's History!
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Programming at the OM
Featured Education Programs
The Oshawa Museum is proud to offer educators a number of programs and workshops, available for elementary and secondary levels, and we can work with teachers in offering these programs to best meet your needs.
Students gain insight into the various roles that contribute to a museum’s functioning and the special rules we use. The museum tour includes exploring the different homes and engaging in a fun craft activity inspired by the Victorian era.
Teachers can enhance their learning experience by scheduling the Visitor Experience Coordinator to visit their classroom with 3 to 4 Education Kits to create different stations.
You can choose from various Education Kits, including ‘School Days,’ ‘Around the House,’ ‘Bonnets and Breeches,’ and ‘Toys and Games.’ Obtain a complete list by contacting the Visitor Experience Coordinator.
Compare the roles and challenges of being a Victorian Child to those of a modern day child through a number of hands-on activities, which include candle or butter-making, planting, and washing laundry (Spring/Summer). Classes tour through Henry House and learn about the Henry family and how the Henry children would have spent their time over 150 years ago!
Later, the students will use educational items from the museum’s School Days kit to gain a unique perspective on schooling in Oshawa during the 1900s. Finally, teachers can choose between demonstrations on candle-making or butter-making to complete the program.
In this workshop, students learn the different between primary and secondary sources, they learn to think critically about what can be learned from these sources, and they learn about difficulties they can present to researchers. Students are given examples of primary sources from the archival collection of the Oshawa Museum and they go through a worksheet, helping them use the skills they learned about.
Using a collection of letters written by a young man from Oshawa, we will learn about the experiences of those on the front lines during WWI from 4 very different sources. The talk will follow along with William Garrow Jr., the author of the letters, Albert Pankhurst, a young Black soldier, Victoria Donevan, a Nursing Sister and George Finigan, a young man conscripted to fight. After hearing about these experiences and how the fit into the larger picture of the First World War, the students will be tasked with writing their own letter home from the front.
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Groups and the Oshawa Museum
Special group tours (special interest groups, retirement residences, Guides/Scouts, etc.) must be booked in advance so we can best meet the needs of your group and offer you the best experience possible. We cannot accommodate drop-in tours for special groups and/or groups of 10 or more.
To book, contact Jill Passmore: 905-436-7624 x 106 or email programming@oshawamuseum.org.
programming@oshawamuseum.org.
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Teachers
We offer a number of workshops suitable for elementary and secondary classes, and they can be offered virutally or in-person. These include Critical Thinking Using Objects, Working with Primary Sources and a World War I Timeline.
Curriculum based local history programs are also available, and most are adaptable to any grade level, from JK to Grade 12.
Email to learn more about how you can incorporate local history into your classroom.
Leaders
The Oshawa Museum offers badge based experiences for all levels of Guiding and Scouting. We do the work for you, the kids do the learning for themselves.
We have different program options available - to learn more, view our Guiding and Scouting Brochure:
Lectures
The Oshawa Museum has developed over fifty lectures that pertain to various aspects of Oshawa's immense cultural history. Lectures are $50 each, plus mileage if your facility is located outside of Oshawa. Lectures are approximately one hour long and are often accompanied by associated artefacts. An experienced staff member of the Oshawa Museum delivers each lecture.