Park House opens for 2026 season

James Erb gave people a look at the fur trade.

One of Amherstburg’s museums is officially open for the 2026 season.

The Park House Museum’s 2026 season started last Wednesday, with candle making, a look at the fur trade and the opportunity to go downstairs and view the tinsmiths in action. Curator Kat Bezaire said current hours are Wednesday to Sunday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Spring events have been announced with Bezaire adding summer events are being finalized.

“We’re really excited to be open for the season,” she said.

Bezaire added she represented the Park House Museum at the recent All About Maple event held at the Canadian Transportation Museum and Heritage Village and interacted with visitors there. That helped draw additional interest.

curator Kat Bezaire makes candles during the Park House’s opening day

“People care calling us up wanting to come here,” said Bezaire.

Among the upcoming events are “Tales of the Burg” and that is occurring March 28, a community-led storytelling event about the town and its history.

A Springtime Soap Making Course is planned for April 11, with pre-registration required. The cost for that class is $40 per person with a $10 cash deposit for the mold, the latter being refundable upon return.

The Jane’s Walk is scheduled for April 25, a Flower James making course is planned for May 2, a Mother’s Day mini-baking course is scheduled for May 10 and a discussion on the origins of Victoria Day is planned for May 16.

One of the summer events that is coming together is a celebration of the 175^th anniversary of the arrival of pensioners in Amherstburg, with the pensioner’s cottage at the rear of the museum being just one of the cottages that were in Amherstburg during that time period.

This year’s is also Amherstburg’s 230^th anniversary.

“We’re going to be doing programming in relation to that,” said Bezaire.

Bezaire said their Indigenous art exhibit will be installed soon. 

“It’s going to be put up in the next few weeks,” she said. “That exhibit is going to be called ‘Resiliency.’”

New volunteers are always welcome, with a volunteer information session possibly on the horizon, but plans for that have not been finalized.

The Park House Museum is at 214 Dalhousie St. For information, visit www.parkhousemuseum.com or call 519-736-2511.

Park House opens for 2026 season

By Ron Giofu