Museum’s Popular Speaker Series Returns on September 17

The popular St. Marys Museum speaker series returns for its fourteenth season this fall with a variety of engaging evening presentations. 

Postcards | September 17 

On Thursday, September 17, the Museum will hold a presentation about postcards. Larry Pfaff, author and local historian, will share information about the importance of the postcard collections preserved in the Museum’s archives and what these collections can teach us about local built heritage. Abigail Parsons, Assistant Curator, will provide important context on the history of postcards in Canada.  

British Home Children | October 17 

For a special Saturday presentation, Lori Oschefski, founder and President of Home Children Canada, will share the stories of British Home Children on October 17. The insightful presentation will explore the challenges these child migrants faced, the hardships of indentured service, and the resilience that led to their success. Through compelling stories and historical insights, this presentation sheds light on an overlooked chapter of Canadian history and honours the legacy of more than 100,000 British Home Children who helped shape the nation. 

Vanishing Villages | November 19 

On Thursday, November 19, Janis Fread and special guests will share personal tales of nearby villages that are now just road signs. Sometimes referred to as paper towns, this presentation on ‘vanishing villages’ explores a selection of settlements in this area that have either disappeared completely or remain as a suggestion of what once was. Presenters will also share the many ways local community members are working to preserve the history of these villages.  

Thursday evening presentations will take place at 7:00 p.m. at the St. Marys Museum. The Saturday, October 17 presentation will take place at 2:00 p.m. at the St. Marys Friendship Centre. The speaker series is a fundraiser for the Museum. The cost per person is $12 or $10 for Museum members. Space is limited, and therefore pre-registration is required via ActiveNet. For more information or to register, call 519-284-3556 or email museum@town.stmarys.on.ca.  

For media inquiries:  
Kaleigh Siegner-Robertson | Corporate Communications Coordinator  
519-284-2340, ext. 432 | krobertson@town.stmarys.on.ca