LUCAN AND AREA HERITAGE SOCIETY

THE LUCAN AND AREA HERITAGE SOCIETY (AKA LUCAN AREA HERITAGE AND DONNELLY MUSEUM) OPERATES A COMMUNITY MUSEUM IN LUCAN ON DEDICATED TO PRESERVING AND PRESENTING THE HISTORY OF LUCAN AND THE SURROUNDING AREA. WE HAVE A MUSEUM BUILDING BUILT-TO-PURPOSE AS WELL AS A HISTORIC BARN AND LOG CABIN MOVED ONTO OUR PROPERTY AS INTERPRETATIVE TOOLS. WE COVER A VARIETY OF ELEMENTS OF LOCAL HISTORY INCLUDING MAJOR EVENTS THE STORY OF THE BLACK DONNELLYS ONE OF CANADA'S EARLIEST BLACK SETTLEMENTS IN WILBERFORCE AS WELL AS A MYRIAD OF SOCIAL AND SPORTS HISTORY SUBJECTS. WE HAVE A RESEARCH LIBRARY WITH DOZENS OF BINDERS FULL OF LOCAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. THAT IS AVAILABLE TO VISITORS FOR RESEARCH. WE PROVIDE SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS AT AND OUTSIDE OF THE MUSEUM. THIS SEASON WE HELD TWO SEPARATE BOOK SIGNINGS INCLUDING A POETRY READING. WE HAVE FUNDRAISING PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL GROUPS SUCH AS THE IRISH BENEVOLENT SOCIETY THE TOWNSHIP OF LUCAN BIDDULPH THE LUCAN LIONS AND LUCAN OPTIMIST CLUB. WE RECOGNIZE CANADA DAY AND REMEMBERANCE DAY WITH SPECIAL EXHIBITS AS WELL AS ORGANIZE THE CANADA DAY BBQ WHERE THE TOWNSHIP FUNDS A FREE LUNCH FOR THE COMMUNITY AND HERITAGE PROVIDES THE LABOUR. WE ARE A DESTINATION FOR SCHOOL TOURS WITHIN THE REGION AS WELL AS SOCIAL GROUPS HISTORICAL SOCIETIES AND RETIREMENT FACILITIES. WE OFFER SUMMER EMPLOYMENT FOR LOCAL YOUTH THROUGH THE GENEROSITY OF THE CANADA SUMMER JOBS AND YOUNG CANADA WORKS PROGRAMS.

IN 2024 WE WERE ABLE TO PRODUCE OUR FIRST ESCAPE ROOM DESIGNED ENTIRELY IN-HOUSE. AN EFFECTIVE FUNDRAISING TOOL BY DESIGNING ONE WITH THE KNOWLEDGE GAINED FROM NEARLY A DECADE OF EXPERIENCE MOUNTING THEM LET THE ENDEAVOUR BE MORE PROFITABLE FOR THE MUSEUM. WE ALSO WORKED HARD TO PUT TOGETHER A BIG COMMUNITY FUNDRAISING EVENT WITH OUR 50S ROCK & ROLL EXTRAVAGANZA. IT WAS A NIGHT OF FOOD DRINKS LIVE MUSIC AND TONS OF 1950S FUN! THE EVENT WAS VERY WELL RECEIVED BY THE COMMUNITY AND THOSE WHO ATTENDED. WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH THE LUCAN PUBLIC LIBRARY TO PRODUCE HISTORIC PLAQUES ALONG THE CAMPAGNALE TRAIL IN LUCAN HELPING MAKE OUR HISTORY ACCESSIBLE TO INDIVIDUALS WALKING THE TRAILS. WE HELD TWO BOOK SIGNINGS ONE FOR A BOOK OF DONNELLY INSPIRED POETREY BY FORMER WINDSOR ON POET LAUREATE MARY ANN MULHERN AND ONE FOR LOCAL HISTORIAN GLENN STOTT'S NEW BOOK ABOUT THE BLACK DONNELLYS. THE LATTER TOOK PLACE DURING OUR OCTOBER EVENT WEEKEND WHICH INCLUDED BUS TOURS AND A PARANORMAL INVESTIGATION OF THE MUSEUM.