History in the Making

Wellington Heritage Museum launches new fundraising campaign

There was excitement resonating within the Museum garden on Main Street this past Saturday evening, as the Friends of the Wellington Heritage Museum launched its capital campaign in support of interior renovations of the building. The evening, which was a sell-out, was complete with cocktails and a silent auction. The Friends’ goal is to raise $100,000 over the next two to three years.

The event opened with Chair of the Wellington Heritage Museum, Elspeth Domville, welcoming guests to the special party and thanking the Friends and saluting the three co-chairs of the event, Carmen Ellis-Toddington, Debbie Eyton and Isabelle Fish, who she says have worked tirelessly for months to ensure the evening was a success.

Domville pointed to the beautiful garden in the back yard of the museum. “After we raised the funds to transform what was an empty lawn into this beautiful heritage garden, the Friends have now turned their attention to the interior and have two new goals,” said Domville. The first is to design a space to serve two different functions. While it will remain primarily home to museum exhibitions, the space will be planned in such a way that it can quickly pivot into a more open environment for community-based events and functions such as concerts, film screenings, art show, lectures, historybased programs and social gatherings.

Domville then gave a bit of history on the museum. “When the Quakers bequeathed this site to the village in the late 1960s, it was on the condition that it serve the community, primarily as a museum,” she said. “And so our second goal is to ensure their wish continues to be respected and that sufficient funds are in place to help mount high quality, County-based historical programs well into the future.”

The big announcement of the evening was that BMO has stepped up as the marquee sponsor with a $50,000 contribution. “BMO’s commitment to improving the quality of life in the communities where it does business has long been evident to the residents of the County. It continues with this announcement,” said Domville.

While musician Robert Keyes set the mood, guests could browse the silent auction tables, which featured one-of-a-kind experiences and items from some of the best chefs and craftspeople in the County. There were packages such as a thrilling morning on the track at Shannonville Motorsport Park and a luxury picnic among the Alpacas at SHED courtesy of Lilac and vine. Between ticket sales and the silent auction, an additional $30,000 was raised.

Funds raised at the event will go towards the design and building of several museum standard mobile display units which will showcase artifacts and which can quickly be rolled to the side when the space is needed for an event.

To make a donation, contact friendsofwhm@gmail.com Donations over $20 are eligible for a tax receipt.

(L-R): Mayor Steve Ferguson, Friends of the Wellington Heritage Museum Co-Chair Debbie Eyton, Friends of the Wellington Heritage Museum Chair Elspeth Domville, Councillor Mike Harper, and Friends of the Wellington Heritage Museum Co-Chairs Isabelle Fish and Carmen Ellis-Toddington pose in the garden at the Wellington Heritage Museum.