PETERBOROUGH, ON – The Canadian Canoe Museum (CCM) announced today that Johnson Park, the City-owned property at 2077 Ashburnham Drive in Peterborough, ON, has been deemed viable for the building of its new canoe museum.This confirmation clears the way for moving to the next phase of feasibility activities and determining next steps with the City of Peterborough. Johnson Park is situated on Little Lake, north of Beavermead Park and south of the Parks Canada-Trent Severn Waterway head offices.
“We are thrilled that recently concluded due diligence explorations, environmental assessments, testing and feasibility studies have substantiated the Johnson Park location as a viable site for the building of the new world-class canoe museum,” confirmed Carolyn Hyslop, executive director, The Canadian Canoe Museum. “The museum will now enter the next phase of feasibility and validation activities. This process will help us fine tune budget and overall costs, design and the project schedule with a view to being shovel-ready by the end of 2021,” said Hyslop.
Leading with environmental stewardship in mind, the new museum will be built on a flat portion of the property, away from the floodplain, on the open land along Ashburnham Drive. This will preserve the existing trail, shoreline and natural waterfront.
To assist CCM with the realization of a new creative vision suitable to a fresh waterfront site, the new museum will be designed by local, award-winning Lett Architects Inc. (Peterborough, ON). With experience in completing cultural projects for nationally recognized institutions, Lett will bring a strong collaborative and engaging approach to the project.
“Lett Architects are thrilled to be working with the Canadian Canoe Museum on a new home for their comprehensive collection and programming,” said Bill Lett, managing principal, Lett Architects Inc. “As a local studio, we are excited for the opportunity to design this new facility and for the first-hand chance to experience its positive impact on our own community.”
Hyslop went on to note that the original goals and vision continue to guide the new museum build project. In particular, the desire to establish a home for 100 per cent of the museum’s canoe collection that meets Class A conservation standards, directly on the water, which allows for increased on-water and in-person programming while being a key cultural tourism driver in what will become a vibrant community hub on the waterfront.
“In a year that has brought every manner of exceptional challenges to us all, we are delighted to close out 2020 with positive and hopeful news. Having found a viable site for this extraordinary project that will see the new museum situated on the shores of Peterborough’s Little Lake – what a terrific kick off to 2021!” concluded Hyslop.
About The Canadian Canoe Museum (canoemuseum.ca)
With a world-class collection as a catalyst, The Canadian Canoe Museum inspires connection, curiosity and new understanding. In partnership with individuals, groups and communities – locally, provincially and nationally – we work to experience and explore all that our collection can inspire. This sees students opening their minds in our galleries; community members connecting through artisanry; people of all ages getting on the water and learning to paddle; and exhibitions and events that spark conversation and collaboration.
