Preserving Niagara-on-the-Lake’s heritage since 1895

2015 ANNUAL REPORT

Board of Directors January 1 - October 15, 2015 Dennis Kam, President Elizabeth Surtees, Vice-President Society Faith Bell, Vice-President Museum John Sayers, Treasurer Julian Rance, Secretary Martin Richardson, Director Steve Hinchliffe, Director Lorraine Joyner, Director Denise Ascenzo, Director Doug Phibbs, Director Richard Andrews, Director Jamie King, Town Representative Board of Directors October 15 - December 31, 2015 Faith Bell, President Dennis Kam, Past President Elizabeth Surtees, Vice-President Society Julian Rance, Vice-President Museum John Sayers, Treasurer David Aurandt, Secretary Martin Richardson, Director Lorraine Joyner, Director Denise Ascenzo, Director Doug Phibbs, Director David Hemmings, Director Suzanne Hebert, Director Paolo Miele, Town Representative Staff Sarah Kaufman, Managing Director Amy Klassen, Society Administrator Tami Daoust, Acting Curator Mary Alice Hanson, Educational Programmer Honourary Life Members Joy Ormsby Richard Taylor Dr. Richard Merritt Christopher Allen Robert Knight

The Society & Museum wishes to thank the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake and the Province of Ontario for their ongoing support.

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ACTING MANAGING DIRECTOR’S REPORT 2015 was another very busy year for the staff, Board and Members of the Niagara Historical Society. We started out the year saying “see you soon” to our leader Sarah Kaufman as she took maternity leave. Sarah welcomed a beautiful girl, Isabel in February! While I took on the Managing Director role, Tami Daoust was hired as our Acting Curator. Tami had done many contracts at different museums throughout the region and took on the responsibility of mounting our Life Under Canvas exhibit with guest curator Dr. Richard Merritt. She also did a lot of collections work including overseeing our ongoing collection review with volunteers and a summer intern. We thank Tami for her hard work and wish her luck in her new position at the Welland Museum! We had an ambitious list of programs and events this year and by the attendance and popularity of many of our programs, we can really see that the Museum is gaining momentum in the community and becoming a real hub of cultural activity. In particular, the Mustache Bash, part of a “First Fridays” series with the Museums of Niagara Association, was aimed at drawing in a younger crowd who might not normally check out a museum event. We were delighted to have over 50 new faces at the Museum for First Fridays. Our group of partner museums have decided to continue the series in 2016 in order to engage a new generation of museum-goers. One of our biggest initiatives over the past year was the development of a series of videos to complement our permanent exhibition. Generously funded by David Murray and Elizabeth Surtees, nine short videos

were created which can be viewed by visitors on handheld tablets. Using QR codes, visitors can experience Niagara’s history through imagery and narration, creating a new, digital way to learn about our unique history. In April, 2015, Barry Lord of Lord Cultural Resources presented the membership with our completed feasibility study and recommendations for how we can use our existing facility and expand it to fit our ever-growing collection and programming. The Board has agreed, in principle, to the recommendations in our feasibility study. Over the next year, your Board will be looking at our strategic plan and updating it for the next five years. Much of the work to be done in 2016 will centre around preparing for a capital campaign and, ultimately, the expansion of the Museum. We look forward to welcoming Sarah back and continuing our work in the community. Thank you for helping us reach our annual fundraising goals and for contributing to the preservation of Niagara-on-the-Lake’s culture and history.

- Amy Klassen Pictured left are David Murray & Elizabeth Surtees with our new tablets.

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EXHIBITIONS November 1, 2014 – March 31, 2015 Enjoy Your Stay: Historic Hotels and Inns of Niagara-on-the-Lake April 15, 2015 – April 15, 2016 Life Under Canvas – Niagara Camp 1915-1918 June – September, 2015 Enslaved Africans in Upper Canada (Travelling Exhibit from the Ontario Archives) A new video component to our permanent exhibition features 9 videos accessible through handheld tablets. Generously funded by David Murray & Elizabeth Surtees.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH The Niagara Historical Society & Museum continued to increase its outreach to the community and beyond. Staff represented the Museum at Simcoe Park on Canada Day, at the St. Davids Heritage Festival, and on Queen Street during the Peach Festival. We also continued our partnership with the Niagara-on-the-Lake B&B Association, and hosted the Town’s annual Heritage awards at the Museum. Several outreach presentations were done including the NOTL Newcomers, the NOTL B&B Association, FAUSA, and the Queenston Resident’s Association, among others.

PROGRAMS & EVENTS Members Trivia Night Great War Lecture series - 8 lectures generously sponsored by Geoffrey & Lorraine Joyner

and Niagara’s Finest Inns Exhibition launch for members and VIP’s Walking tours of the town from June - September (34 regular plus private bookings) Outdoor Movie night in the courtyard - War Horse Car Rally through Niagara-on-the-Lake and Niagara Falls Kid Curators Summer Camp sponsored by the Niagara-on-the-Lake B&B Association and

the Shaw Festival The Past is Present Heritage Festival Theatrical Cemetery Tours at St. Mark’s Church (12 shows) Hosted Bravo Niagara’s North Star Festival Symposium Bus trip to Fort York Painting Churches performance Pack Up Your Troubles Remembrance Day performance and sing-a-long First Friday Series with the Museums of Niagara Association - The Mustache Bash Paranormal Investigation and lecture Hosted the Famous & Infamous biography discussion group (9 sessions) Participation in the annual Rotary Holiday House Tour and the Santa Claus Parade The Phoenix Dinner

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MEMBERSHIP

Total Membership: 403

New Members: 30 COLLECTIONS & RESEARCH

Research Enquiries: 205

New Acquisitions: 167

Donors to the Collection: 28 Items from the Collection online: 3,329

NHSM BY THE NUMBERS VISITOR STATISTICS

Overall Attendance: 6,640

Website Visits: 15,465

Tours Conducted: 55

Program Participants: 2,995

Richard Merritt signing copies of Training for Armageddon. Dr. Merritt donated 100% of the sales of his publication to the Society.

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COLLECTION & RESEARCH 269 new pieces came into our collection in 2015! Several pieces were related to First World War history and Niagara Camp. This is likely because of the temporary exhibition Life Under Canvas. Here are some of the highlights from 2015:

Polish Falcons Alliance of America belt buckle and Polish Army Encampment Commemoration Pins Roy Greaves collection of First World War photographs, medals and archives Photographs of the Canadian Army Veterinary Corps at Niagara Camp during the First World War Model ships of the SS Cayuga and SS Chippewa Row boat used by patrons of the Queens Royal Hotel Freight Loading Wheel from McClelland's Store c. 1835 Diaries and account book of F.T. Lailey 1926-1958 Boy Scout Jamboree 1955 Photographs We also received the St. Mark’s Archives committee’s research collection in 2015. This will have to be processed

by staff and volunteers before it is made accessible to the public. Museum staff assisted with over 205 research requests from researchers both on and off site. We are continuously uploading our collection online. It is a long process and we’re focusing on uploading the highlights of our collection first. We currently have 3,329 items listed online and 2,340 items ready to go once the descriptions have been approved. Online accessibility has created a lot of interest in our museum and the collection! Thank you to the anonymous donor who supported this project by helping us hire staff to work on the database collection. Keep checking our “Collections and Research” section on www.niagarahistorical.museum, as we are always adding new content.

PUBLICATIONS In 2015 we released two new publications. Richard Merritt’s TRAINING FOR ARMAGEDDON: Niagara Camp in the Great War, 1914-1919 was generously funded by Dr. Merritt and has been a great fundraiser for the Society since we receive the full amount from each sale. The book is the only complete work on Niagara Camp during the First World War, which includes the story of the Polish training camp. We also published a companion to the Bicentennial mural project at the Community Centre. Niagara-on-the-Lake: A History in Images was released in December, 2015 and includes over 80 colour images from the Museum’s collection, from other institutions and from private collections. Thank you to the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake for allowing us to use the mural content for this book.

Phoenix Circle In 2015, the Phoenix Circle contributed $10,000 towards our operating costs. As a thank you for their generous donations, they enjoyed the following special receptions and presentations:

A special show & tell with lunch by John & Judith Sayers about their personal ephemera collection

A private tour of the historic Field House (private home)

A guided tour of Morningstar Mill at Decew

2015 Phoenix Circle members: Jean & Les Taylor, Geoffrey & Lorraine Joyner, Kelly & Janet James, Charles Jackson & Sandra Lawrence, David Murray & Elizabeth Surtees, Dennis Kam & Kathy Heit, Molly Enns, David & Faith Bell, Dick & Diane Armstrong, Bill Humphries, and John & Judith Sayers. The Phoenix Circle is the largest annual contributor to our fundraising efforts and is crucial to the sustainability of the Society. If you are interested in making an annual individual commitment of $500 to preserve our heritage, please contact the staff at the Museum. Raffle This year’s wine raffle was our best one yet! We sold all 1000 tickets and collected over $1,500 to help with our annual operating expenses. Without the support of our members and volunteers, the initiative would not be possible. The Phoenix Dinner Our major fundraiser for 2015 was the Phoenix Dinner, raising $5,000 towards the ongoing care of our buildings and collection. The event was not possible without our event sponsors OLiV, Caroline Cellars and Jackson-Triggs, our silent auction donors and our guests. A special thanks goes to Music Niagara for providing the amazing Emma Meinrenken and Ben Smith, to our MCs Barbara Worthy and David Murray who set the First World War theme, and to our volunteers who helped plan the evening and decorate. Memorial Hall. Pictured top to bottom: The Phoenix Circle (Molly Enns, Dennis Kam, Kathy Heit, Tami Daoust, Les Taylor, David Bell, Faith Bell, Geoffrey Joyner and Lorraine Joyner) at the Morningstar Mill; volunteers Deborah Paine and Frances Cowan helping sell treasurers at our heritage festival; guests seated in Memorial Hall for the Phoenix Dinner.

FUNDRAISING Page 7

2015 DONORS Page 8

Phoenix Circle

General Donations

Memoriam

Armstrong, J. Richard & Diane Bell, David & Faith Enns, Amalie Humphries, Bill Jackson, Chuck & Sandra Lawrence James, Kelly & Janet Joyner, Geoffrey & Lorraine Kam, Dennis & Kathy Heit Murray, David & Elizabeth Surtees Paine, Deborah & Peter Corbiere Sayers, John & Judith Taylor, Les & Jean

Adamson, Sarah Ann Allevato, Joseph & Marilyn Ann-Louise Branscombe Fund at

the Niagara Community Foundation

Anonymous Armstrong, J. Richard & Diane Aurandt, David & Ann Baker, Richard & Marla Percy Barberian, Helen Baxter, Jean Rae Bell, David & Faith Brown, Helen Catling, Donna Chapman, Lois Cherwonogrodzky, Peter Cowan, Frances Darker, Robert & Margaret

Deyholos, Richard Dietsch, Gail Downes, Vicky Draper, Joan Duchnay, Michael Estate of Elizabeth Anne Cook FAUSA Ferarra, Mario & Annabel Kennedy Fleming, K. Valerie Forsyth, William & Joanne Garrett, Beverley Gillespie, George & Marie Grangetown Investments Ltd. Harding, Ed Hemmings, David & Diane Henderson, Judy Hill, Sheila Jackson, Chuck & Sandra Lawrence Johnson, Fred & Sonia Joyner, Geoffrey & Lorraine Kam, Dennis & Kathy Heit Landray, Elaine & Philip Mayo, Elaine Meloen, Rick Merritt, Richard Monette, Richard Moogk, Peter Morrison, Lenore Mundy, Pam Murphy, Larry & Jonquil Eyre Murray, David & Elizabeth Surtees Murray, Lois Nixon, Peter & Laurie Novak, Daryl Nowina, Richard & Pamela Oliver-Malone, Elizabeth Paine, Deborah & Peter Corbiere Paisley, Hugh & Joan Peter, Joan Phibbs, Doug & Chris Porter, Jodey & Tom Gould Press, Joel Pudvan, Lee & Christine Rance, Julian & Alice Ratkovsky, Helen

Merritt, Richard in memory of Robert Waugh

Sponsors New Life Members Burtniak, John Davey, A.B.C. Gitelman, Bruce Jago, Faith

Joyner, Geoffrey & Lorraine Niagara’s Finest Hotels NOTL B&B Association OLiV Province of Ontario Shaw Festival

Reynolds, Jim & Pat Hartman Rumble, Neil Sayers, John & Judith Sears, Robert Simpson, Jacqueline M. Smith, David & Gene Anne St. Mark’s Ladies Tallman, Craig & Sue Tenbrook, Suzanne Wilt Torrance, Margaret Verweij, Jos & Kate Wallace, Ross Whitelaw, Tom

Ascenzo, Denise Asquith, Lillian Barberian’s Steak House Bell, David & Faith Burgers, Helen Caroline Cellars Condina, Cosmo Evans, Gillian Finora, Monique & Brian Friends of Laura Secord Gill, Peter Great Estates Niagara, Constellation

Brands Inc. Jackson, Chuck & Sandra Lawrence Johnson, Fred & Sonia Joyner, Geoffrey & Lorraine

In Kind

Grants and Foundations that supported projects in 2015: GOVERNMENT OF CANADA - Through the New Horizons for Seniors Fund (received in 2014), we mounted the exhibition “Life Under Canvas”. PROVINCE OF ONTARIO - Through the Ontario Seniors Community Grant, $4,880 funded the Theatrical Cemetery Tours. YOUNG CANADA WORKS - Over $14,000 helped us hire three summer students to work on programs, exhibitions and digitization - John Nail, Shelby Payton and John Alexander Raimondo. SHAW FESTIVAL TOWN PREVIEW GRANT - $750 assisted in funding our summer children’s program . NIAGARA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION - We received $500 from the Ann-Louise Branscombe Fund at Niagara Community Foundation, and $2000 to be spend in 2016 on a March Break children’s program and school outreach. NIAGARA FALLS BRIDGE COMMISSION - $600 towards marketing the book Training for Armageddon to the U.S. OPERATIONAL GRANTS: The Niagara Historical Society & Museum is also generously supported by the TOWN OF NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE and the PROVINCE OF ONTARIO

GRANTS & FOUNDATIONS

Kam, Dennis & Kathy Heit Kaufman, Sarah Klassen, Amy Knight, Bob & Sabina Mactaggart, Terry Masson, Betsy McFarland House Megalomaniac Winery Middleton, Margaret Murray, David & Elizabeth Surtees Murray, Lois Niagara Pumphouse Visual Arts

Centre Nogas, Fred & Val Paine, Deborah & Peter Corbiere Pietrobon, Loretta Rance, Julian & Alice Redekop, Debbie Rumble, Neil Sayers, John & Judith Shaw Festival Steele, Steve & Dorothy Stratus Vineyards Tallman, Craig & Sue Taylor, Marnie Tierney, Sheila Vintage Hotels Whidden, Eric

Allen, Chris Allen, James Baraniecki, Roman Bradley, Hope Bromley, Martin Clement Architect LLC Clement, Marjorie Cowie, Bill Dobrzensky, Margaret Greaves, David Grinberg, Eddie Howse, Al Hunter, Doug Kawka, Andrew Knight, Bob Lailey, David Merritt, Richard Nogas, Fred & Val Pifher, Ken & Eleanor Quinn, Blanche Redekop, Debbie Sayers, John & Judith Shaw, Catherine Elliot Skinner, Cynthia Smith, Jim Taylor, Marnie Tranter, Lorna Wheeler, Brian

Collection

War Horse projected on Memorial Hall

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VOLUNTEERS The Society has over 100 dedicated volunteers who are vital to our success. In April, a luncheon was held to show appreciation for our wonderful volunteers. Nominations were made to the Ontario Voluntary Service Awards and to the Town of NOTL Volunteer Awards to recognize individual efforts. Volunteers are involved in almost all areas of our operation including:

Collections Management - assessing incoming donations, seeking out potential acquisitions Curatorial - cataloging, completing inventories, processing data entry, scanning the collection Research - organizing research and library materials, conducting research on the collection Exhibitions - installing displays Programs - walking tour guides, cemetery tour actors, assisting with fundraisers and special events Facility - gardening, building maintenance Administration - distributing marketing materials, mailing newsletters

Without this support from these individuals, the Society would not be able to preserve the rich heritage of Niagara-on-the-Lake and offer engaging exhibitions and programs for the community and its visitors.

2015 ONTARIO VOLUNTARY SERVICE AWARD WINNERS: These individuals all received their 5 year pin: Denise Ascenzo Tony Chisholm Lorraine Joyner Rick Meloen Loretta Pietrobon Judy Thornton

Cemetery Volunteers: Kate Cain, Rick Meloen, Denise Ascenzo, Tony Chisholm, Barbara Worthy, Steve Steele, Pam Mundy, Roy Roden and Judy Thornton.

Victor Packard at the Past is Present Heritage Festival

Niagara College volunteers at the Mustache Bash

For a full copy of the audited financial statements by Bridgman & Durksen, Chartered Accountants, please contact the Museum.

STATEMENT OF REVENUES & EXPENDITURES Society & Museum Combined | Year ended December 31, 2015

REVENUE 2015 2014

Municipal Grant 95,150 93,740

Donations 86,278 35,138

Federal and Provincial Grants 69,945 87,114

Gift Shop Sales 31,158 23,098

Fundraising 23,981 32,701

Programs and Events 13,490 13,051

Admissions and Tours 10,568 14,285

HST/GST Refunds 10,015 12,528

Memberships 9,775 9,560

Miscellaneous 5,206 4,238

Interest Revenue 982 1,214

356,548 326,667

EXPENSES

Staff Salaries and Benefits (2 full time, 4 contract) 155,376 149,560

Exhibition 36,079 24,384

Maintenance and Utilities 28,046 22,870

Curatorial 25,350 8,034

Administration 24,850 27,363

Programs and Events 24,073 27,990

Publishing and Education 17,556 16,621

HST/GST 15,184 18,904

Gift Shop Merchandise 12,014 14,501

Advertising and Website 5,879 5,618

Capital Assets Purchased with Revenues 2,500 17,905

Feasibility Study and Other 2,062 25,068

348,969 358,818

EXCESS (DEFICIENCY) OF REVENUE OVER EXPENSES 7,579 (32,151)

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

Net Assets - Beginning of the Year 74,108 106,259

Excess (deficiency) of Revenue over Expenses 7,579 (32,151)

Net Assets - End of Year 81,687 74,108

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