There's a little bit of haunted and a whole lot of history to enjoy at the Collingwood Museum this month.
The October offerings include a haunted walk, ghostly PA day camp, a traveling exhibit from the Juno Beach Centre and author talk celebrating 50 years of the Chi-Cheemaun ferry, which was built in Collingwood.
Collingwood's Dean Hollin is back to lead a haunted walk through the heritage district, though tickets are nearly sold out already.
Those who follow Hollin on his haunted walk will hear about ghostly experiences including the smell of cigar smoke and footsteps in a building that once housed the Enterprise Bulletin newspaper, apparitions in the hallways of a former doctor’s house, the tragic story of one of Ontario’s oldest unsolved murders, and other strange sightings.
Tickets are sold out for the Oct. 30 walk, but there may be some available for the Oct. 26 walk at 7 p.m. It's a two-kilometre walking loop beginning and ending at the museum that will take about 1.5 hours. Tickets are $15 plus HST, and are available online or by calling the museum.
Beginning tomorrow, guests to the museum can view a travelling exhibit called From Vimy to Juno, which is on loan from the Juno Beach Centre.
"The bilingual exhibit honours Canada's role in the First and Second World Wars while exploring the nation-defining moments at the Battle of Vimy Ridge in 1917 and the D-Day landings on Juno Beach in 1944," states a news release from the Collingwood Museum.
To add more local stories to the exhibit, the Collingwood Legion has lent First and Second World War uniforms worn by local men and women to be displayed in the community collectors exhibit space.
The exhibits will be displayed at the museum until after the Nov. 11 Remembrance Day ceremony.
It's a big year for the Chi-Cheemaun, a ship built in Collingwood, as the ferry marks its 50th anniversary of service between Tobermory and Manitoulin Island.
Richard J. Thomas will be speaking about his newly published book: The Jewel of Georgian Bay: Celebrating 50 Years of the Chi-Cheemaun on Tues. Oct. 22 at 7 p.m. at the Side Launch Brewery. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and admission is by suggested donation of $10. The books will be available for purchase at the event for $29.95 plus GST. The books are also available at the museum's gift shop.
Finally, the museum will be hosting a Ghost Ships-themed PA Day program on Friday, Oct. 25 from 9 a.m. to noon. The program dives into local maritime legends, includes crafting a ghostly ship, and uncovering spooky stories about vessels that once sailed Georgian Bay. Preregistration is required. $15 per child, or $12 for museum members.
For full details about the museum’s October offerings, visit www.collingwood.ca/museum or contact Collingwood Museum staff at 705-445-4811 Ext. 7211.
