Grey Roots Museum and Archives enjoyed a banner year in 2023.
At its meeting on May 9, Grey County council received the annual update from Grey Roots Manager Jill Paterson, who said 2023 was a big year for the popular museum and archives.
“2023 was a standout year for Grey Roots,” said Paterson. “We rebounded back to our pre-pandemic numbers with over 24,000 through the doors, an increase of 44 per cent over 2022.”
Revenues for Grey Roots jumped to a total of $174,567 for 2023 – a significant increase over 2022, which saw Grey Roots bring in $125,807.
Paterson said major milestones at Grey Roots in 2023 included:
- The opening of the new Arnott General Store in the Moreston Heritage Village.
- The launch of the Abundance section of the ongoing resign of the Grey County gallery.
- Grey Roots hosted a total of 137 programs, events and exhibits during the year.
Paterson said the Grey County Archives Reading Room saw a significant increase in research visits surpassing 2022 levels in 11 out of 12 months.
In 2024, Grey Roots will celebrate its 20th anniversary at its current location on Grey Road 18 in Georgian Bluffs.
“We’re planning a suite of events and experiences to celebrate this exciting milestone,” Paterson said.
A 20th anniversary kick off will be held on June 28 with a gala evening event to follow in the fall.
Paterson said they are looking forward to a big year.
“As we head into our 20th year, we are grateful for the dedication of Grey Roots’ fabulous volunteers and respectful of all the work from staff and council that has gone into making such a world class facility,” she said. “We are excited to share our 2024 events, exhibits, programs and services with Grey County visitors and residents.”
County council was pleased with the report and the ongoing success of Grey Roots.
“It’s always exciting to hear what’s going on at Grey Roots,” said Warden Brian Milne.
Full information about activities and events at Grey Roots can be found on the website here.
