Orillia Museum of Art and History

Quarantours
2023-12-23 13:00 - 14:00, 2023-12-16 13:00 - 14:00, 2023-12-09 13:00 - 14:00, 2023-12-02 13:00 - 14:00, 2023-11-25 13:00 - 14:00, 2023-11-18 13:00 - 14:00, 2023-11-11 13:00 - 14:00, 2023-11-04 13:00 - 14:00 UTC and 6 more dates | OMAH Online
OMAH OnlineVirtual Programming
History Speaker Series

Classical Pilates at OMAH

The Orillia Museum of Art 8 History Presents: Quarantours
Take a guided Zoom tour through photographs of some of the OMAH collection’s greatest hidden treasures. Your guide will discuss an array of artifacts from both the art and the history collection. Through Zoom’s chat feature, participants can ask questions of their guide white exploring the collection via slideshow.
Quarantours are available for private group bookings in addition to the public tour which runs every Saturday at 1:00PM.
Registration is required in advance for this program. Private Group Tours: $10 per person ($7 for members) (must have at least 10 people to book).
COSTS:
Public Tours: $7 per link ($5 for members)To book click the button Or call us at (705) 326-2159

Book the Class

AllAdult Programs

Seniors in the Studio2026 Programming, Adult Programs

Healing Circle with Paul Shilling Dazaungee – SkybuffaloAdult Programs

Community Greening Initiative2026 Programming, Adult Programs

Mobility Yoga with Jennie-May Banks2026 Programming, Adult Programs

A Temperance Town Mystery2026 Programming, Adult Programs

Gel Plate Printmaking Workshop in Orillia | OMAH2026 Programming, Adult Programs

Pressed Petal Art2026 Programming, Adult Programs

A Night at the MuseumAdult Programs, Tours

Book Launch: Gallinger, A Life Suspended by Fred Addis
2023-11-30 17:00 - 18:30 (America/Toronto)
On Thursday, November 30th, from 5 – 6:30 pm, join local hockey historian and retired museum curator Fred Addis as he takes us inside hockey’s worst gambling scandal.

CLICK HERE TO RSVP

CLICK HERE TO RSVP

TRADITION TRANFORMED: ARTIST TALK
2023-11-30 17:00 - 18:30 (America/Toronto)
Image credits, left to right:Luci Dilkus, Nature/Nurture #1. Oak bark and crocheted yarn on wood panel 11”x26”x1”John Notten, Common Keel. Wood, metal, motor with foot switch, string, stain 46″x19″x72″Peter Fyfe, Canadian Car Strata. 288 toy diecast cars, one plane, mixed media and acrylic paint, 43.5″x20.5″x2.5″

Please join us for an artist talk between three of the artists selected for this year’s Tradition Transformed juried exhibition, John Notten, Luci Dilkus and Peter Fyfe. John Notten is a Toronto based artist/educator who works primarily in site specific, participatory installations. Luci Dilkus is a mixed media/fibre artist and an Arts Therapist residing in Tiny Township. Peter Fyfe is an Orillia based artist/educator who works in mixed media sculpture/installation and painting. This free event will be moderated by Tanya Cunnington, OMAH’s Arts Programming Coordinator, and will discuss the idea of traditional landscape art, and how each of these artists pushed those boundaries with their chosen mediums.

Glue as the Romans Do
2023-11-25 19:00 - 22:00 (America/Toronto)
Glue as the Romans Do

Be ready to laugh and engage! The Old Dance Hall Players will bring their unique style of Improvisation comedy to OMAH on November 25th. In the spirit of the TV show Whose Line is it Anyway? you will experience a whole series of comedy scenes and games. Quirky, musical, insightful, satirical. From razor sharp to ridiculous and outrageous – this show will have it all.

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS

2023 ORILLIA REGIONAL ARTS & HERITAGE AWARDS
2023-11-22 18:00 - 21:00 (America/Toronto)
Following the success of past awards nights, the Orillia & District Arts Council (ODAC) and Orillia Museum of Art & History (OMAH) are planning the historic fifth annual Orillia Regional Arts and Heritage Awards (ORAH). On November 22, 2023, Orillia and area will come together to celebrate the best and brightest from the sector, at Creative Nomad Studios.
The awards were established to recognize the valuable contribution that educators, historians, and event organizers and supporters make to the vibrancy of our communities.
Everyone is invited, no tickets or admission fees. The awards are proudly sponsored by eCapital.
Come join and celebrate this vibrant sector in our region!
Members of the organizing committee have been working behind the scenes on the logistics and are excited to announce this year’s 2023 award categories:

Education in Arts, Culture and Heritage
Emerging Artist
Heritage: Restoration, Renovation and Publication
Event in Arts, Culture and Heritage
Qennefer Browne Achievement Award

Education in the Arts, Culture and Heritage Award recognizes an educator, not necessarily a teacher by profession, whose knowledge and teaching skills inspire others to pursue their interest in the arts and heritage.
This year’s nominees are: Stephen Davids for Just Write Orillia; Errol Lee for Caring Kids Concerts; Sukhi Kaur for HeARTS; Marcel Rousseau for his body of work; Lindsey Simard Toutant for Heartworks; and David Town for his body of work.

Emerging Artist Award recognizes an individual of any age who is in the early years (under five years) of launching a career in the arts. Nominees can be pursuing any genre of art including, but not limited to, visual arts, performance arts, literary arts and many more. This year’s nominees are: Bella Arwyn, and Mariangela Sherwood.

Heritage: Restoration, Renovation and Publication Award recognizes an individual or group who brought to life regional history through a physical restoration or creation of a permanent public record. This year’s nominees are: Anitta Hamming for Creative Nomad Studios; Amy Henderson for OMAH Jail Cells; Jim Ostler Contracting for The Historic Fire Hall; and Cathy Walton for her body of work.

Event in the Arts, Culture and Heritage Award recognizes an individual, organization, or corporation for their part in organizing a single or annual event that showcases the region’s creative talent or cultural heritage. This year’s nominees are: Mariposa Arts Theatre for Rocky Horror Picture Show; and Orillia District Arts Council for the Seven Grandfather Teachings project.

Qennefer Browne Achievement Award recognizes an individual or group of individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the cultural life of their community. It was named in honour of Qennefer Browne, who gave much of herself to support both arts and heritage organizations within the region. This year’s nominees are: Couchiching Brewery; Leslie Fournier and Streets Alive Productions; Fred Larsen; Jean Sarjeant; and John Swartz.

Media inquiries:
Anna Proctor
Annaproctor111@gmail.com

Title Sponsor

Presented by

Together, OMAH and ODAC serve the communities of Rama, Ramara, Oro-Medonte, Severn, and the City of Orillia. We are committed to recognizing the valuable contribution artists, historians, educators, event organizers and supporters make to the vibrancy of these communities and their citizens.

Day Trip to the McMichael
2023-11-21 09:30 - 16:45 (America/Toronto)
Classical Pilates at OMAH

November 21, 2023

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

DEADLINE TO REGISTER: November 14, 2023

Join OMAH on this exciting all inclusive day trip to McMichael Canadian Art Collection!

Included in the registration cost:

Transportation to and from the McMichael Canadian Art Collection in Kleinburg
Lunch at Cabin Restuarant
A private, guided tour of the exhibit Tom Thomson: North Star
Self guided exploration of the other current exhibits, including Cobalt: A Mining Town and the Canadian Imagination and Conversations: Masterworks from the McMichael Canadian Art Collection.

Itinerary:
9:30 am – Leave Orillia Square Mall Parking Lot
10:00 am – Pick up Barrie guests at the highway 93 Carpool Parking Lot
11:00 am – Arrive in Kleinburg
11:30 am – Lunch
1:00 pm – Private, guided tour of Tom Thomson exhibit
3:00 pm – Return to the bus
4:00 pm – Drop off in Barrie
4:45 pm – Drop off in Orillia

Important information:

Orillia departure:
Meet at the Orillia Square Mall (near the former dollar store) shortly before 9:30 am (the bus will leave promptly at 9:30 am). Please note that you are parking at your own risk, there is no security on site.
Barrie departure:
Meet at the Highway 93 Carpool Parking Lot at 10 am.

Lunch options
Lunch at the onsite restaurant, Cabin, is included. Guests will choose from three seasonal options, either a soup, salad or sandwich. These options are currently being determined by the chef, when the finalized menu is available, it will be made available. McMichael has a restaurant on site. To learn more about the restaurant, CLICK HERE.
McMichael departure and return:
Guests will return to the bus at 3:00 pm. Barrie guests will arrive at the drop off location at 4:00 pm. Orillia guests will arrive at 4:45 pm.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

DEADLINE TO REGISTER: NOVEMBER 14, 2023

FALL 2023 PA DAYS
2023-11-17 09:00 - 16:00, 2023-10-20 09:00 - 16:00, 2023-09-22 09:00 - 16:00 (America/Toronto)
Experience & LearnAdults
Children/Teens
Seniors
Educators & Schools
2026 Summer Camps
Tours
Art in Public Places

September 22, 2023
October 20, 2023
November 17, 2023

For ages 6 – 12

OMAH offers a special camp every PA Day of the school year. During these fun and creative days at the museum, campers will be guided through a variety of art and history workshops and activities both inside and outside of OMAH. If you’re looking for a way to entertain the kids during their PA Day, look no further than OMAH.
All materials will be provided.
Camper drop off: 8:45 am – 9:00 am
Camper pick up: 4:00 pm – 4:15 pm

COST
NEW! Register for all three remaining PA Days in 2023 and save!

Three PA Days:
FAMILY MEMBERS = $105GENERAL = $120
Individual Days:
FAMILY MEMBERS = $40GENERAL = $45

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Please note that information about your child will be collected upon registration confirmation (sent via email). If you have any questions about this, send an email to The Operations Coordinator: visitors@orilliamuseum.org

VIEW OMAH'S CANCELLATION POLICY

Quilting Through the Ages
2023-11-01 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Toronto)
Wednesday, November 1, 2023
7 pm – 8:30 pm
The Orillia Recreation Centre, 255 West Street South – Community Room

The history of quilting can be traced back to medieval times and even earlier. From comfort and convenience to crafting and culture, quilting has been a tradition in families around the world for many generations. Margaret Pomeroy brings her passion for quilting, paired with her extensive knowledge of the craft, to this captivating talk, LIVE at the Orillia Recreation Centre. Margaret will share her quilts and their history as well.
Show Your Quilts!
If you’d like to share a quilt that is special to you, register for the talk and send an email to Monica. The first three registrants to indicate their interest in sharing will be invited to bring the quilt with them and share it with the group.
Please note: this presentation will be recorded by Rogers TV, including the sharing of quilts component. Thank you for your cooperation.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Spooky Stroll
2023-10-31 18:30 - 19:30, 2023-10-17 18:00 - 19:00, 2023-10-17 17:00 - 18:00 (America/Toronto)
Experience & LearnAdults
Children/Teens
Seniors
Educators & Schools
2026 Summer Camps
Tours
Art in Public Places

Two different dates and spooky levels!

Tuesday, October 17, 2023
Family Friendly
Tours leaving at 5 pm & 6 pm
12+
Tours leaving at 7 pm & 8 pm
Tuesday, October 31, 2023 – 12+ tour ONLY
Tour leaves at 6:30 pm
COST
Adults (18+): $10
Children (17 and under): $5

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

AllChildren/Youth ProgramsFamily Programs

Spooky Season | Family Discovery Days at OMAHFamily Discovery Days, Family Programs

PA Day Camps at OMAH2026 Programming, Camps, Children/Youth Programs

Kindness & Community | Family Discovery Days at OMAHFamily Discovery Days, Family Programs

Holidays Around the World | Family Discovery Days at OMAHFamily Discovery Days, Family Programs

2026 Summer Camps2024 Day Camps, 2024 Summer Camps, 2025 Day Camps, 2025 Day Camps, 2025 Summer Camps, Camps, Children/Youth Programs

MUSIC FOR THE MUSEUM
2023-10-28 19:30 - 21:30 (America/Toronto)
Saturday, October 28, 2023. 7:30 - 9:30 pm

PURCHASE TICKETS

Getting together in person to enjoy live music is a cause for celebration. Jacquie Dancyger-Arnold and Hugh Coleman and friends are coming together once again for the museum with a musical showcase for all to enjoy. The musical repertoire and performer bios are found below.

Funds raised from this event will go to supporting our new youth program, entitled, You Are A Superhero, Empowering Vulnerable Youth (to be launched 2024).

GENEROUSLY SPONSORED BY

THE PERFORMERS

Jacquie Dancyger Arnold

Jacquie Dancyger Arnold began her piano studies in Toronto when she was 4. She was introduced to the piano by her father, who soon realized she needed a teacher. She eventually received a scholarship to study with the renowned teacher Mona Bates. Jacquie gave her first solo recital at the age of 7 and began teaching at the age of 11. She received over 50 awards and medals and four scholarships by the time she was 16. After receiving her ARCT, Jacquie decided to start a career as a high-school music teacher at George S. Henry Academy in North York. There she taught and conducted numerous chamber groups, symphony orchestras and choirs. In 1999, she retired as the Head of Music. Jacquie is well known to the Orillia area as both soloist and teacher. She has been a part of a number of musical groups over the past 16 years. Memorable performances include Rhapsody in Blue with both the Orillia Wind Ensemble and the Huronia Symphony, numerous performances with the Stan Passfield Quintet and a two-piano concert with Doreen Uren Simmons. Jacquie was also accompanied by the Orillia Silver Band in a performance of Liszt’s Hungarian Fantasie and the Shostakovich Piano Concerto No. 2 and Rachmaninoff’s 2nd Piano Concerto. Jacquie lives in Orillia where she teaches piano and theory privately and, along with her husband Ross Arnold, plays percussion in the Orillia Wind Ensemble.

Blair Bailey

Blair Bailey, our MC for today’s concert, is well known to Orillia and area audiences as a concert performer and music educator. Since returning to his home town of Orillia after attaining his Bachelor of Music and Masters of Music degrees from the Universi- ty of Toronto, Blair has been the organist and choir director here at St. Paul’s United Church since 1984. He has been the principal accompanist of the Cellar Singers from 1985 to 2020 and often appeared with them and many other vocal and instrumental ensembles performing on the piano, pipe organ and harpsichord in concerts throughout Simcoe County and Muskoka.

Gail Spencer

Gail Spencer is a retired English teacher who winters in Bracebridge and summers on Lake Temagami. She was born and grew up in Orillia, where she learned to play flute in what was, in the 1960s, a very recently introduced instrumental music option. This has been a huge gift throughout her life. In 2008, her partner Harold Keevil gave her an alto flute. Shortly afterwards, she and her mother attended a Proms concert by the Orillia Wind Ensemble and, with Harold’s encouragement and the opportunity to play the flute made real by the band, a whole new world opened up. It has been a very steep learning curve, she says, and all those dusty notes on the page have been a challenge, but it’s never too late.

Hugh Coleman

Hugh Coleman started playing clarinet in Grade 4 and competed in many Kiwanis music festivals. Still a student of the instrument, he is fond of all types of music, especially jazz and chamber music. With Mariposa Arts Theatre, he has played in many pit orchestras, including productions of Evita, Carousel, Chicago, and Sweeny Todd. He has been a member of the Orillia Wind Ensemble for over 20 years. Other instruments he plays include alto and tenor saxophone and bass clarinet.

Ross Arnold

Ross Arnold is a retired high-school music teacher who taught at George S. Henry Academy in North York and Twin Lakes Secondary School in Orillia. Ross received his Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Education at the University of Toronto. He has been a member of the National Youth Orchestra, the Hamilton Philharmonic and the Huronia Symphony. He has also played in the pit orchestras in many of the Mariposa Arts Theatre musicals and in productions conducted by Blair Bailey at St. Paul’s United Church. Ross continues to teach music privately in Orillia and plays timpani and percussion with the Orillia Concert Band and the Orillia Silver Band.

Laura Kelly

Mezzo-soprano Laura Kelly is an active member of Ontario’s professional music scene. Laura has always enjoyed performing, and finds inspiration both as a teacher and singer. While she specializes as a soloist, her other performance credits include choral singing, musical theatre and ensemble work. Laura is a graduate of York University’s Faculty of Fine Arts with an honours degree in music under the direction of Canadian legend Catherine Robbin.
Eager to share her love of musical performance, Laura appears at special events, concerts and galas. In recent years, she was a member of the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir and Mendelssohn Singers, frequently performing at Roy Thomson Hall with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Other highlights include performing with international superstar Andrea Bocelli at the Air Canada Centre. Laura also performed at Canada’s famous Black Creek Music Festival, sharing the stage with opera legend Placido Domingo, Sondra Radvanovsky, the London Symphony Orchestra, Martin Short, Audra McDonald and Brian Stokes Mitchell, among other notable performers.

PURCHASE TICKETS

Tradition Transformed Special Reception
2023-10-14 13:00 - 15:00 (America/Toronto)
(Left) Peter Fyfe, Canadian Car Strata. Mixed media assemblage, 44x21x2.5, Aug 2021- September 2023.
(Right) Taimi Poldmaa: Agawa Coastal Trail – I. Oil on Canvas, 40x30x1.5, 2020

Join the jurors and selected artists in celebrating the 2023 Tradition Transformed exhibition! All are welcome to attend.

Elevating Indigenous Voices
2023-09-30 13:00 - 14:00 (America/Toronto)
This one hour presentation focuses on the work of Ziigwen Mixemong, an Anishinabek youth from Beausoleil First Nation. Performed by her mother, Kelly Brownbill, it will include excerpts from plays, poems and children’s books written by Ziigwen and Kelly that focus on the issues facing Indigenous people in our area, while underlining the importance of an ancient culture in our lives today.

Free to attend, no registration required.

New Exhibition Reception
2023-09-23 13:00 - 15:00 (America/Toronto)
