FERGUS — A new family-friendly space is coming to the Wellington County Museum and Archives.
Proposed to be 550 square feet within the existing second-floor gallery, county council has approved retaining Martin Simmons Sweers (MSS) to develop a new space for children aged three and up at the Wellington County Museum and Archives (WCMA).
According to a report from Wellington Place administrator Jana Burns, the new space is required "to better serve families in the community" as the museum continues to be a family destination.
Museums with dedicated children's areas also provide "an excellent environment to expose children to rich and memorable experiences," said Burns.
"Staff...envision a space where children can engage in imaginative, interactive ways to learn about the community’s history and culture and be encouraged to become a mindful contributor to the community’s future," said Burns, in the report.
IHS committee chair Mary Lloyd agreed, saying she's hopeful the space will create more opportunities to engage with multi-generational families, who are visiting the museum more than ever now that WCMA has added a playground and family-friendly programs like the Dinosaurs Live exhibit.
"So we really see that the way to continue to engage with children, we have to have a more wholesome opportunity for them to get involved," said Lloyd in an interview. "Not just looking at static programs but more participation."
The project is anticipated to cost $600,000, which is allocated in the 2025 budget and intended to cover various fixtures including a potential ceiling height increase and exposure of three windows.
MSS will present a final concept plan and renderings to the IHS committee in January.
Isabel Buckmaster is the Local Journalism Initiative reporter for GuelphToday. LJI is a federally-funded program.
