Markham Museum opens newly renovated Honey House at International Museum Day celebrations

On Sunday, May 21, the Markham Museum opened its newly designed Honey House at its International Museum Day celebrations. This updated space provides a venue for the Museum’s exciting series of new educational programs.

At the Honey House opening, the public enjoyed free admission to the Museum galleries and a guided tour to explore Markham's agricultural history. There were also family fun drop-in activities such as mini-golf, geocaching, crafts plus a special look at the Museum's exhibitions: True or False and From the Ground Up.

Families had a first-hand look at live bees in the newly designed Honey House building. They enjoyed a walkthrough of the heritage apple orchard and learned about Markham’s agricultural legacy by exploring the newly open Kinnee Barn and other agricultural collections.

International Museum Day is celebrated worldwide annually around mid-May to bring attention to the important role of museums in our communities. Markham Museum is no exception, offering unique family and educational experiences with over 20 historic buildings on 25 acres of parkland. As one of the first LEED Gold Standard museum spaces in Canada, the Museum explores settlement as it relates to the environment and technologies used to adapt to life in Markham. The Museum’s exhibitions and events attract over 50,000 visitors from Markham and the Greater Toronto Area each year.

Renovations for Honey House began in the early 2000s. It was originally a butcher shop, owned by Alexander Brown and built on Lot 11, Concession 3. After the Ramer family generously donated apiary and honey processing equipment to the museum, the building was repurposed to provide hands-on educational programs for young children.

Unionville High School and the Markham Museum partnered to create this pilot project. With the support of a grant from the Ministry of Education, Shane Clodd, Head of the Unionville High School’s Director of Fine Arts and Markham Museum’s Program Coordinator Andrea Carpenter and Exhibitions Coordinator Janet Reid, worked with media arts program students to create an interactive exhibition in the Honey House.

Honey House now provides a new space for the Markham Museum's educational programs the community will benefit from for years to come.

QUOTES

"The opening of the newly designed Honey House is the first of many new initiatives that will roll-out throughout the year," said Mayor Frank Scarpitti."Markham is a modern urban centre today, built on the foundations of a successful agricultural community. We look forward in continuing to highlight Markham’s agricultural history throughout the year."

PHOTOS

Visitor dresses up as a beekeeper in the newly designed Honey House.

Left to right: Cathy Malloy (Museum Manager); Shane Clodd (Art Head, Unionville High); Mayor Frank Scarpitti; Yonglin Wang (Project Lead, Unionville High Student); Janet Reid (Museum Curator); Lindsay Bontoft (Acting Museum Program Coordinator).

For more information:

Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti: mayorscarpitti@markham.ca or 905.475.4872.
Media inquiries / interview requests: Corporate Communications & Community Engagement Department at media@markham.ca or 905.415.7548.

About Markham Museum: Markham Museum is a one of a kind site featuring over 20 historic buildings on 25-acres of open-air parkland. Focusing on adaptation to life in our changing world, Markham Museum is able to connect the history of Markham to today through four key themes: agriculture and food, environment, technology and engineering. The site has been open since 1971 and offers a unique educational experience through year-round exhibits, public programs, signature events and research facilities.