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Exhibits

Upcoming Exhibits:

Decoding Anne Lister: History's First Modern Lesbian

Sept. 15, 2023 - Temporary Exhibit

 Poster for exhibit, "Anne Lister: The First Modern Lesbian"

Postponed from September 9, 2023 -- Reviled and hidden away for decades because of the stories they contained, Anne Lister’s diaries and her life will be the focus of an exhibit opening this September at the Leacock Museum. Now famously known as history’s first modern lesbian and the focus of a popular TV show, Anne Lister meticulously captured the details of her life including love affairs, business deals, and politics in a partially encoded diary that scholars have worked for decades to transcribe. The exhibit will focus on the life of this revolutionary British lesbian while exploring themes of Canadian Queer history, the art of code breaking, and the world in which Anne Lister existed.

Hours and booking information

*Anne Lister photo by permission of Shibden Hall.


Leacock and the Montreal Melon

Coming Soon - Permanent Outdoor Living Exhibit

 Poster for Leacock and the Montreal Melon

This might be one of the Leacock Museum's most exciting discoveries yet! In 2017, staff at the Leacock Museum found detailed notes inside a farming journal which showed that Stephen Leacock had been growing Montreal Melons all along while others assumed they were extinct. 

Learn about why these melons were so coveted and why they cost as much as a steak! Exhibit will open in 2023 on the Leacock grounds, and will be free to the public. Stay up to date on its release through the museum's social media channels - @leacockmuseum


Current Exhibits:

Boating Old Brewery Bay

May 20, 2023 - Permanent Exhibit

"Boating Old Brewery Bay" Exhibit Poster with a photo of Stephen Leacock standing in a canoe

Opening Victoria Day weekend, step inside Stephen Leacock's boathouse and discover his love for the lake. This exhibit features photographs taken by world renowned photographer, Yousuf Karsh.
 
Learn about:
  • Historical boating equipment
  • Leacock's own boating treasures
  • The inspiration behind some of Leacock's most famous stories

*Please note that the boathouse will be available to view exclusively during our House and Grounds History Tour.

Hours and booking information


75 Years of Laughs: Reminiscing the Leacock Medal for Humour

September 21, 2022 - Permanent Exhibit

75 Years of Laughs Exhibit Poster

Visit the Leacock Museum’s permanent exhibit which features past winners of the Leacock Medal such as:
  •  Robertson Davies
  • Mordecai Richler
  • Farley Mowat
 
Learn about Farley Mowat's secret office and some of the items that may have been inside.
 
See the medals themselves, and learn information about their designer, Emanuel Hahn -- who also designed many of Canada's coins!

Hours and booking information

Past Exhibits:

A Leacock Love Story

February 10 until August 31, 2023  - Exhibit Completed

Poster for "A Leacock Love Story"

Stephen Leacock's house in Orillia was a labour of love. He built it for his wife, Beatrix. Unfortunately, Beatrix did not live to see it completed. Something did survive though... Discovered during restoration inside Stephen's bedroom closet -- Beatrix's final letters. These letters, sent by Beatrix during her final days, were on display along with the romantic story.

Learn about their love story and life together and why Beatrix was not simply, Stephen Leacock's wife. 

 

Entertaining Entertainers: Mary Pickford, Queen of the Silver Screen

May 21 until October 28, 2022 - Exhibit completed

Mary Pickford Exhibit Poster with graphic of Mary

This exhibit explored the friendship of Stephen Leacock and Mary Pickford as well as Pickford’s legendary silent film career.  

 

“The Girl with the Golden Curls” was the first Canadian to win an Oscar, the first actress to make 1 million dollars a year, and the first person to be filmed in a close-up. 

 

Guests of the exhibit were welcomed to vote on which of Leacock’s famous friends to focus on next; some of which include Charlie Chaplin, F. Scott Fitzgerald and J.M. Barrie!  

 

The Leacock Museum thanks the Mary Pickford Foundation for their partnership on this exhibit. 

 

 MPF logo

 

Check out photos from the exhibit:

 

 

 

 

© City of Orillia, 50 Andrew Street South, Suite 300, Orillia, Ontario, L3V 7T5, Tel: (705) 325-1311, Fax: (705) 325-5178, Email: info@orillia.ca

By GHD Digital