Provincial grant announced for King Township Museum

The $13,511 grant is approved through Ontario's annual Community Museum Operating Grant

Yorkregion.com
November 12, 2018
Sheila Wang

King Township announced a newly approved provincial grant for the King Township Museum on Nov. 7.

The grant, of $13,511, is awarded to the only history museum of King City through Ontario’s annual Community Museum Operating Grant (CMOG) program.

"The funds announced today will offer support and stability to the King Township Museum, providing the residents of King-Vaughan a place to continue to embrace our shared history,” said Stephen Lecce, MPP for King-Vaughan, who joined King Township Mayor Steve Pellegrini and curator of the King Township Museum Kathleen Fry at the grant announcement.

Formerly known as the Kinghorn Museum, the King Township Museum is a cache of artifacts and historic buildings designed to educate the public about the history of King City.

Housed, for the most part, in the old Kinghorn school built back in 1861, the museum has been considered a testament to local growth and development.

Preserving and expanding the artifacts is “expensive,” Fry said, noting the grant will be put toward supporting exhibits, programs, preserving artifacts and buying archived materials.

Fry said the King Township Museum was approved for the provincial grant for the first time in 2008 and has received a grant from the province every year since then.

Not every museum is eligible for the grant, she said. Only those that meet the requirements set out for a professional museum will be accepted in the CMOG program.

The museum collection includes over 1,800 artifacts, ranging from household items to tools, books, clothing and more — all relating to the history of King.

It also offers a wide variety of programming for schools and community groups, workshops and courses.

The King Township Museum is hosting a number of events in the upcoming weeks.

The free Handmade Holiday Market is coming up on Nov. 17, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the museum. Fry said about 30 local vendors will offer various handmade goods at the event in advance of the holiday season. Festive food and drinks will be available.

Please visit the King Township Museum Facebook page for more information.