Culture Days

Join us this September as we celebrate Culture Days! All events are free to drop in during the hours posted. Email us for more event information.

Genealogy and Local History Fair

On Saturday, September 23rd from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Genealogy and Local History experts will come together to celebrate the heritage of Orillia and area, as part of Culture Days. Stop by and visit with experts from the Simcoe County Archives, Ontario Genealogical Society (Simcoe County Chapter), the Orillia Museum of Art and History, and more.

Chat with our local historians about the “good old days”! Ask the questions you have always wanted to have answered and share in the conversations. Learn how to start your family tree and find out about the great resources the Orillia Public Library has to offer, including Ancestry.com (Library Edition), a Genealogy Club and much more.

There will be tours of our recently updated Local History Room, where you can discover the amazing historical archives that are open to the public to use in-house. Maybe you live in a century home and want to know the history and who might have lived there. Perhaps your family has lived in the area for generations, and you would like to learn about the lives of these ancestors. There are many fascinating tidbits and treasures waiting in this room for you to find.

Visit our Makerspace to find out how you can convert family movies to digital format, develop negatives and slides into digital photographs or create your family tree on wood. Organizing a family reunion? Create t-shirts and other items for your family members with the Cricut. A valid library membership is required to use the Makerspace facilities and services.

Come on out to the Genealogy and Local History Fair, a free family-friendly event to celebrate our rich history and culture! Visit the Culture Days event page here. 

Cultural Tile Mosaic Project

On Saturday, September 23rd from 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., drop-in and create an original artwork that showcases your cultural expression! Using a wooden 4X4 tiIe and paint, bring to life who you are; no previous art experience required. Imagine if you could show what your culture means to you in a painted tile and that piece became part of a larger mosaic project called "Culture Across Our County"- this is your chance! All are welcome. Visit the Culture Days event page here.

Sign Languages of Canada Exhibit

We are pleased to host a travelling exhibit from the Canadian Language Museum on the Sign Languages of Canada. This exhibit introduces viewers to six Sign Languages used in Canada: American Sign Language, Langue des signes québécoise, Plains Indian Sign Language, Inuit Sign Language, Maritime Sign Language, and Oneida Sign Language. Maps, videos, and illustrations explore the histories and unique characteristics of these different languages. Visit the Culture Days event page here.

This exhibit can be viewed in our café space on the main floor on the following days and times:
Sat, Sep 23, 9:00am - 5:00pm
Sun, Sep 24, 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Mon, Sep 25, 10:00am - 8:00pm
Tue, Sep 26, 10:00am - 8:00pm
Wed, Sep 27, 10:00am - 8:00pm
Thu, Sep 28, 10:00am - 8:00pm