Central Huron plans 100th anniversary celebration for Sloman School on Wheels

By: Brittany McKay

Central Huron is planning a special educational event to mark the 100th anniversary of the CNR School on Wheels program, with local elementary students set to get a hands-on lesson in the region’s history.

Council carried a proposal from the Destination Central Huron Committee to oversee the administration of the Sloman School on Wheels Museum’s 100th anniversary event and allocated $10,000 from the municipality’s 2026 operating budget toward the celebration.

The experience is intended to give students an opportunity to learn about the history of education delivered through the CNR School on Wheels program, including the role a local family played in bringing education to children in Northern Ontario.

The Destination Central Huron Committee hopes the celebration will extend beyond the students who attend.

According to the report, the initiative could therefore help introduce the history of the school car to approximately 500 local families, as students share their books and family passes at home.

The $10,000 event budget will cover approximately $1,200 for bussing, $7,700 for school car books, $300 for refreshments and $800 for incidentals.

The event is being positioned as an opportunity to connect Central Huron students with a unique piece of local and Canadian educational history while encouraging families to visit the museum.

Council’s decision delegates both the event’s administration and the approved budget to the Destination Central Huron Committee.