New Northumberland County Archives and Museum opens in Cobourg
By reporter Natalie Hamilton
Northumberland County officially opened the new Northumberland Archives and Museum (NCAM) location on Sept. 17, marking the occasion with a special ceremony at the 6,000-square-foot facility in Cobourg.
The county opened the doors to the “purpose-built space” that’s meant to preserve, care for and share the region’s history, records, artifacts and stories for generations to come.
Designed to meet Canadian Heritage Category A curatorial standards, NCAM will help preserve municipal records and collections, while offering enhanced opportunities for public access, research, programming and exhibitions.
“The newly built NCAM facility is a new home for the stories, records and objects that help us understand who we are and where we have come from,” said Warden Bob Crate. “Our collections will be given the care they deserve while creating new opportunities for people to explore Northumberland’s history.
“It is also a place where we can continue to build relationships and create space for the histories and experiences of the many communities that make up Northumberland.”
NCAM was built as “a unique pairing” alongside the recently opened Golden Plough Lodge long-term care home on Courthouse Road, to provide unique history programing, specialized spaces, proper environmental conditions, and modern technology for the long-term preservation and care of collections, reiterated officials.
The ceremony brought together First Nations’ Chiefs and Elders, elected officials, community partners and residents. The event marked the debut of “Gidinawendimin,” an exhibition exploring the beauty and resilience of the first language and culture of these local lands – those of the Michi Saagiig.
This exhibition was developed under the guidance of e wiindmaagzijig, a circle of Indigenous Elders, Knowledge Keepers and language teachers, who worked closely with county staff to help shape how Michi Saagiig language and culture are shared with visitors.
The opening ceremony started with smudging and an opening song and prayer, followed by remarks from the warden, First Nations’ Chiefs and Elders, and community partners.
“Our language is more than words put together – it is the heart and soul of our people,” stated Melody Crowe, an Elder of Alderville First Nation. “It carries our values, our way of seeing the world and a connection to our ancestors.
“As visitors experience Gidinawendimin, we hope they see the beauty of our language and understand how deeply it is connected to who we are. We are very thankful for the opportunity to share this part of who we are and to help carry our language forward for future generations.”
Northumberland County recognized the support from the Government of Canada that contributed $412,406 through the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund toward the establishment of the archives and museum space. An additional $393,069 from Canadian Heritage supported the development of Gidinawendimin, which will be hosted at NCAM over the next year.
The facility includes the Stewart Richardson Gallery, NCAM’s main exhibition space and home to Gidinawendimin, the inaugural exhibition. It also encompasses the Parker Westgate Studio, equipped with state-of-the-art digitization technology to help make collections more accessible; a reading room sponsored by Cameco, providing space for research as well as community and family-focused programming, and a climate-controlled collection storage to protect archival records and artifacts.
There is also a dedicated processing and conservation lab for the care and preparation of collections and quarantine area for newly received and unprocessed materials, helping protect the permanent collection, explained county officials.
“The opening of NCAM represents a significant investment in the future of our local history,” said Crate. “The facility gives our collections the specialized care they require, while the new public spaces allow us to showcase our collections and connect people with the stories they tell for generations to come.”
Research services and access to collections are available by appointment. To book a research appointment and student field trips, people can email ncam@northumberland.ca.
Ncam.northumberland.ca has more information about hours of operation and the like.
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