Exhibits

Liberation Spring: 75 Years of Peace will open as soon as conditions allow. 

Highlighting the Canadian effort to achieve victory in the Netherlands, this ambitious exhibit is a curatorial collaboration lead by a group of grade 12 history students from Owen Sound District Secondary School.

The students approached a number of groups in our community to ascertain their thoughts on peace seventy-five years after the Liberation of the Netherlands and the end of the Second World War. Their target groups included grade 1 and 2 students from École Hillcrest Elementary School, grade 6 and 7 students from Alexandra Community School, students from the Arden Language Centre, local veterans and civilian survivors of occupation during war. This last group includes stories from the local Dutch diaspora who immigrated to Canada after the Second World War.

Patrons will gain perspectives on the meaning of peace and the Canadian effort to obtain it.  They will have an opportunity to offer their insights as to what peace means to them. 

May 4, 2019 to April 2020 “Living Memory: Jeszcze Polska nie zginęła (Poland is not yet lost)” - this exhibit will be traveling onto London to be displayed at the Polish Combatants' Association, stay tuned for more information. 

During the Second World War there was a camp of Polish Soldiers stationed right here in Owen Sound.  Having fled their own country after the German invasion the Polish Government in Exile regrouped and set to the task of reclaiming their country. 

Please visit our accompanying website created especially for this exhibit so you can share your stories and this incredible history with others. 

https://museumstaff.wixsite.com/polish-soldier-tree

An interview was conducted by the Polish TV Channel out of Toronto.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuVUT10ozhk&feature=youtu.be

Near Owen Sound we have a Polish Soldier Tree symbolizing the living memory of those stationed here during the War. Map to Tree is available.

Do you have a personal connection to these soldiers or any artefacts commemorating their stay in Owen Sound? If so, please contact Emily Jolliffe at ejolliffe@billybishop.org. 

May 25, 2019 to Fall 2020 "Conduct Unbecoming".

Terrible atrocities of war were committed around the Battle of Normandy.

This special exhibit curated by Owen Sound and District Secondary School Grade 12 students will focus on three specific events for this 75^th Anniversary exhibit. 

Historian Howard Margolian in his work "Conduct Unbecoming:
The Story of the Murder of Canadian Prisoners of War in Normandy" has documented the deliberate murder of 156 Canadian Prisoners of War during the 
Battle of Normandy.  The murders were directly attributable to units of the 12th SS Hitlerjugend Panzer Division.

The murder and mayhem touched Owen Sound. This exhibit examines the stories of three hometown boys that were murdered during this time of the Second World War. 

Billy Bishop Home & Museum thanks Ryan McManaman, his Grade 12 History class, especially Sydney Thornton, Caleb Keeling and Adrian Wagenaar for their research and creation of panels for this exhibit.  

December 3, 2019 to Fall, 2020 "Celebrating the Seasons in Victorian Fashion"

Many beloved Canadian traditions enjoyed today originated and evolved from Victoria Era practices. The changing of the seasons brought new activiites and holidays.

How does your family celebrate and spend the seasons together and how similar are your traditions to their Victorian origins? 

Thank you to Grey Roots Museum and Archives for the use of the Priceville Picnic photo.