Coaching Grants

Aurora Historical Society

Hillary House/Koffler Museum of Medicine

Aurora, ON

Built in 1862, Hillary House is recognized as a National Historic Site and is one of the best and most well-preserved examples of Gothic Revival architecture to be found in Canada. It contains a significant collection of medical instruments, books, papers, household furnishings, and equipment dating from the early nineteenth to the late twentieth century and is open to the public as Hillary House, the Koffler Museum of Medicine.

The Aurora Historical Society is responsible for the ongoing repair, restoration, maintenance, and preservation of Hillary House National Historic Site and the Koffler Museum of Medicine. The Society also conducts tours to student groups, tourists, and others to highlight the historical significance of Hillary House and the Koffler Museum of Medicine to Aurora, to Ontario, and to Canada.

Our coaches will work with the Society to explore new fundraising strategies to help them plan for a sustainable future.

Friends of the Mindemoya Old School

Mindemoya Consolidated / Continuation School

Mindemoya, ON

The Mindemoya Old School on Manitoulin Island was one of the first Consolidated schools in Ontario. Built of yellow brick and local limestone, construction was completed in 1922. The school serviced a large area of Manitoulin Island and has also served as municipal offices, Health Unit offices, the library, dental and law offices during its life.

The Friends of the Mindemoya Old School formed in early 2021 to save the municipally owned building from demolition. This passionate group has moved quickly to save the structure, and secure funding to give the building new purpose as a community-lead artist hub and senior activity centre.

Our coaches are working with the Friends of Mindemoya team to build their business planning and marketing skills as they find new uses for the building based on the needs of the community and the site's potential.

The Smiths Falls Heritage House Museum

Smiths Falls, ON

The Smiths Falls Heritage House Museum is located in the heart of the Rideau Canal and is close to the Old Slys lock station and the Brockville-Ottawa Railway line. The historic house was purchased by the Town of Smiths Falls in 1977 and was opened to the community as a museum in 1981. The museum offers unique mirror-image facades, an indoor working brick bake oven and a famous two-story indoor privy.

The Smiths Falls Heritage House Museum is a community museum and historic house that features changing displays, traveling exhibits and art shows. The museum presents compelling exhibits that focus on the industries that have played a major role locally, nationally and internationally and the people who have left their marks on the town and surrounding area. Opened to the public year round the museum offers guided tours of the house and the grounds and allows for hands on experiences with enthusiastic and knowledgeable staff.

Our coaches will work with the Smiths Falls Heritage House Museum to develop a marketing plan for the next 3-5 years. The marketing plan will include key messages, audiences and tactics to increase reach and name brand recognition for the museum.

Port De Grave Peninsula Heritage Society Inc. (PDGPHS)

St Mark’s Church

Bareneed, NL

The Heritage Society assumed ownership of the deconsecrated St Mark’s Church and nearby schoolhouse in 2018. A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between PDGPHS, Parks Canada (PC) and the Canadian Coast Guard Alumni Association (CCGAA) identifies the objective of establishing a marine interpretation center on the peninsula, with specific reference to St. Mark’s Church in Bareneed as the preferred site for the facility. Once completed, the new Centre will be the interpretive gateway to the Peninsula and to other Newfoundland and Labrador Lighthouse sites, providing an engaging emotional and enlightening story of Lighthouse keepers and their families and housing mobile exhibits that can be used as part of outreach activities with other partners to display throughout the province.

Formed in 1993, the Society’s mandate is to promote and guide the efforts to use the natural and cultural resources of the Peninsula as a positive component of community life, and to provide opportunities for economic development. Since 2016 the Society’s committed group of volunteers has been very active, focusing on a roster of projects including the acquisition of St. Mark’s Church and Schoolhouse and the Green Point Lighthouse. It successfully achieved designation of an 18.5 hectare land reserve at the point and is in the process of extending the size of the reserve. This plan represents the Society’s long term tourism plans and initiative.

Our coaches will work with the PDGPHS team to develop their business planning and capital campaign fundraising strategies for the establishment of the new marine interpretation center project in the former church building.

Canadian Industrial Heritage Centre (CIHC)

Former site of Cockshutt Plow Company

Brantford, ON

Cockshutt Plow Company along with Massey Harris was one of two of the largest farm Implement manufactures in Canada, both located in Brantford. It was eventually bought by White Motor Co, and then closed in 1980. All that remains is the Time Keepers office and the portico.

The Canadian Industrial Heritage Centre is a not-for-profit registered charity dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Canada’s industrial heritage through research, publication, and exhibition, and events. We are the sole Canadian representative of the International Committee for the Conservation of the Industrial Heritage.

The CIHC is embarking an ambitious project to create a museum and performing arts center on the site of the Former site of Cockshutt Plow Company in Brantford, Ontario. Our coaches are working with the team in support of their project feasibility and business planning.