Pickering Museum Village receives Honourable Mention for Ontario Award of Excellence in Exhibitions

Pickering Museum Village has been recognized Provincially by the Ontario Museum Association (OMA) as one of this year’s Awards of Excellence 2023 recipients. The Greenwood Blacksmith Shop has received an Honourable Mention for the OMA Award of Excellence in Exhibitions.

The OMA Committee members were particularly impressed with the way Pickering Museum Village used the need for structural repair as an opportunity to create an engaging and interactive space.

The Greenwood Blacksmith Shop is a unique heritage building that originated in Pickering Township, near the current site of the museum. It dates back to 1847 and is an excellent example of Pickering’s rich material culture. The Blacksmith Shop celebrated its 175th anniversary last year.

Located in the hamlet of Greenwood, the Blacksmith Shop was owned and operated by Frederick Green. The Green family is of special importance to Greenwood. Frederick Green came to Pickering in 1843. Through his business, gristmills were developed resulting in cooperage, sawmills, brickmaking and other trades. The name of the village was changed from Norwood to Greenwood in honour of Squire (Mr.) Green.

In addition to creating and repairing tools and equipment, the Blacksmith Shop was also used to fabricate wagons and carriages for Pickering. The building was used as a studio by renowned artist Bill Lishman after the last village blacksmith retired in 1959. 

The Greenwood Blacksmith shop has been a fundamental part of the community for 175 years. It was vital in supporting the industries and businesses in the community. The shop, being in the center of the village and highly visited, became a social hub; a place for people to gather, share news and catch up with neighbours. The Blacksmith shop played a significant role in the economic and social wellbeing of Greenwood until the rise of the centralized and automated industry led to the demise of the rural “smithy”.

The City of Pickering renovated the space in 2022, using the need for structural repairs to preserve the heritage building as an opportunity to reimagine the space, improve visitor experience, and make accessibility upgrades. The renovation opened the second floor of the building to visitors for the first time in the museum’s history.

Staff integrated the history of wagon making into the hands-on, fun, and educational exhibit elements. Visitors can operate a hand-cranked bellows, build their own wagon, assemble a wagon wheel, and learn about the paint colours and pigments that would be used to adorn wagons in the 1800’s.

“The Greenwood Blacksmith Shop exhibit is the result of tremendous collaboration between staff, volunteers, and the community. Staff worked diligently to consult with Pickering residents about how they wanted to experience this space. It has been rewarding to see children and their families learning and exploring the exhibit through field trips, programs, and self-guided tours.” says Ellen Tayles-Armstrong, Museum Conservator.

“The City of Pickering is grateful to the Government of Canada and Province of Ontario for the funding that has supported the restoration of this important local landmark,” says Mayor Kevin Ashe. “The Pickering Museum Village is Durham’s largest museum, and provides residents and visitors with a space to engage with Pickering’s local history.”

In 2022 and 2023 The Greenwood Blacksmith Shop was the Pickering Museum Village’s most popular experience, with over 2,800 school children participating in the Blacksmith Apprentice Quest.

The Greenwood Blacksmith Shop is open for school tours booked in advanced and pre-registered public programs such as our Blacksmith Jewelry Making Workshop, A Storybook Christmas, Family & Pet Photos with Santa, and many more!

General admission tickets will resume in May 2024.

For more information about programs and to book tickets for all Museum events, please visit: pickering.ca/museum or reach us by phone at 905.683.8401.

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As the gateway to the east GTA, Pickering (population 100,000) is strategically located where Toronto, York and Durham Regions meet. An award-winning municipality, Pickering is slated for significant economic and residential growth; offering an unparalleled quality of life for those who live, work, and play here. Its dynamic City Centre has been designated by the Province of Ontario as both an Urban Growth Centre and Mobility Hub and continues to evolve as a preferred destination for creative learning, memorable events, and unique experiences at the heart of a vibrant, connected, and engaged community.