If locals want to enjoy Free February at the Niagara-on-the-Lake Museum, there’s no time like the present, because next February, the museum will be undergoing extensive renovations.
Display boards circled Memorial Hall this past Saturday at the NOTL Museum open house, outlining plans for its upcoming expansion backed by $2 million in federal funding, with construction activity expected through this year and a phased build that could last about two years.
The project includes rezoning the adjacent Janet Carnochan House, adding new exhibition and storage space, made possible by a months-long closure once work intensifies.
The Government of Canada confirmed a $2 million investment late last year through the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund, which museum officials say pushed planning into an active construction phase.
“We’re very excited about it,” said interim executive director Amy Klassen.
The Janet Carnochan House once belonged to museum founder Janet Carnochan and will house offices, archives and artifact storage. Plans also include a new addition connecting the building behind Memorial Hall with expanded exhibition areas, a multipurpose programming space, universal washrooms and an elevator intended to improve accessibility across the site.
“If a property beside you ever came up for sale, you always bought it. In this case, with the history, it makes our job of construction a lot easier,” said board vice-chair Paul Mace.
Klassen said visible servicing work would begin by early spring 2026, with more significant construction possible by autumn if permits and contractor schedules align. The phased project may extend roughly two years.
Her hope was for the open house to encourage contributions to the project and reassure residents that the expansion was progressing smoothly.
“When we started talking about doing this, it was right at the beginning of COVID. That slowed things down, and fundraising is always a challenge,” she said.
A temporary closure of the museum building remains likely once heavy construction begins. Klassen expects the shutdown could last several months or possibly up to a year, depending on construction impacts and artifact protection needs.
Staff are planning off-site lectures, pop-up exhibits and outreach programs at the NOTL community centre during any closure period. Klassen said the approach aims to keep public access to local history while work continues.
The museum currently offers free admission to Niagara residents during February, with winter hours from 1 to 5 p.m. daily. A one-week closure is scheduled for early March to refinish floors in the former high school building portion of the site.
The museum’s long-time curator Sarah Kaufman stepped down Dec. 31 after more than 15 years. Klassen, previously the museum’s finance and marketing director, took on the managing role after Kaufman’s departure and noted she had worked with her for many years and had stepped into similar leadership duties during Kaufmans’s earlier parental leaves.
“It hasn’t really impacted us, but we haven’t seen her lovely face here every day, and we do miss her,” said Klassen.
The capital campaign targets about $10 million in total project funding, with private donations, grants and fundraising events expected to continue alongside construction planning.
Town-led public sessions on rezoning are expected later in February and early March, and updated timelines will follow once permits and contractor arrangements are finalized.
