A local museum is being honoured with a provincial award.

At this week’s Ontario Museum Association annual conference, the Oil Museum of Canada in Oil Springs was recognized in the Exhibitions category for its exhibition and building renewal project.

The Oil Museum has only undergone one major renovation in the last 60 years, with work done in 1992. A 2018 building condition assessment revealed several issues, and museum staff began the daunting task of completely re-evaluating and reinventing their approach to displaying their permanent collection. 

The finished product embraces the museum’s original design, enhances the visitor experience, and ensures the preservation of artifacts. 

“The Oil Museum of Canada’s project is something that I believe all museums can aspire to,” Executive Director of the Canadian Energy Museum said. “It was a project completed with an eye to utilizing space, developing welcoming and interactive exhibits for visitors, and preserving artifacts in a fiscally responsible manner.” 

The OMA Awards of Excellence are an opportunity for the sector to recognize institutions and individuals who make outstanding contributions to the museum field in Ontario and whose innovative work inspires their colleagues, Ontarians, and visitors from around the world.