Installed in the 160-year-old Fairbairn farmhouse in Wakefield, La Pêche, The Fairbairn House Heritage Centre features visual displays and special exhibits, interactive and audio-visual displays, school programmes, special events and community involvement.
What’s New
November 26th 2024
CHRISTMAS EVE AT FAIRBAIRN HOUSE HERITAGE CENTRE
HO HO HO! Our annual Christmas Eve event is right around the corner!
Join us on December 24th from 2-4 PM for some festive activities for the whole family.
- Free admission (Optional: bring cookies to share!)
- Carol Singing 🎶
- Tree Decorating 🎄
- Hot Chocolate and Cider ☕
- Christmas Cookies 🍪
- Fun Fundraising Activities
Let’s make this holiday season one to remember!
Thank You for a Memorable 2024!
As the year comes to a close, we extend heartfelt thanks to everyone who visited Fairbairn House in 2024. Together, we celebrated heritage, art, and community through our vibrant exhibits and engaging activities.
A special thank you to our funders and sponsors, whose generous support brought these initiatives to life. Your enthusiasm keeps our mission thriving, and we look forward to sharing our 2024 highlights in detail next year!
Wishing you warmth and joy this holiday season,
The Fairbairn House Team
September 16th 2024
2024 Fairbairn Harvest Festival
Come celebrate the harvest!
Sunday October 6th 2024. 11am-4pm.
Demos and activities for the whole family with participation from:
Apiverte
Sofia Jain Schlaepfer
Northslope Farm
Boutique Khewa
And of course the yearly crowd favourite, world famous pumpkin painting extravaganza!
Free to attend!
September 16th 2024
NATIONAL DAY FOR TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION
September 30th 2024
Screenings of the films:
HONOUR TO SENATOR MURRAY SINCLAIR
by Alanis Obomsawin
and
WILFRED BUCK
by Lisa Jackson.
Doors open at 6pm. Film screenings start at 6:30pm and last around 2 hours.
Films will be screened in English with French subtitles.
Screenings to take place in the barn so be sure to dress warmly!
Free to attend!
August 29th 2024
Tools from yesteryear weekend – September 14th & 15th 2024: 11am – 4pm
July 22nd 2024
LIVING HISTORY FOR KIDS
Join us for a series of fun and educational workshops designed for children aged 4-10! Each workshop lasts around 1 hour and takes place at 10am on the specified dates. Come and explore different historical crafts and activities with us!
Schedule:
Wednesday, July 31 – Butter Churning
Saturday, August 3 – Bracelet Making
Tuesday August 6th – Cardboard Loom Weaving
Wednesday, August 7 – Mini Flower Pot Painting
Saturday, August 10 – Ice Cream Making
Wednesday, August 14 – Bubble Wand Making
Thursday, August 15 – Bannock Making
Saturday, August 17 – Origami
Saturday, August 24 – Rock Painting
Saturday, August 31 – Candle Dipping
Come and join the fun while learning about history through hands-on activities!
Spots are limited! Register by emailing:
fairbairn.tourisme@gmail.com
July 8th 2024
THE BARN SESSIONS
During our 2023 summer season, some concerts were moved to our barn due to bad weather. We quickly realized that the barn’s exceptional acoustics and intimate atmosphere created the perfect setting for concerts!
Inspired by this discovery, we are thrilled to announce “The “Barn Sessions” — a live recording and concert project. Presented by the Fairbairn Heritage Centre, this project is being carried out in collaboration with James Healey, a renowned sound engineer from Wakefield, Quebec. The series will feature five intimate concerts in our historic barn. Each concert will have a limited number of seats available for the public, and each performance will be recorded as a live album.
Concert schedule:
- July 18: Bluebird
- August 9: Holly McLachlan
- August 21: Benj Rowland
- September 19: Shannon Ross
- October 3: Po Lazarus
Tickets are priced at $20 per concert. If the cost is an issue, please email us and we will work with you to ensure you can attend. We extend our sincere thanks to all our partners and sponsors for making this series possible.
We hope to see you there!
June 20th 2024
National Indigenous Peoples day
National Indigenous Peoples Day (June 21st) Programming at Fairbairn House Heritage Centre
4:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Exhibit Viewing and Artist Talk
Along the Te-nagàdino-Zibi: Works of Art by Algonquin Artists Claude Latour & John Tenasco
Artist Talk by Claude Latour
Film Screenings:
Trails and Trials by Savanna Oliver
200 Fahrenheit by Juan Huerta
Both films produced by the 100 Mile Arts Network
Special Screening:
Shooting the Indian Act: Kitigan Zibi 2003 by Claude Latour
8:15 PM
Sunset Ceremony led by Louise Profeit-Leblanc
June 17th 2024
Fairbairn Escape Challenge
Fairbairn House Heritage Centre is excited to announce that our escape challenge is back for 2024!
Help school teacher Margaret find the gold stashed by her husband in the one room school house, just before he headed back out west to the BC gold rush.
The Fairbairn log cabin escape room challenge takes approximately 1 hour to complete and is suitable for those 6 yrs old and up! Children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult. For groups of 2-6 people.
Available timeslots are listed here and must be booked in advanced.
This activity is free and has been funded by the Canadian Government.
June 5th 2024
Along the Te-nagàdino-Zibi
The Fairbairn House Heritage Centre proudly presents Along the Te-nagàdino-Zibi, an art exhibit showcasing the talents of Algonquin artists Claude Latour and John Tenasco.
This exhibition features a blend of new and classic works from both artists, offering a unique glimpse into their creative journeys.
Join us for the vernissage on Saturday, June 15th, from 5:30 to 8:30 PM. Meet the artists and immerse yourself in their inspiring creations.
The exhibit will be on display until September 29th, 2024.
May 31st 2024
Half a century of Up the Gatineau!
Up the Gatineau!, the GVHS‘s local history journal is turning 50!
Join us for a special retrospective exhibit and celebrate half a century of Up the Gatineau!
Explore a unique collection of incredible stories, essays, photographs, poems, and community history.
The exhibit opens to the public on Sunday, June 16th, and runs until October 13th.
This exhibit was funded by the Government of Canada.
See you there!
May 24th 2024
Musical Mondays 2024
Musical Mondays are just a month away!
We are delighted to announce the return of Musical Mondays. To ensure the series remains as accessible as possible, we’re reintroducing a “by donation / pass the hat” format. Your generous contributions will help us fairly compensate all the talented artists performing but if you’re unable to donate generously, don’t worry—come and enjoy the music regardless!
While we prefer cash donations, we will also have the means to accept debit and credit cards on-site.
This year, we’re excited to partner with Wakeside, who will offer a variety of meat, vegan, and gluten-free food options.
For full details, click here.
March 23rd 2024
We’re hiring!
Please email your resume and a cover letter to info@fairbairn.ca by April 14th 2024.
Full details here: Employment Opportunities
March 22nd 2024
2024 AGM + Membership Renewals
Fairbairn House Heritage Centre 2024 Annual General Meeting and Volunteer Appreciation Event.
This year’s Annual General Meeting and Volunteer Appreciation Event is taking place on Tuesday April 23 from 6-7 (Volunteer Appreciation) and 7-8 pm (AGM) at the Fairbairn House Heritage Centre, 45 ch de Wakefield Heights, Wakefield.
We will be sharing highlights of our past year and exciting news about the coming season. All members in good standing are eligible to vote at the AGM.
Please RSVP by emailing: info@fairbairn.ca
Meeting details and agenda will be sent to attendees closer to the meeting date.
MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS
With an exciting season of activities coming up at Fairbairn this summer and our AGM just around the corner, it’s now time to renew your membership.
Your annual membership dues helps us manage a multitude of expenses that aren’t covered by program funding. With your help, we can continue to maintain the beauty of this 160-year old community treasure!
Once you make this purchase someone from the Fairbairn House Heritage Centre will contact you to confirm your membership. Please make sure to provide a valid email!
March 8th 2024
MUSICAL MONDAYS 2024
The sun is getting warmer, the snow is melting and the sap is running… This all means that Musical Mondays are just around the corner!
🎵 Calling all artists!
Fill out the application form to be considered for this year’s Musical Mondays.
Click here to access the form.
The application process is open until March 31st 2024 after which artists will be selected and announced.
Please note that only selected performers will be contacted. Thanks for your understanding.
December 6th 2023
Christmas Eve at Fairbairn house heritage centre
HO HO HO!
Our annual Christmas Eve event is right around the corner!
Join us on December 24th from 2-4pm for some festive activities for the whole family.
Free admission! Bring cookies to share (Optional)
· Carol Singing
· Tree Decorating
· Hot chocolate and cider
· Christmas cookies
· Sale of our 2023 honey harvest
November 27th 2023
50 years of the Low Down to Hull and back to the future! – Now ONLINE!
“50 years of the Low Down to Hull and back to the future!”
Our latest retrospective exhibit celebrating 50 years of the Low Down and independent journalism has been digitized and is available for viewing online!
If you didn’t get a chance to make it out to Fairbairn House Heritage Centre or Centre Wakefield La Pêche to view it in person now is your chance to check it out!
View it here
September 14th 2023
50 years of the Low Down to Hull and back to the future! – Centre Wakefield La Pêche
Our latest retrospective exhibit celebrating 50 years of the Low Down and independent journalism is now on display at Centre Wakefield La Pêche until October 18th 2023.
Take a second to check it next time you’re there!
September 12th 2023
FAIRBAIRN HARVEST FESTIVAL
The annual Fairbairn harvest festival is fast approaching!
There will also be pumpkin painting as well as a free concert starting at 1pm presented by CKWE 103.9 Fm featuring Mike “The Bluesman” Buckshot + Rabbit Stew + Eddie Cote and Company.
See you all there !
July 24th 2023
A SELF GUIDED TOUR OF HISTORIC WAKEFIELD: THE SITE OF THE WAKEFIELD MILL
We know how much you all loved doing our walking tour of historic Wakefield so we’ve added a second component featuring the site of the Wakefield Mill!
The 19 stop tour takes you through the site starting and ending at the MacLaren cemetery.
Check it out Here!
July 8th 2023
LIVING HISTORY WORKSHOPS FOR KIDS
We’re very excited to once again be hosting a series of Living History workshops for kids.
Workshops will be taking place on Thursdays and Saturdays at 10am starting Thursday July 13th.
All workshops are free but children must be registered to participate.
Registration and more information can be found HERE.
July 13th – Cardboard Steam Trains
July 15th – Natural Dyes
July 20th – Beeswax Candle Making
July 22nd – Paper Basket Making
July 27th – Paper Quilt Making
July 29th – Ice Cream Making
August 3rd – Paper Marionnet Making
August 5th – Beeswax Candle Dipping
August 10th – Bracelet Making
July 7th 2023
RIVER: A YEAR IN COLOUR
Exhibit, video and drawings to colour!
Original art from the following artists:
Sofia Jain-Schlaepfer
Nathalie Coutou
Stephanie Hill
Gabiyen Ottawa
During the days of the pandemic, STO Union sent out an insert through our local paper, the Low Down to Hull and Back, and we asked people who were stuck at home to colour one drawing per season and to share what the river means to them.
The inserts were also available in libraries and schools. We received hundreds of submissions from people who shared their love of colour, of the river, and of the community they are in.
Come and see some of the coloured drawings on exhibit and colour your own to put up on the exhibition wall.
View the River video, a charming and moving short video about the project and how it grew into something much greater.
This sweet and uplifting community project is in French and English and will be on display at the Fairbairn House Heritage Centre from July 7th to September 3rd, 2023.
June 27th 2023
Musical Mondays
Wow!
What a great start to this year’s Musical Mondays!
Thanks to everyone who braved the many weather warnings and came out to what ended up being an incredible intimate show in the barn.
Shannon’s set was so good and we are beyond thrilled to have hosted her! If you missed the show or aren’t familiar make sure to check out her incredible album “Late Bloomer” on bandcamp!
June 19th 2023
Masham Memories
The Fairbairn House Heritage Centre is proud to present an exhibit showcasing Mr. Bernard Legros’ remarkable miniatures.
Starting June 24th, 2023, visitors can admire Mr. Legros’ intricate replicas of Masham’s past and present landmarks, including the Guinness World Records-recognized “Smallest Sawmill in Operation.”
June 16th 2023
Fairbairn Escape Challenge
Fairbairn House Heritage Centre is excited to announce the launch of our log cabin escape room challenge!
Help school teacher Margaret find the gold stashed by her husband in the one room school house, just before he headed back out west to the BC gold rush.
The Fairbairn log cabin escape room challenge is a free activity that takes approximately 1 hour to complete and is suitable for those 6 yrs old and up! Children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult. For groups of 1 to 6 persons.
More information HERE
June 14th 2023
The Low Down to Hull and Back to the Future!
Join us at Fairbairn House Heritage Centre on June 23rd 2023 at 6pm for an extraordinary retrospective exhibit, commemorating half a century of local journalism.
Explore a curated collection of front-page headlines, local stories, photographs and relive the moments that defined an era in our community. We look forward to seeing you there!
The Exhibit runs June 23rd – October 15th 2023.
May 15th 2023
2023 MUSICAL MONDAYS
We are excited to unveil the highly anticipated lineup for this year’s Musical Mondays! Once again, we will be hosting all concerts on our picturesque outdoor stage.
After carefully considering the valuable feedback we received from our community survey, we have made some exciting changes for this year’s series. First and foremost, we are delighted to announce that all concerts will be free for children and all students. While most events require tickets, our kids show will be completely free (thanks to the generous support of Les Serres Bourgeons). Additionally, the Hampsey’s House Party concert will operate on a voluntary contribution basis on the night of the event, ensuring everyone can attend. In making these changes our objective is to foster inclusivity and accessibility for all individuals.
We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to the Municipality of La Pêche, MRC des Collines de l’Outaouais, the Moulin Wakefield Mill, and all other sponsors who have played a vital role in making this series possible. We are immensely grateful for their support.
We look forward to welcoming you this summer for an unforgettable musical experience!
Full lineup and ticket information can be found: HERE
April 12th 2023
AGM 2023
Dear Fairbairn Members,
We look forward to meeting you and sharing news for the coming year at the 2023 AGM. All members in good standing are eligible to vote.
THURSDAY, APRIL 27, 7 PM
Fairbairn House Heritage Centre
45 Chem. de Wakefield Heights
Wakefield, QC, J0X 3G0
Please RSVP by emailing info@fairbairn.ca
Meeting details and agenda will be sent to attendees closer to the meeting date.
April 6th 2023
Membership Renewals
Over the last few years we’ve waived membership fees but with activities coming back to a full swing at Fairbairn this summer and our AGM just around the corner, it’s now time to renew and pay your dues.
Fairbairn House needs you! Your annual membership helps us manage a multitude of expenses that aren’t covered by program funding. With your help, we can continue to maintain the beauty of this 160-year old historical gem!
Once you make this purchase someone from the Fairbairn House Heritage Centre will contact you to confirm your membership. Please make sure to provide a valid email.
March 16th 2023
Hippie Music history @ La Fab sur Mill
We’re super thrilled to announce that our exhibit “Hippie music history in Western Quebec” is on display at La Fab sur Mill in Chelsea for the next 2 months!
Make sure to check it out at one of their upcoming events and be on the lookout for a special announcement regarding a night dedicated to the exhibit!
March 11th 2023
We’re hiring!
Please email your resume and a cover letter to info@fairbairn.ca by April 14th 2023.
Full details here: Employment Opportunities
January 22nd 2023
Pinock – Birchbark Canoe Workshop
Last weekend we had the absolute pleasure and honour of having Pinock lead an introduction to Algonquin birch bark canoe building workshop at Fairbairn.
Next steps will be to go to his studio in Kitigan Zibi where we will be building a canoe for our permanent exhibit which we are currently working on renewing.
If you’re interested in attending these workshops, stay tuned as we’ll be announcing dates later on this year!