Community Waterfront Heritage Centre (CWHC)
Celebrating the Marine, Rail and Industrial Heritage of Owen Sound, Ontario
Community Waterfront Heritage Centre Hours
Open By Appointment
Notices and Announcements:
Folk For Heritage is Back!
Join us on the Owen Sound Legion from 7:00pm-10:00pm for the return of Folk For Heritage! Larry Jensen and Trish and Dave Hawkins will be performing all your favourite folk hitse!
Tickets are $25 and can be bought here.
Open By Appointment
Our 2024 season has ended and we no longer have regular hours. We continue to be open by appointment. To book a visit after this date, please call 519-371-3333 or email info@waterfrontheritage.ca. Regular hours will resume in spring of 2025.
Last Updated on January 16th, 2025
Community Waterfront Heritage Centre
1155 1st Ave W,Owen Sound, ON N4K 4K8
Call Us: 519-371-3333
Email: info@waterfrontheritage.ca
CWHC is a registered charity:
# 839177177 RR0001
CWHC is a member of the Ontario Museum Association and the Ontario Historical Society.
Introducing "SPECS"
The Community Waterfront Heritage Centre is pleased to acknowledge that we have received funding from the Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP). This funding has allowed us to start our new project: Social Prescriptions Engage Cultural Seniors (SPECS).
To learn more about SPECS and keep up to date on its developments, click here or go to waterfrontheritage.ca/specs.
You can find a listing of SPECS events on our calendar here.
VIP Memberships
With 2024 coming to an end, it’s the perfect time to renew or sign up for a VIP membership with the Community Waterfront Heritage Centre! VIP memberships are a great way to support the museum while getting some benefits in return.
VIP Memberships grant you a number of fun perks! You will have free entry to the museum, a discount on some gift shop items, a 1 hour research credit for research conducted by CWHC staff, and voting rights at the AGM.
You can sign up for a VIP membership a number of ways. The easiest is to use this online form. If you would like to sign up in person, email info@waterfrontheritage.ca or call 519-371-3333 to arrange a time to come in. If you are a renewing member, you can also send an e-transfer to info@waterfrontheritage.ca, and include a note in the memo field that it is for your membership renewal.
An individual VIP membership is $25, and a family membership (including 2 adults and 3 youth) is $40. If you have any questions about VIP memberships, don’t hesitate to ask!
Folk For Heritage is Back!
Tickets are $25 for this night of music in support of the Community Waterfront Heritage Centre. You can buy tickets ahead of time here.
If you have any questions, email info@waterfrontheritage.ca or call 519-371-3333.This event is funded in part by the Federal Government’s New Horizons For Seniors Program as part of our SPECS initiative.
2025 Model Show and Sale
Calling all railway modellers and enthusiasts! The date has been set for next year’s Model Show and Sale! After the great success of our inaugural 2024 show, we will once again be inviting you to join us on Sunday, September 28th, for an incredible array of vendors and displays!
The show will be taking place at the Owen Sound Legion (1450 2nd Ave. W.) from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. You will find working models, rolling stock, modeling equipment and more! Not only that, but admission to the show will once again grant admission to the CWHC as well, so not only can you enjoy our dioramas in the museum, but you can experience more of Owen Sound’s Railway history as well!
If you or someone you know is interested in being a vendor at our show, reach out now to let us know! You can inquire about becoming a vendor by calling 519-371-3333 or emailing info@waterfrontheritage.ca
About CWHC
Learn all about the Community Waterfront Hertitage Centre
The Community Waterfront Heritage Centre celebrates and preserves Owen Sound’s heritage on the waterfront. It focuses on the marine, rail and industrial history of the City and surrounding communities.
Our Vision
The CWHC enlivens community connections and experiences through sharing collective stories.
Our Mission
The CWHC honours the legacy of “The Waterfront” community hub by sharing stories, presenting fun and educational experiences and offering unique opportunities to explore the curiosity of area residents and connect the imagination of visitors to our collective history
Our History
The Community Waterfront Heritage Centre is located in the historic CN Rail Station, on Owen Sound’s harbourfront. The Marine Rail Heritage Centre was first established in 1978 by a volunteer group of history enthusiasts who wanted to preserve and expand upon Owen Sound’s history as a thriving port. It preserves the area’s marine, rail and industrial history. It opened to the public in 1985.
On June 28, 2014, the Centre officially opened under new management. We hope you will visit us regularly, whether in person or virtually.
Housed in a former Canadian National Railway Station, the museum features artifacts, scale models, archival photos and interactive stations. It also showcases exquisite ship models made by skilled artisans, along with CNR and CPR memorabilia. Each season, it hosts temporary special exhibits. The former CN station is now listed on the city’s Heritage Register.
Ask to see the working model railroad, or if you’re there at 12 or 5 p.m. enjoy the sound of the historic Kennedy Foundry Whistle.
CWHC is committed to having an open and transparent Board of Directors.
Chair: Nicole Egan
Vice Chair: Jan Chamberlain
Secretary: Lynda Chiotti
Treasurer: Janet Iles
Board Members:
Stephen Crane
Staff:
Zack McLean
Curator & Manager
Waterfront Heritage
A series of Newsletters published by the Community Waterfront Heritage Centre (CWHC
Contact Us
Comunity Waterfront Heritage Centre (CWHC)
1155 1st Ave W,Owen Sound, ON N4K 4K8
Call Us: 519-371-3333
Email: info@waterfrontheritage.ca