Sincere Thanks to the Aylmer Area Community Foundation!
July 10, 2026
The museum was thrilled to receive the news that we had been granted $4,000 by the Aylmer Area Community Foundation! We’re so incredibly grateful to have their support in our goal of preserving and presenting our local history. Our application for this grant was driven by two goals: technology upgrades and artifact acquisition.
Our computers are essential to the work we perform at the museum, but senior staff have been working with outdated and defunct hardware. With these funds, we were be able to replace the curator’s and the collections manager’s computer towers.
The museum was offered a collection of archival artifacts relating to Wilfred “Ducky” Smith (1903-1986), local business owner and member of our museum’s first board of directors. Mr. Smith was influential in establishing our museum and transforming our current building from a warehouse into a heritage institution. These artifacts are currently housed in Wembley, Alberta, and the shipping costs are more than the museum would be able to afford without the foundation’s support. We’re very pleased to be able to preserve Mr. Smith’s legacy with the help of the Aylmer Area Community Foundation!
Wilfred “Ducky” Smith, overseeing renovations to the museum at 14 East Street, published in the January 12, 1977 edition of the Aylmer Express
Left (left to right): Foundation Representative Harvey Tribe, Director Mary Giesbrecht, Office Manager Kathi Vandermeer, Board Chair Ron Sawyer