The MacLarenArtCentre is the regional public art gallery serving the residents of Barrie, the County of Simcoe and the surrounding area. The Gallery has a permanent collection of 26,600 works of art held in trust for the public and presents a year-round programme of world-class exhibitions, public art projects, education activities and special events.
In the Upper Canada of the 1820s, in the Village of Sharon, a small community known as the Children of Peace crafted, with simple tools but consummate skill and artistry, a dramatic architectural testament to its vision of a society founded on the values of peace, equality and social justice.The center piece of their activity was The Temple. Completed in 1832 and restored in 2011, it is now part of the Sharon National Historic Site, which encompasses nine historic buildings in a park like setting.
Our Mission
The Whitchurch-Stouffville Museum & Community Centre is committed to being a dynamic local point of community interaction through public programming, heritage conservation, research & education initiatives in a welcoming, authentic, and sustainable way.
Our Vision
Continuing the legacy provided by the early settler families and museum founders, the Whitchurch-Stouffville Museum & Community Centre is a unique focal point of community partnerships, appreciations and interpretation for the Town and its heritage preservation. As such, the Whitchurch-Stouffville Museum & Community Centre enables and empowers its diverse audience to:
Gather and celebrate with community members
Develop a shared sense of community and understanding of societal development in Canada
Learn about the many cultures who have shaped & continue to shape our community
Connect to the past
Contribute to local preservation