Exhibits and programs

What would it be like to live in a museum?

"Life Upstairs" is a digital exhibit that tells the fascinating history of Brubacher House's live-in hosts through personal stories, photos and videos from past and present hosts. 

Curated by Brubacher House 2021 Digital Historian-in-Residence Bethany Leis in partnership with Web Designer Chris Steingart. Supported by the J. Winfield Fretz Publication Fund of the Mennonite Historical Society of Ontario and Conrad Grebel University College.

Explore the Life Upstairs digital exhibit!

Watch the event recording from our exhibit launch on YouTube.

We loved to bring sledders hot chocolate and meet people out on the winter hill, encouraging them to come visit us again in warmer days.

Jacquie and Karl Reimer (2013-2017)
A panoramic shot of a room in Brubacher
Wednesday, September 8, 2021

Life Upstairs at Brubacher House

Curious tourists, skunk invasions, biblical basement floods, incredible lake views and sunsets... just a day in the life of a Brubacher House host! 

What is it like to live in a museum? An exciting new digital exhibit explores this question from the perspective of the 22 hosts who have called Brubacher House home.

A straw hat hooked on a wall
Thursday, January 27, 2022

Reopening of Brubacher House

After two years of closure due to COVID-19, Brubacher House has now reopened for pre-scheduled tours and event space rentals. Please review our COVID-19 health and safety protocols below before planning your visit.

Artist-in-Residence program

Since 2017, we have welcomed seasonal Artists-in-Residence--local, emerging or professional artists and artisans--to create and share work inspired by Brubacher House and its history. The program also provides opportunities for artists to engage with the community through participatory arts workshops. We gratefully acknowledge the generous support of the Mennonite Historical Society of Ontario which makes this program possible.

A group of people around a table

Contact us if you are interested in applying or nominating someone! 

Past Artists-in-Residence:

Fall 2023 and Spring 2024
Home Routes (Music)

Fall 2022 and Spring 2023
Hannah Gardiner and Jakob-Michael Stephan (Poetry Translation)

Summer 2022
Yulia Balobanova (Visual art)

Summer and Fall 2021
Bethany Leis (Digital history)

Summer 2019
Emily Cho (Gardening)

Fall 2018
Julianna Suderman (Writing)

Summer 2018
Sara Brubacher (Herbalism)

Fall 2017
Kandace Boos (Collage)

Summer 2017
Meg Harder (Mixed media)

This season, we are thrilled to present an exciting lineup of Home Routes folk concerts as part of Brubacher House's 2023-24 Artist-in-Residence program.