DesBrisay Museum

05/22/2026

Coming Soon!

The DesBrisay Museum is Honored to present, Powered by Water: Stories of the Wile Carding Mill.

Join us in exploring the history of the 1860s Sebastopol district of Bridgewater, a bustling 19th-century industrial hub where the Wile Mill stood alongside a vibrant mix of sawmills, grist mills, foundries, tanneries, and carriage shops Celebrate the machinery and people that built our town. Discover how these water-powered industries fueled Bridgewater's economy, and see how the pioneering women of the Carding Mill helped produce a product that clothed the community. As the last intact building of this era, the Wile Carding Mill remains a cornerstone of our heritage.

When: Wednesday June 24, 2026
Where: 130 Jubilee Road, Bridgewater
Time: 9 AM - 5 PM Tuesday to Saturday
Admission: FREE! Donations appreciated. Donations help fund special projects and contribute to the preservation of our art, artefacts and archives.



Photo information
Promotional poster for an exhibition titled "Powered by Water: Stories of the Wile Carding Mill" at the DesBrisay Museum. The main image is a close-up of weathered, vintage industrial mill machinery with heavy metal wheels and a thick belt. Text details include dates from June 24 to September 26, 2026, open Tuesday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm, and free admission. Logos for DesBrisay Museum and the Town of Bridgewater are at the bottom with contact info.

05/20/2026

📣Be Part of Canada Day in Downtown Bridgewater!

Plans are well underway for Canada Day on the LaHave 2026 and we invite you to be a part of the celebrations!

King Street and the Old Bridge will be closed to traffic adding more spaces and places for community participation, including within King Street Court Park, Riverside Park, and Pijinuiskaq Park.

Would your community group, organization, club or business like to ‘pop up’ on July 1st and be a part of the festivities?

Maybe you’d like to host a fundraiser activity, a demonstration or a ‘try it’ session?

We’ll have a core program in place including the South Shore Multicultural Festival, community picnic, food trucks, kid zone, carnival style activities, a vendor market, but there’s room for so much more!

With Canada Day festivities kicking-off at 11 AM and continuing until 7 PM we’d love to have you to help us create a fun July 1st.

Have an idea? Let us know what you’re thinking! Submit your idea at Bridgewater.ca/CanadaDay before May 29, or email [email protected] and we’ll connect with you.

If your organization is already planning to host an event, let us help promote it within our Canada Day schedule of activities. Register it now at ExploreBridgewater.ca/events

05/12/2026

show your support to the DesBrisay Museum and Local artists. Stop in to the Friends Of the DesBrisay Museum Gift shop at the South Shore Center, as we take part in the Discover Downtown Bridgewater event

The DesBrisay Museum Gift Shop will be open on Saturday, June 6 from 10 am - 4 pm as we participate in Discover Downtown Bridgewater! For this event, we are offering 10% off plus all purchases will earn you a ballot for a door prize. Come out and support the beautiful downtown, the many merchants and restaurants located here as well as the Friends of the DesBrisay Museum. The Friends are proud supporters of the Museum as well as the local makers, artists and authors that display in our shop.

05/12/2026

Move Over Stick People!!

Are you afraid to draw people? Don't be!!
Join Emma Fitzgerald for some fun warm up drawing activities to loosen you up, and then learn the basics of proportion. There will then be the opportunity to practice drawing a person, with timed exercises, and a more extended long pose. This is not a Life drawing class - the model is clothed.
Artist and Instructor Emma FitzGerald is known for her illustrations in books like "Sketch by Sketch Along Nova Scotia's South Shore" and "Hand Drawn Halifax". She is experienced working with participants of all levels, including beginner.
Participants can bring a sketchbook, approximately 8x10", preferred sketching materials, and water bottle.

Tuesday, June 2 from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
DesBrisay Museum, 130 Jubilee Rd, Bridgewater
$20/Ages 18+

Register here: https://www.connect2rec.com/Program/GetProgramDetails?courseId=a5295e8c-ead9-4b49-a2b0-9ce4a31224c9

05/10/2026

This Mother's Day, we’re looking back at a beautiful moment captured over a century ago. This photograph from our archives, (Acc. No.2011.22.4) taken around 1900 by F.E. Garber, shows a mother, likely from the Tryphena Zwicker family of Camperdown, standing proudly beside her baby.

To all the mothers in our community who have nurtured, guided, and built our history, we thank you. Happy Mother's Day from all of us at the DesBrisay
Museum!

05/09/2026

Calling all seniors in Lunenburg and Queens! Are you looking for a fun, inclusive way to spend your Tuesday afternoons? Join us for Creative Connections, a free art-based social program where you can create, chat, and connect.

⚠️ REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED! ⚠️To ensure your spot in this popular program, please make sure to sign up in advance.

Email: [email protected]
Call: 902-521-8939

Whether you’re an experienced artist or just looking to try something new, we can't wait to see you there!

Where: DesBrisay Museum (130 Jubilee Rd, Bridgewater)
When: Tuesdays, 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM

05/08/2026

Calling all horse lovers!

Join us at the DesBrisay Museum for a special presentation by photographer Kerry Jarvis. Explore the powerful impact horses have had on our world through a captivating collection of images, videos, and stories.

Don’t miss this chance to see our history "straight from the horse's mouth"

When: Thursday, June 11th, 2026
Time: 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Where: DesBrisay Museum, 130 Jubilee Road, Bridgewater
Admission: FREE

Mark your calendars, we’ll see you there!

05/06/2026

Happy Gaelic Nova Scotia Month!

Ready to dive deeper into the Gaelic history and traditions that shaped our province? Whether you’re a descendant looking for your roots or just curious to learn a few words, there are some incredible resources available to help you on your journey

Learn the History, explore the Gaelic Nova Scotia Resource :https://gaelic.novascotia.ca/sites/default/files/inline/documents/gaelic-nova-scotia-a-resource-guide.pdf

Research Your Roots, check the Gaelic collections at the Nova Scotia Archives, https://archives.novascotia.ca/gaelic

Want to try learning Gaelic yourself? Find classes and opportunities here: https://www.gaelic.ca/want-to-learn-gaelic

05/05/2026

05/03/2026

We continue Celebrating Asian Heritage Month.

On Display now, Take a look at this stunning piece of history from our collection: a traditional Japanese wedding bowl. (Acc. No.DB135, Circa 1830)

Crafted from plated copper, this was once used to serve hot sake at grand banquets and weddings. You might notice its unique, adjustable long handle—this wasn't just for style! It served as a practical tool to help servers pour from a distance and to keep the heat of the sake away from their hands.

This piece bears the circular crest of the Tokugawa family, the powerful shogunate that ruled Japan as military leaders from 1615 to 1868. If you look closely, you’ll see beautiful engravings of nature, leaves, birds, trees, and flowers.

We invite you to visit us this month to discover this incredible artifact.

📍 Where: DesBrisay Museum, 130 Jubilee Road, Bridgewater
⏰ Hours: Tuesday–Saturday, 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
🎟️ Admission: Free!