Exhibit shaped by community opens at McDougall Cottage

Waterloo Region – Region of Waterloo Museums and Archives is pleased to invite the community to explore their new exhibit, Snapshots in Time: Nostalgia & Memory, at McDougall Cottage Historic Site on Friday, February 20. Shaped by the voices of Cambridge residents, Snapshots in Time transports visitors into the past, celebrating 50 years of Cambridge history. It features the schools, businesses, and gathering places that not only shaped the city, but also helped form the identities and memories of the people who call it home.

Through consultation, surveys and calls for photograph and artifact submissions, the Region of Waterloo Museums and Archives created an exhibit that shares the experience of living in Cambridge, Ontario. With nods to nostalgic favourites like the Knotty Pine Restaurant and landmarks like Riverside Park, Snapshots in Time reflects on themes of identity, change, and belonging in an ever-changing community.

“Snapshots in Time reminds us that our community is more than buildings and streets, it’s the memories, stories, and shared experiences that connect us,” said Karen Redman, Chair of the Region of Waterloo. “By preserving historic places and honouring the memories they carry, we celebrate who we are and where we come from. Most importantly, this exhibit reflects the voices of our residents and local organizations, whose input ensures our history is told from all voices.”

Enclosed in the 168-year-old McDougall Cottage, Snapshots in Time fits perfectly into an environment where the past is woven into every space, and where reminders of the generations that came before still linger.

“We chose nostalgia as the theme for our new exhibit because it’s something almost everyone has experienced and can relate to,” said Michelle Barlett, Head of Content and Experience for McDougall Cottage. “The remembrances and reflections gathered from the members of our community will provide a wonderful starting point for conversations about community belonging - a topic that is meaningful, powerful, and relevant today.”

Snapshots in Time involved over 21 contributors including the City of Cambridge, Hespeler Heritage Centre Archives, North Dumfries Historical Preservation Society, and the University of Waterloo Collections and Archives. The exhibit also includes stories, photographs and artifacts submitted by local residents.

Snapshots in Time: Nostalgia & Memory opens Friday, February 20, 2026 at McDougall Cottage.

Hours:
McDougall Cottage Historic Site is open Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 12 to 4 p.m. Admission is by donation. Parking can be found on this map.

To learn more about Snapshots in Time: Nostalgia & Memory, visit Regionofwaterloomuseums.ca/snapshots/.

About the Region of Waterloo Museums and Archives

The Region of Waterloo Museums and Archives operate four experiential sites throughout Waterloo Region. Together, Doon Heritage Village, Schneider Haus, McDougall Cottage and the Ken Seiling Waterloo Region Museum tell stories from this region through educational and public programming, events, and a collection of over 60,000 cultural belongings.

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