Headingley Heritage Centre Jim's Vintage Garages
How the Heritage Centre, Jim's Vintage Garages came to be..........
In 2002, Jim and Vivienne Pearn, long-term residents of Headingley, approached the Rural Municipality of Headingley with a very interesting proposition.
Jim and Vivienne were the owners of a very large and valuable collection of automotive and petroleum industry memorabilia which they had arranged and displayed in a building in their back yard in Headingley. They were offering to donate the collection,worth approximately $1,000,000.00, to the Rural Municipality of Headingley.
This set the wheels in motion, that drove a project, which culminated in the creation of the Headingley Heritage Centre, 'Jim's Vintage Garages'.
With the prospect of accepting this donation, a collective community fund raising committee was struck in the fall of 2003 to raise money to build a facility capable of housing this collection. Fund drives were organized,grants were applied,and doors were knocked on.
In February 2004,after acquiring donations from the RM, a Provincial and Federal infrastructure grant, a Thomas Sill Foundation grant, a lotteries Commission grant, and numerous very generous private donations, it was decided to start building.
A natural choice was to build a structure that was attached to the new Headingley Community Centre, which was just in the process of being completed. The Heritage Centre building was started in the Spring of 2004 and completed that summer.
The Pearn collection was then transferred to the new facility in September 2004. It required 27 trailer loads to complete the move.A volunteer committee, made up of several community residents, spent the rest of the winter 2004 and into spring 2005 re-creating the displays.
'Jim's Vintage Garages' was officially opened on May 14, 2005 with a ribbon cutting ceremony. Government officials in attendance were Lt-Gov. John Harvard,MP Stephen Fletcher,MLA Mavis Taillieu,Headingley Reeve Wilf Taillieu and Headingley Council Members as well as numerous representatives of the foundations and agencies who came forward with grants. Lt.-Gov. John Harvard, reeve Wilf Taillieu and Jim And Vivienne Pearn performed the official ribbon cutting.
Hours of Operation
Open during the summer months to September long weekend.
Check website for details www.jimsvintagegarages.ca
Guided tours arranged year round by appointment.
Find us on the Trans Canada Highway in Headingley, 5353 Portage Avenue
Admissions
Adults $5.00
Students $4.00
Seniors $4.00
Preschoolers free
Families $10.00 (2 adults, 4 children)
Groups $3.00 per person (7+ people)
Five Year Membership
Individuals $10.00
Families $20.00
Jim's Vintage Garages can only accept cash or e-transfer. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Museum Board
The museum is operated solely through the generous donated time of volunteers. If you would like to volunteer, please contact Board Chairperson, Rob Nowosad at 204-296-8008.