Toronto’s history museums will provide free general admission year round to celebrate May as Museum Month in the city.

The initiative will ensure that the museums provide equitable access and equal opportunity for all residents to participate in several cultural heritage spaces, according to a recent press release.

“Free general admission to Toronto History Museums ensures equity in programming, fair access to resources, full participation within city spaces, and equitable opportunities for participation for underserved and underrepresented groups," said Toronto Mayor John Tory. "This Museums Month and beyond, I encourage all residents to visit Toronto History Museums to learn about Toronto’s past, present and future.”

There will be 10 historic sites included in this initiative.

They are the :Colborne Lodge, Fort York National Historic Site, Gibson House Museum, Mackenzie House, Market Gallery, Montgomery’s Inn, Scarborough Museum, Spadina Museum, Todmorden Mills and Zion Schoolhouse.

May 18 also marks International museum day, with the theme, “The Power of Museums.” Further, the press release reads that the initiative will contribute to jumpstarting Toronto’s summer tourism season.

Since fall 2021, city council have passed several bills for increased funding towards cultural initiatives and help the recovery of Toronto's tourism sector that has struggled since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020.

As part of the ongoing process of assessing colonial legacies and working towards reconciliation and healing, the museums will re-evaluate the stories that are shared and how they are shared, especially in rethinking historical interpretation and highlighting stories and groups that are often overlooked in mainstream academia, the press release reads.

Some programming highlights for the initiative are mentorships programs, including the Awakenings Artist program, a partnership between the city and the Toronto Raptors.

Doors Open Toronto will also make its return as part of the initiative. The tours around historical sites is one of the most popular annual events, and makes its return later this month after a two-year pause since 2020 due to the pandemic.

To help increase accessibility to this initiative, Deputy Mayor Michael Thompson said,“The city is combating economic and cultural disparities across Toronto through impactful programs and services for equity-seeking communities and underserved areas of the city."

More details to come.

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