Evolution of the Museum in the News
This compilation of all the articles written locally about the museum presents the clear evolution of the Waterdown Museum of Hope (also referred to in these articles as The Waterdown Museum of History and WDHS Museum). The seeds of the museum were planted with “The Hope Project” in 2012. The Genocide course has grown to four classes for the 2022/23 school year and 1,000 students will have been involved in the museum.
“It’ll also be a memorial to the people who died.”
Steffi Lang, Former WDHS Student and Student Founder of the museum, commenting on “The Hope Project”.
The museum continues to inspire a new way of teaching with a middle school in Burlington starting their own museum and a new partnership with Ancaster High School, working towards opening their museum in Fall 2022.
2024
Waterdown Museum of Hope brings home municipal heritage award, Flamborough Today, June 14, 2024
Waterdown Museum of Hope opens with largest event in 11 years, Flamborough Today, June 7, 2024
Waterdown Museum of Hope to receive Municipal Heritage Award, Flamborough Today, June 6, 2024
Public invited to help Waterdown Museum of Hope mark D-Day on Thursday, Hamilton Spectator, June 5, 2024
2023
‘Fantastic’: Waterdown Museum of Hope celebrates grand opening, Hamilton Spectator, November 16, 2023
‘So happy’: Waterdown Museum of Hope opens at Waterdown Legion, Hamilton Spectator, November 7, 2023
Mr. Flosman’s opus: history teacher realizes dream of a permanent community museum in Waterdown, Hamilton Spectator, November 7, 2023
A different attic and a different ending, Hamilton Jewish News, Sept 2023
Waterdown’s Lang family gets Righteous Among the Nations recognition, Flamborough Review, June 13, 2023
‘Support the museum’s move’: Waterdown Museum of Hope fundraising walk and run May 28, Flamborough Review, May 24, 2023
‘Go out with a bang’: Waterdown Museum of Hope opens May 4 at WDHS, Flamborough Review, May 2, 2023
‘This is wonderful’: Waterdown woman donates $5K to Waterdown Museum of Hope, Hamilton Spectator, March 15, 2023
Waterdown Museum of Hope launches artifact case fundraiser, Hamilton Spectator, March 10, 2023
2022
‘Different take on things’: WDHS Museum of Hope opens from Nov. 11 to 18, Hamilton Spectator, November 9, 2022
‘That’s our military history’: WDHS Museum partners with legion for permanent space, Hamilton Spectator, June 16, 2022
‘Really exciting’: WDHS hosts first HAM Festival from June 6-16, Hamilton Spectator, June 1, 2022
2021
‘Very modest’: WDHS marks Remembrance Day with Korean War display, Flamborough Review, Nov 5, 2021
2020
Waterdown veteran remembered as part of high school museum, Flamborough Review, November 16, 2020
WDHS Museum looking for stories from the Liberation of Holland, Flamborough Review, April 3, 2020
2019
WDHS Museum of History opens Nov. 11; Cold War and Anne Frank House VR goggles are highlights, Flamborough Review, November 7, 2019
Waterdown high school Canadian and world studies, art programs hit by cuts; Grade 12 local Flamborough history course among those scrapped, Flamborough Review, June 18, 2019
Waterdown Museum of History open to the public May 13; New exhibits include D-Day, dedicated room on the Holocaust, Flamborough Review, May 7, 2019
WDHS teacher Rob Flosman wins 2019 Sharon Enkin Award; Award recognizes excellence in Holocaust education, Flamborough Review, April 8, 2019
2018
Waterdown Museum of History opens Nov. 9; Student-run museum to mark 80th anniversary of Kristallnacht, Flamborough Review, November 6, 2018
Great Teaching: Beyond the History Books, Professionally Speaking, Publication of the Ontario College of Teachers, October 2018
Waterdown Museum of History opens to the public May 4; Student-run museum to feature WW2 Jeep, pilot exhibits, Flamborough Review, May 1, 2018
2017
Love is the answer, daughter of Holocaust survivor tells Waterdown students; Jeannie Opdyke Smith shared mother’s story at WDHS, Flamborough Review, November 17, 2017
Waterdown teacher Rob Flosman receives Governor General’s History Award for Teaching Excellence; WDHS history teacher recognized for student-run Waterdown Museum of History, Flamborough Review, November 14, 2017
Waterdown teacher wins Governor General award for museum creation, cbc.ca, November 13, 2017
Rob Flosman: Recipient of the 2017 Governor General’s History Award for Excellence in Teaching, Canada’s History, November 8, 2017
Holocaust survivor, protector reunited through Waterdown student project, Toronto Star, August 27, 2017
Waterdown student project leads to reunion of Holocaust survivor, protector, Flamborough Review, August 23, 2017
Waterdown student discovers Holocaust story of heroic forebears, Flamborough Review, May 23, 2017
Waterdown High School Museum to feature Vimy, Anne Frank installations; Community invited to view exhibits, Flamborough Review, May 5, 2017
2016
Waterdown District High School Museum to feature to-scale trench; Exhibit open to the public May 4, Flamborough Review, April 29, 2016
2015
Gramophone Tour Project to make stop at Waterdown Museum of History, Flamborough Review, April 22, 2015
Waterdown history teacher to speak at Feb. 27 heritage meeting, Flamborough Review, February 13, 2015
2014
Waterdown teacher presents at Canada-wide history conference, Flamborough Review, Dec 8, 2014
Waterdown students, seniors break down barriers between generations, Flamborough Review, November 24, 2014
HOLOCAUST EDUCATION WEEK: Hamilton high school features Shoah in exhibit, The Canadian Jewish News, November 4, 2014
Waterdown high school museum showcases Operation Bernhard, Flamborough Review, Oct 16, 2014
Share wartime memories with WDHS history department, Flamborough Review, January 20, 2014
2013
Waterdown history course on genocide culminates in projects of hope, Flamborough Review, May 3, 2013
2012
WDHS display recalls Manna drop, Flamborough Review, October 5, 2012
WDHS students work on The Hope Project, Flamborough Review, Feb 12, 2012