Ottawa, February 13, 2025 – February marks the beginning of the maple season at the Vanier Museopark. The Vanier Sugar Shack, the only urban sugar shack in the country, is gearing up for its 2025 season.
Several activities will be offered throughout maple season, which runs from mid-February to late April each year. Here are the key dates to remember for the 2025 maple season at the Vanier Museopark:
“Sugar traditions have been deeply rooted in the Vanier community for many years, notably due to the White Fathers who, in 1939, quickly recognized the maple syrup potential of what is now Richelieu Park, and built the first sugar shack there,” says Madeleine Meilleur, Executive Director of the Vanier Museopark. “Our season starts earlier than other sugar shacks because we are located right in the heart of the city. We’re looking forward to a great maple season this year, so we’re really hoping the community will join us to be a part of it!”
Tapping maple trees in the city: A unique experience for friends and families
On Saturday, February 15, 2025, the Vanier Museopark invites the community to lend a hand as the team taps the maple trees in Richelieu Park. This year, the event is part of Winterlude’s programming. This fun and unique experience allows participants to reconnect with settlers and Indigenous traditions while ensuring the intergenerational transfer of knowledge on traditional maple syrup production.
The goal of the day is to tap 500 trees in the urban maple grove. Volunteers will, of course, be rewarded for their efforts with pea soup, coffee, tea, and hot chocolate served at the Sugar Shack.
For more information on the tapping event: https://museoparc.ca/activities-and-events/maple-tree-tapping/
Eating at the Vanier Sugar Shack: A uniquely delicious experience, just minutes from downtown!
The day after the community tapping event, on Sunday, February 16, 2025, the Vanier Sugar Shack will be ready to welcome its first guests. Vanier Sugar Shack Chef Julien Fournier has refreshed the menu. This season’s featured dishes are The Lumberjack and The Hiker, each priced at $25 per person. Kid-sized portions of each dish will also be available for children aged 10 and under ($12 per child).
High-quality ingredients, sourced from local producers, in a charming setting where old-world charm meets modernity: that’s the experience you’ll enjoy at the Vanier Sugar Shack!
Discover the menu here: https://museoparc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2025-Menu_Vanier-Sugar-Shack_.pdf
Opening hours during maple season: February 16 to April 21, 2025
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
To make a group reservation at the Vanier Sugar Shack, email cabane@museoparc.ca or call 613-842-9871, ext. 1.
For more information on the Vanier Sugar Shack and its history, please visit the Museopark website: https://museoparc.ca/vanier-sugar-shack/
The Vanier Sugar Festival: A 40-year tradition in the neighbourhood!
A flagship event in the Vanier Museopark’s public programming, the Sugar Festival celebrates maple season while allowing local, national, and international visitors to (re)discover the artisanal production of maple syrup.
The Museopark is proud to announce that the 40th Vanier Sugar Festival will take place from March 24 to 30, 2025. Details on the Festival’s programming will be unveiled in the coming weeks. This edition of the Sugar Festival is presented by Desjardins Ontario Credit Union.
Happy maple season!
About the Vanier Museopark
The Vanier Museopark is a non-profit organization in the heart of Vanier, a working-class neighbourhood near downtown Ottawa, which celebrates the community’s rich heritage and history. Through exhibitions, talks, workshops, school programs, and interpretive tours, the Vanier Museopark helps curious people of all ages and cultures discover and learn about the habits and customs of the local Francophone community. The Vanier Museopark is Ottawa’s only French-language museum and one of the few Canadian museums devoted entirely to the Francophone community outside Quebec. The Museopark operates an authentic sugar shack in the heart of an urban maple forest, the only one of its kind in the world. It also hosts the Sugar Festival, an annual event that promotes maple syrup culture, showcases Franco-Ontarian and Indigenous artists, and is a hugely popular family activity. Proud of its roots, the Vanier Museopark has been a fixture of the community since it was founded in 2004. www.museoparc.ca
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For more information, visuals, interview requests, or questions of any kind, please contact:
Annick Normand
Communications and Marketing Manager
Vanier Museopark
communication@museoparc.ca