Tapping and Harvesting Maple Sap – 2026 Edition (Activity completed)
During the 2026 maple syrup season, the Vanier Museopark once again called on the community to take part in a key step of maple syrup production: tapping the maple trees. The Vanier Sugar Shack remains the only active urban sugar shack in the country.
People of all ages, including families, couples, and friends, gathered in the Richelieu Park forest, just minutes from downtown Ottawa, to participate in this traditional activity. Together, they helped tap the maple trees by drilling holes, inserting spiles, and hanging buckets to collect maple sap, the tree’s precious sweet sap.
Over the following weeks, the sap was collected in rhythm with the freeze-thaw cycles and then processed at the sugar shack. Boiled for several hours, it was transformed into a rich, amber, and flavourful maple syrup.
A heartfelt thank you to all participants who contributed to the success of this activity and to the continuation of this beautiful tradition.
Discover how maple trees are tapped at the Vanier Museopark in this video.
Collecting maple sap
At the Vanier Museopark, the maple season generally begins in late February and continues until the end of April. Our season is generally shorter because our maple bush is located in an urban environment.
The maple season begins when the trees freeze at night, but thaw during the day. This natural cycle, where ideal temperatures vary between -5°C at night and 5°C during the day, ensures a good flow of maple sap.
Since we are a small team at the Museopark, we need the community’s help to collect this precious maple sap. Stay tuned to our social medias to find out when our team will be harvesting the sap in the Richelieu Park maple bush!
