Tapping and harvesting maple sap
Every year, the Vanier Museopark seeks the help of the community to take part in an essential step in the production of maple syrup at its sugar shack: maple tree tapping. The Vanier Sugar Shack is the only operating sugar shack in an urban setting in Canada!
Young and old, families, couples and friends are invited to come to the Richelieu Park forest, about 5 minutes from downtown Ottawa, to tap sugar maple trees in the traditional way: drilling holes in the trees, inserting spigots and hanging buckets to collect maple water, the tree’s sweet sap.
The maple sap will be harvested later in the spring, when the days are warmer, but the nights are still cold. It will then be boiled for several hours to be transformed into maple syrup, a golden, amber and deliciously sweet liquid!
Community maple tree tapping event
Date : Saturday, February 14, 2026
Time : 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Location : Vanier Sugar Shack (320 des Pères-Blancs Ave.)
Cost : Free
Here’s some information to help you make the most of your community tapping experience:
- A quick training session on tree tapping and forest orientation will be offered every hour on the hour.
- Please bring a wireless drill and charged batteries if you can.
- Dress appropriately for the weather.
- Coffee and hot chocolate will be served at the Vanier Sugar Shack after the tree tapping event to thank our participants for their efforts!
- Limited free parking at Centre Richelieu-Vanier (300, av. des Pères-Blancs, Ottawa). Take the pathway near the library to get directly to the sugar shack.
- Registration is recommended, but not mandatory (link coming soon).
Take advantage of the Family Day long weekend (and Winterlude’s last weekend) to take part in this unique activity that combines old-fashioned tradition and winter fun!
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!
Eating at the Sugar Shack
