Vanier Sugar Shack

Our Sugar Shack having been the victim of a fire in August 2020, we are currently in the process of reconstruction in order to welcoming the public as soon as possible.

The following information is therefore provided for informational purposes.

Less than 5km away from Downtown Ottawa, the Vanier Museopark’s Sugar Shack is one of the few active urban sugar shacks. It is within its sugar bush on a field of 17.5 acres, in the middle of the National Capital, that the Museopark proudly preserves the tradition of sugar parties of old.

Since 1998 the success of the sugar shack relies heavily on the help of generous volunteers who help us with multiple tasks, such as tapping the trees, collecting maple water, and serving meals at the restaurant.

Did you know that 40 L of maple water are needed to make 1 L of syrup?

Each year our team of volunteer sugar farmers, directed by Marc Madore, transforms the water from our maple trees into our precious golden treasure. We make between 600 and 1000 taps the old-fashioned way to produce between 400 and 600 L of syrup.

Besides its own production, the Vanier Sugar Shack also has the pleasure to transform into syrup the maple water from the maple trees in the Governor General’s garden.

History

The tradition of producing maple syrup in Vanier did not appear out of nowhere. In fact, it was the missionary White Fathers of Africa who began the production of maple syrup on the grounds of their scholasticate located in Richelieu Park. The very first sugar shack was built 1939, and older Vanierois still remember helping the White Father to collect maple water in exchange for syrup. To modernize their settings the White Fathers built a second shack around 1960, in the same spot where the original once stood.

After the departure of the White Fathers in 1976, the exploitation of the sugar bush stopped until mid-1990.  The group Action Vanier takes charge of the sugar shack’s management and the organisation of the Sugar Festival, created a few years earlier by the City of Vanier. Today’s sugar shack was opened in 1999, the year following a great ice storm. The trees decimated by the storm were recycled and used in the construction of the shack’s ceiling as well as the tables and benches.

Since winter 2012, the Vanier Museopark is the owner of the sugar shack and responsible for its management. We continue to preserve a community spirit, uniting us especially around the sugar season.

Access and parking

Located at 300 des Pères-Blancs Avenue, the sugar shack is hidden in the heart of the sugar bush, following the path located left of the municipal library.

• Direct access for cars is only offered to people with reduced mobility.
• A large, free parking lot is available for our visitors.
• The OC Transpo bus route 20 stops right in front of the Richelieu-Vanier Community Centre, just a 2 minute walk away from the sugar shack.

Rental (Sugar shack and/or museum)

The sugar shack and the museum can be booked for all sorts of events: professional meetings, get-togethers or seminars, book launches, weddings, dance nights, birthdays, themed evenings (Halloween, Christmas, mother’s day, father’s day, etc.).

Rates and services

Extras

Maple Syrup recipe ideas