Canada's film legacy gets a big boost through Dressler revitalization

By Cecilia Nasmith

The continuing revitalization project to establish a new museum in Cobourg has just received a big boost, with the announcement of a major Canadian Heritage grant by the Marie Dressler Foundation board of directors.

Located at 212 King St. W., the birthplace of Oscar-winning actress Marie Dressler is undergoing a transformation into the Canadian Women in Film Museum to celebrate the accomplishments of Canadian women in film, past and present.

Along with Dressler, the accomplishments of her contemporaries Mary Pickford and Norma Shearer (also Canadian-born women of achievement in the industry) will have a permanent home in the museum.

“The Marie Dressler House Revitalization Project will protect and celebrate the 180-plus-year heritage of the house and build a lasting legacy for years to come,” foundation president and chair Rick Miller commented in the press release.

“We will create a visitor experience that is educational and inspirational, providing a signpost that shows the historical journey for women in film and connects with today's efforts to achieve gender equity in front of and behind the camera.”

The detailed design for the new museum was completed in April by five students in the Museum Studies master's degree program at the University of Toronto – Michelle Wright, Enya Barbeau, Emma Myers, Karen Cheung and Natalie Heaton. The design was generously donated to the museum by the University of Toronto.

“We are pleased to acknowledge that this project has been made possible in part by the Government of Canada,” Miller added.

“Our fundraising campaign continues in order to raise the remainder of the funding required for the project.”

Also continuing is the call for volunteers who are interested in becoming involved with this exciting project. For more information, contact Miller at dresslermuseum@gmail.com.