Jeremy Ward ’89 (Julian Blackburn College), curator of the Canadian Canoe Museum and a paddling enthusiast, knows that life’s journey, much like navigating a river, is rarely straightforward. 

After his first year at Trent University, Jeremy was inspired by experiences like the Red Squirrel Road blockades supporting the Temagami First Nation, leading him to take a four-year hiatus to develop practical skills and work with his hands. 

Returning to Trent, Jeremy blended his academic interests with his love for craftsmanship. As a part-time student, he completed a degree in Canadian Studies and Indigenous Studies, receiving the James G. Wharry Scholarship. He then pursued a master’s degree at the Frost Centre for Canadian Studies. 

Jeremy’s time at Trent was marked by opportunities to learn outside the classroom, fostering a deep respect for community-driven cultural exchanges.  

“Those experiences, the field schools, the Temagami blockade, and getting out of the classroom into the community, meeting people and learning from their perspectives, were eye-openers and put me on this journey,” Jeremy shares. 

In the mid-1990s, the Canadian Canoe Museum was just beginning to establish itself in Peterborough, driven by a grassroots movement of paddling enthusiasts, Trent faculty, and community members. Jeremy joined the Museum team in 1998 and was appointed curator in 2008. 

“What has always enchanted me about working with a themed collection like this is that it’s much more than just the objects themselves. It’s a way to connect with people, culture, stories, and memories,” Jeremy explains.  

The Museum’s recent move to a new facility on the Trent-Severn Waterway marks a pivotal chapter in its story. With over 650 watercraft housed within its walls, the Museum can now showcase its collection in ways previously unimaginable. 

For Jeremy, the canoe is not just a historical object—it is a living symbol of resilience, ingenuity, and community. Reflecting on his nearly 30 years with the Museum, he remains passionate about its mission to foster connections between people, the land, and the water. “Our goal is that visitors find a place where their story is seen and valued,” he reflects. 

The Museum was recently highlighted in the New York Times’ “52 Places to Go in 2025” underscoring its importance as a cultural destination.  

Read the full story in the winter 2025 edition of TRENT Magazine.