New operational model approved for Dr. Woods' House Museum

LEDUC -- A decision has been reached regarding a new operational model for the Dr. Woods' House Museum.

Under the newly approved model, the museum is expected to see a seasonal reopening starting this summer. Dr. Woods' House has been closed to the public since late 2023 when the Leduc and District Heritage Society filed a decision to end their occupancy.

This transferred the museum's collection stewardship to the City of Leduc. For more than two years, the municipality has worked towards determining the size and scope of the collection while also exploring governance and operational models for the museum.

At their meeting on Mar. 30, 2026, Leduc Council decided on an operational model that will provide limited public access to Dr. Woods' House Museum with a light service offer and direct municipal staffing. This will see the museum reopen during the summer time, for about twelve hours a week, with additional staffing hours possible for next year. Mayor Lars Hansen spoke in favour of this option, saying it strikes the right balance.

"Not only will option five allow for seasonal openings, but it allows for the collection work to continue," said Hansen. "Deputy Mayor Miller and I saw that when we did a tour there, they are doing some fantastic work there in terms of putting the collection together."

In December 2024, Council was advised that the collection was significantly larger than anticipated, with over 15,000 artifacts versus the original estimate of 5,000. Councillor Shawn Raymond also spoke in favour of a season reopening for the museum, noting that he wants to see the conversation continue in regards to preserving local heritage.

"I would like to make it known that option five seems like the most attainable at this current moment," said Raymond. "But I would like to make sure that we're really looking at making sure that these groups in our community that are known for history and heritage are moving towards collaborating together as we continue this conversation about a UHO." 

The Unified Heritage Operator model -- similar to the "Leduc Heritage Authority" concept -- achieved the highest feasibility score during analysis conducted by Leduc administration. Council also discussed the possibility of having the museum reopen on a year-round basis, but that option was not chosen due to its financial implications.