The Bobby Orr Hall of Fame received the CASH Award of Excellence for the re-design of their permanent exhibition. The Award Selection Committee noted the Bobby Orr Hall of Fame redesign did an excellent job of expanding exhibits to better represent the entire region and its many communities and cultures, and to connect Orr and Parry Sound’s achievements to nationally relevant topics. The project showed creativity and innovation, along with a clever use of available space and resources.

 

The Bobby Orr Hall of Fame underwent a complete re-design of the exhibit space including the introduction of new exhibits and updated displays throughout, timed to coincide with the facility’s 20th Anniversary in July 2023. As the core exhibit in the Hall of

Fame had remained largely static since 2003, new technology and interactive exhibits were incorporated throughout the re-design to correspond with technological advancements and developments in museum exhibitions. This project also included the creation of new exhibits for the Hall of Fame. One of these new exhibits highlights Indigenous culture and sport participation while including a focus on Indigenous Bobby Orr Hall of Fame inductees and their contributions to sport in the Parry Sound area. Another new exhibit focuses on the Georgian Bay Biosphere, which includes displays on the ecology of the area and provides information on the work that the Biosphere does as an organization.

​

Bobby Orr Hall of Fame staff on the impact of the exhibition:

This project has had noticeable impacts on both the Hall of Fame and local community. The re-design has presented the opportunity for a new audience to learn about the story of Bobby Orr in a linear way, with timelines, artifacts, and information that follow the athlete from his childhood through to his retirement from professional hockey and beyond. This new exhibit helps to ensure that Bobby Orr’s legacy can be appreciated by future generations of visitors who have never seen him play hockey.

​

The project has also allowed the Bobby Orr Hall of Fame to create an exhibit specific to Indigenous athletes and an exploration of Indigenous culture to answer the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action #87. Along with this, new opportunities for temporary exhibits, including one focusing on Indigenous Bobby Orr Hall of Fame inductees and their sport contributions to the Parry Sound area have allowed us to further respond to the Call to Action.

​

Meeting a proposed objective of the redesign, the Bobby Orr Hall of Fame is now a place where visitors can learn about the Georgian Bay Biosphere through displays on the ecology in the area as well as the important work that the Biosphere does for the community.

​

The re-design also presented the opportunity for the Bobby Orr Hall of Fame to work with local artists and businesses. In using creative works from local artists throughout the exhibition space, the Hall of Fame has brought further visibility to their works from a diverse audience. The new exhibit also works to highlight the local community itself, by sharing the sport contributions of local athletes, the values of our community and how they can be taught through sport, as well as how those values can impact youth and culture in the area.