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Volunteers cataloguing large 10 foot x 6 foot prints following procedures from Midland Huronia Museum.
We are an enthusiastic group of volunteers in love with Budd Watson's images that makes the spirit of Georgian Bay so contagious! It's our heart's desire to restore Budd's photographic legacy to the world-renown appreciation he received putting Midland, Canada, on the "international map of photography". It's our goal, in partnership with The Canadian Museum of Water, to preserve images, create photographic presentations, and artifact exhibits that will bring pride to Midland.
How it all began:
In less than 12 months The Friends of Budd Watson’s Collection has gone from the idea of making a few self-published coffee table books to applying for a Government Grant to fund the preservation of Budd Watson’s iconic photographs.
Challenged by Robert Berdan’s 2018 Tribute to Budd Watson, in the The Canadian Nature Photographer Magazine, to find and preserve Budd Watson’s photography, the Midland Photography Club of Askennonia Seniour’s Centre began its search.
Fellow member of the Senior Centre, Lynn Watson Deschamps (daughter of Budd Watson, far left), offered the Photography Club access to her father’s photography collection kept in a local storage unit for the last 35 years. The club members, Sherry Pederson and Terry Maynard helped move the photos to suitable storage in and near the Askennonia Senior Centre in Midland. With the guidance of The Midland Huronia Museum the photography club got busy taking thumbnail photos of more than 350 large format photos and cataloging each photo’s information in a database conforming to international museum standards. With an estimate of more than 55,000 slides and negatives the club reached out to the community for help.
Ooohs and awes!
Ooohs and awes!
What a treat for the eyes to see such photographic masterpieces.
The Big sort
The Big sort
Sorting over 55,000 slides spanning 5 decades.
Midland’s Mayor Bill Gordon met with the club and recommended it partner with the newly forming Canadian Museum of Water opening in the Midland Cultural Centre. The club volunteers formed The Friends of Budd Watson Collection and became part of The Canadian Museum of Water. The first exhibit of Budd Watson photographs and artifacts were displayed at the grand opening July 19, 2025.
Canadian Museum of Water
Canadian Museum of Water
Grand opening July 19, 2025
Grant writing team
Grant writing team
Terry, Michele, Lynn Watson Deschamps, Sherry
To get the assistance needed to scan and archive Budd Watson’s Collection The Canadian Museum of Water offered help by partnering with a grant application to Digital Museums Canada (funded by Canadian Museum of History). Until funding becomes available The Friends of Budd Watson Collection meets weekly to categorize the images into groups of Personal, Historic, and Canadian images.
Big thanks to Midland Community, Askennonia Senior's Centre members, and Photography Club for the enthusiastic volunteers of The Friends of Budd Watson Collection:
Lynn Watson Deschamps - Board Member
Wendy Watson Dorion - Board Member
Chris W.
Dorothy W.
Jane P.
Keith T.
Michele M.
Sherry P - Co-Chair
Terry M - Co-Chair
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