Mayor Dilkens and Guests Unveil Significant Restoration Work and Expansion of the Coach House Historical Exhibition at Willistead Park

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Hiram Walker’s 210th Birthday Kicks Off With Exhibit Opening, July Summer Tours, and Special Heritage Brew

Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens was joined by members of the Willistead Manor Inc. Board of Directors; the Friends of Willistead volunteer group; City administration; and special guests, including Karyn Templin and Christine Malott representing the Estate of Art Jahns, for the grand opening of the newly expanded Coach House Historical Exhibition at the Willistead Manor Complex in Willistead Park.

The special ribbon-cutting ceremony kicked off an evening of celebrations in honour of Hiram Walker’s 210th birthday and showcased the results of significant restoration work at the former stable house adjacent to historic Willistead Manor in Walkerville. The grand opening included free public tours of the new exhibition and culminated in a fundraiser gala at Willistead Manor.

In 2022, the City of Windsor opened the original exhibit in Studio A of the Coach House. Through the exhibition, guests are invited to learn about the history of Hiram Walker, the Walker business and community impacts, the formation of Walkerville, Edward and Mary Walker, the construction and uses of Willistead Manor, and more. The exhibition was designed by Chris Renaud and the team at HCA Mindbox and supported by generous funding through the Charleigh Charitable Trust, the Walker descendants, Willistead Manor Inc., the Friends of Willistead, and the City of Windsor. Video footage playing in the exhibit includes the original documentary Walkerville’s Willistead Manor: The Home that Shaped a Community.

Art Jahns, the late Canadian Club Brand Centre archivist, long-time employee of Hiram Walker & Sons, and long-time member of the Willistead Manor Inc. Board of Directors, spent a lifetime assembling and curating a diverse and storied collection of artifacts, artworks, correspondence, keepsakes, photographs, and more that rounds out some of the compelling aspects of the stories of Hiram Walker, Canadian Club, and the region’s proud whisky distilling history. In 2025, Karyn Templin and Christine Malott, Art’s daughters, worked with Mayor Dilkens to donate their father’s collection to the City of Windsor. The significant donation has formed the basis of a major expansion to the existing Coach House Historical Exhibition, designed by Chris Renaud and curated by Nicole Chittle, with support from Museum Windsor, the Engineering and Culture departments, and the Mayor’s Office.

The new exhibition room includes:

Artifact display cases;
Feature display wall showcasing vintage bottles, prints, and artifacts;
Vinyl wall wraps interpreting the history of the Walker family;
Vintage office-setup selfie station; and
Video tour of the inside of the Canadian Club Brand Centre filmed between 2025 to 2026, nine years after the popular tour site closed to the public.

City Council approved the $400,000 extensive restoration and renovation project, complete with the creation of the new exhibition, as part of the City’s 2026 budget. The budget includes a 0% municipal tax levy increase, a $2.26 billion 10-year capital plan, and over $317 million in investments for 2026 alone. This includes $29.2 million for community services like parks, recreation, facilities, and culture.

The scope of restoration work at the Coach House has included:

Uncovering and restoring the original ceiling in Studio A;
Uncovering and restoring sections of the original terrazzo flooring throughout;
Installation of new ceiling tiles, lighting, and flooring throughout;
Replacement of all interior doors throughout the facility; and
Upcoming restoration work for the second floor of the building to create additional artifact storage space for Museum Windsor’s growing collection.

The original exhibition and restoration work at the Coach House earned the prestigious 2025 Kulisek Prize from the Department of History at the University of Windsor, recognizing the significant efforts to preserve and share local history.

The exhibit will be a key feature of this year’s July Summer Tours, which take place Wednesdays, July 8, 15, 22, and 29, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.; and Sundays, July 12, 19, and 26, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Public tours of Willistead Manor are offered throughout the months of July and December each year. Summer is the ideal time to visit and see the building’s natural beauty. Tours of the manor include stories provided by the Friends of Willistead, and access to the enhanced and expanded Coach House Historical Exhibition. After exploring the exhibition, guests head across the parking lot to Willistead Manor for a tour of the grand estate. Members of the Friends of Willistead will be stationed throughout the building to answer questions from guests and provide some context and historical interpretation. Special Willistead-themed keepsake items are available for purchase on-site from the Friends of Willistead. Tour reservations are not required in advance. Tickets are purchased on-site upon arrival at the Coach House and may be purchased using cash, debit, or credit.

Brew No. 210 by Walkerville Brewery

Unfiltered Pilsner, 4.2% alcohol by volume, available at Walkerville Brewery. Courtesy of the Walkerville Brewery, raise a glass to history with Brew No. 210, a commemorative Pilsner crafted in honour of Hiram Walker's 210th birthday and his legacy in Walkerville. Brewed in a traditional style, this crisp, unfiltered Pilsner features 100% malted barley and a gentle carbonation level — paying tribute to the historical brewing methods of the past. The special and limited-edition brew will be available at Walkerville Brewery by the glass (enjoy a pint in the taproom), and by growler/stubby to go (32-ounce or 64-ounce bottle) throughout the summer, while supplies last. To-go bottles will come with a commemorative neck tag. Cheers to 210 years of history, heritage, and great beer. For additional details, visit www.WalkervilleBrewery.com.

Willistead Manor has a storied history in the community. Today, this cultural gem in Windsor is the perfect location for tours, weddings, receptions, meetings, performances and special events. Willistead Manor was recently recognized in the 11th Annual Best of Windsor-Essex Awards with the “Best Attraction – Historical” award for the third consecutive year and was also nominated for “Best Tour Experience.”

Quotes:

“I am proud to help open the new Coach House Historical Exhibition at Willistead Park. City Council and the City of Windsor remain committed to heritage conservation and preservation at this site, and beyond. The expansion of the exhibit includes significant work to restore and enhance original heritage elements of the building adjacent to the main manor house. It was meaningful to gather to showcase that work, and to celebrate the contributions of Hiram Walker and the Walker legacy to the formation and prosperity of Windsor. We are Investing Responsibly to preserve the manor while enhancing public access through events and initiatives, ongoing restoration and preservation work, and new acquisitions. I’ve often said that the city of Windsor would be a shadow of itself without the indelible contributions of Hiram Walker. As we celebrate Hiram’s 210th birthday, we are honouring that legacy and the impacts that continue to this day. I extend sincere thanks to the Walker family descendants; Robert Gauthier, Douglas Sanborn, Colleen Gaudette, and all members of the Willistead Manor Inc. Board of Directors; the Friends of Willistead; Chris Renaud and HCA Mindbox; Museum Windsor; Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island; Walkerville Brewery; and — most importantly — to Karyn and Christine — Art Jahns’ daughters — for donating their father’s prized and significant collection to help us preserve and share this important history in Windsor.”
- Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens

“The Willistead Manor Inc. Board of Directors remains grateful for and inspired by the ongoing involvement and support for the manor by our donors, partners, rental parties, artists, and performers; and the record-breaking thousands of guests that visit and engage with Willistead Manor each year. We extend our sincere thanks to Mayor Drew Dilkens for working to secure Council’s endorsement and its significant funding support for the Coach House Historical Exhibition Expansion Project. We thank Karyn and Christine and the family of our late board member, Art Jahns, for their generous donation of their father’s collection. And we thank the City of Windsor, Museum Windsor, and every person involved in the research and development of the exhibit, along with the extensive restoration and renovation work at the Coach House.”
- Douglas Sanborn, Chair, Willistead Manor Inc. Board of Directors

“Our late father, Art Jahns, had a profound love for the Walkerville area, Willistead Manor, Hiram Walker, and all things Canadian Club Whisky. He dedicated a considerable part of his life to local history and was always willing to share his knowledge. His vast collection of memorabilia couldn’t be packed away but needed to be shared with others who would appreciate his efforts. We are thrilled to know that, through this Coach House Historical Exhibition, his collection will be displayed permanently, not only as a tribute to his personal passion but as a source of shared pride, learning, and connection for the community to enjoy. What has been created here is truly spectacular, and a fitting tribute to a part of history that shaped this community while also shaping our father’s full and meaningful life.”
- Karyn Templin and Christine Malott, daughters of Art Jahns