Sharon Museum and Gardens (formerly the Sharon Temple National Historic Site & Museum) is an open-air museum dedicated to telling the story of the Children of Peace, the Sharon Temple, and the history of the community of East Gwillimbury. First established in 1918 as the Sharon Temple Museum, it is one of the oldest museums in Canada. The Museum is home to nine heritage buildings, including the Sharon Temple National Historic Site, as well as a landscape of diverse vegetable and flower gardens. The museum site is located in the heart of East Gwillimbury on 7 acres and is the cultural hub of the community, welcoming over 18,000 visitors each year. It is owned and operated by the Sharon Temple Museum Society (STMS).
Position Overview:
Sharon Museum and Gardens is seeking a motivated and enthusiastic Events Assistant to join our team.
The ideal candidate will have an interest in history and tourism with either program or event planning experience. The ideal candidate will be creative, energetic, and a self-starter, possessing excellent customer service and organizational skills.
This position is part-time, approximately 20 hours per week, and the contract is for 7 weeks, beginning September 1st, 2026 or as soon as possible. This position is to fill a vacancy and will largely be scheduled to work on weekends.
The Events Assistant will support event planning, logistics, social media, communications, and visitor services under the supervision of the Programming & Collections Manager.
Primary Job Functions:
- Support the planning, promotion, and implementation of the Museum’s seasonal events, which include June Day/Heritage Celebration, Canada Day Community Celebration, Car Shows, and Illumination.
- Provide day-of support and coordination for weddings, acting as a point of contact for clients.
- Take responsibility for SMG’s social media platforms, working with other staff to create content to promote events, programs, and the museum.
- Generate and implement creative ideas for social media, marketing, promotion, and community outreach, drawing on the Museum’s events, programming, staff, collections, and history to increase awareness and audience engagement.
- Assist with the coordination of concerts and special events, leading special event set-up and maintaining communication with clients.
- Provide front-of-house service, which will include welcoming visitors, processing admission, and conducting gift shop sales and inventories.
- Support the preservation of the Museum’s heritage buildings through basic maintenance and supervision.
General Duties:
- Provide interpretation to the public through tours, education, and outreach programs, as needed.
- Assist with collections management tasks and historical projects, as needed.
- Support event implementation and assist with program preparation.
- Assist staff with daily attendance tracking, gift shop inventory, and cash balancing.
- Conduct daily and weekly preventative maintenance checks on the Museum’s heritage buildings.
- Provide support and day-of coordination for weddings and rentals.
- Provide support as needed to other staff members.
- Other tasks as required.
Qualifications:
- Currently enrolled in or graduated from post-secondary studies in a related field, such as Special Event Management, Tourism, Marketing, Fundraising, Communications, Recreation and Leisure, Museum Studies, or Education.
- Have an interest in the fields of Event Planning, Tourism, or Marketing.
- Previous experience working with the public in a structured setting, in a paid and/or volunteer capacity.
- Candidate must be between the ages of 15 - 30 and legally entitled to work in Canada.
- Must possess or be willing to train for Standard First Aid and CPR.
- Must possess or be willing to obtain a Vulnerable Sector Screening.
- Must possess or be willing to obtain SmartServe Certification.
- Must be prepared to work a variety of shifts, including weekends and evenings.
Physical Requirements:
Sharon Museum and Gardens is an open-air museum located north of Toronto on 7 acres of land. As this is a large site with multiple heritage buildings, the candidate will be required to move between these buildings and around the site as needed to conduct various activities. The ability to lift 30 pounds is required.
Application Process:
Please submit a resume and cover letter to [email protected]. Subject line: Events Assistant Application – [First Name Last Name].
Sharon Museum & Gardens is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusive, barrier-free recruitment and selection processes. We always encourage the Government of Canada’s job equity groups to apply. If contacted for an employment opportunity, please advise if you require accommodation.
Pay: $18.00 per hour
Application question(s):
- This position is a short-term contract position for 7 weeks that will be scheduled to work weekends until mid-October. It is ideal for students looking for part-time work. Is this suitable for you?
Work Location: In person
