Halloween at the BSM
Date: Sunday, November 1, 2026
Time: 12:00 am – 4:00 pm
Location: Bata Shoe Museum, 327 Bloor St. W.
Tickets: Included with General Admission
Age Restriction: All Ages
Celebrate Halloween at the Bata Shoe Museum with a day of family-friendly spooky fun and activities. Enjoy a variety of festive activities throughout the museum, including hands-on Halloween crafts, a museum-wide “trick-or-treat” scavenger hunt, and our ever-popular iSpy game cards. Step into all-day fun at our try-on station, where visitors of all ages can try on unique footwear inspired by styles from around the world and across history.
Perfect for families, friends, and little monsters alike, this spirited event combines creativity, exploration, and a touch of Halloween magic. Costumes are encouraged!
Please note: Children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
Please review our Terms and Conditions in advance and check in with Visitor Services upon arrival. Questions? Email us info@batashoemuseum.ca anytime.
Shoe Design 101
Date: Saturday, October 17, 2026
Time: 1:00 am – 3:30 pm
Location: Bata Shoe Museum, 327 Bloor St. W.
Tickets: $30 General
Age Restriction: 15+
Step into the world of footwear design with Shoe Design 101, a hands-on introductory course led by Toronto-based designer and shoemaker Jasmine Martins. In this workshop, participants will learn the foundations of shoe design from sketching silhouettes and choosing materials to understanding proportions and construction techniques.
Guided by Jasmine, you’ll gain the skills and confidence to start sketching your own shoe collection. Perfect for beginners and fashion enthusiasts alike, this class offers a behind-the-scenes look at the creative process that brings footwear to life. Join us for this inspiring session and take your first step toward becoming a footwear designer.
Recommended for participants 16+. Includes instruction, materials, and access to all current exhibitions.
ABOUT JASMINE MARTINS:
Jasmine Martins is a Toronto-based footwear designer known for her vibrant, made-to-order creations that celebrate individuality, colour, and craftsmanship. Trained at the University of the Arts London and Arsutoria in Milan, Jasmine blends traditional shoemaking techniques with modern design sensibilities. Since launching Jasmine Martins Footwear in 2020, she’s built a growing reputation for bespoke shoes, freelance design, and thoughtful collaborations that bring personal stories to life through design..
Please review our Terms and Conditions in advance and check in with Visitor Services upon arrival. Questions? Email us info@batashoemuseum.ca anytime.
Indigenous Beading Workshop: Flat Stitch Ojibway Flower
Date: Saturday, October 10, 2026
Time: 11:00 am – 2:00 pm ( Doors 10:45 am)
Location: Bata Shoe Museum, 327 Bloor St. W.
Tickets: $65 General
Age Restriction: 16+
Join us for a day of creativity, connection, and cultural learning in this hands-on Indigenous beading workshop led by Natalie Ortiz. Participants will learn how to create beautiful Beaded Flat Stitch Ojibway Flowers while exploring the rich traditions and teachings behind this intricate art form.
Guided step-by-step by Natalie, guests will be introduced to foundational beading techniques and design practices rooted in Indigenous traditions. Whether you are completely new to beading or looking to deepen your skills, this welcoming workshop offers an opportunity to slow down, learn through making, and create a meaningful handmade piece to take home.
Recommended for participants 16+. Includes instruction, materials, and access to all current exhibitions.
ABOUT NATALIE ORTIZ:
Natalie Ortiz is a Toronto-based Indigenous artist. Her work focuses on handmade jewelry, moccasins, and leatherwork. Natalie is Anishinaabe of Wauzhushk Onigum Nation and of Peruvian decent. Her art carries deep meaning connected to her roots, reflecting the traditions and teachings passed down through generations. She learned beading and moccasin-making through traditional teachings. She has been making moccasins for five years, and every pair is crafted with intention, meant to be worn and appreciated by anyone who connects with them. Follow Natalie on social media for moccasins and leatherwork at @natymocs. Her jewelry can be found on Oliva’s Jewelry and @olivasjewelry.
Please review our Terms and Conditions in advance and check in with Visitor Services upon arrival. Questions? Email us info@batashoemuseum.ca anytime.
Late Night At The BSM: Sketching
Date: Friday, October 9, 2026
Time: 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Location: Bata Shoe Museum, 327 Bloor St. W.
Tickets: included with General Admission
Age Restriction: All Ages
NEW! Every second Friday of the month until the end of 2026, we will remain open until 9 pm (we usually close at 5 pm!) for all to enjoy, with special free programming new each week plus access to all current exhibitions.
This week: Sketching
Join us for an evening of sketching the incredible footwear and fashion on display throughout the museum. Whether you’re an experienced artist or just looking to try something new, this relaxed drop-in program offers a perfect blend of art, atmosphere, and imagination.
No experience needed, and all materials are provided. You are welcome to bring your own dry mediums, such as pencils and pencil crayons. Drop in, have some fun, and take home your own design.
Please review our Terms and Conditions in advance and check in with Visitor Services upon arrival. Questions? Email us info@batashoemuseum.ca anytime.
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Commemoration
Date: Tuesday, September 29, 2026
Time: 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Location: Bata Shoe Museum, 327 Bloor St. W.
Tickets: Pay What You Wish (Free, $10, $20, $30)
Age Restriction: Due to the nature of the event, 16+
Honouring the experiences of Residential School survivors, join us for an intimate and insightful conversation with Ojibwe Kwe author, educator, and Residential School survivor, Karen Chaboyer, to commemorate Orange Shirt Day and National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Tea and bannock will be provided by Candace’s Catering.
Agenda
6:30 pm – Doors open
7:00 pm – Conversation begins
8:00 pm – Conversation ends, Open dialogue and visiting
9:00 pm – Museum closes
ABOUT KAREN CHABOYER:
Karen Chaboyer is an Ojibwe kwe, a great-grandmother, a grandmother, and mother. She is also an author, a public speaker, and an educator. Karen is from Rainy River First Nation, a community in Northwestern Ontario, Treaty 3 Territory. Karen is a survivor of St. Margaret’s Indian Residential School, also known as the Fort Frances Indian Residential School where she attended for 9 years. Karen was born into a family of 11 siblings: 9 brothers and 2 sisters. She is the third youngest in her family. She is also a second generation survivor of Residential School. Karen has been presenting since 2006. Her audiences are mostly elementary/high schools, colleges, universities and organizations. Karen shares the effects Residential School had on her and how she lost her identity, her roots, her culture and language. Karen’s goal is to educate people on the impact Residential Schools had on her and Indigenous individuals, families and communities to this day.
Indigenous Beading Workshop: Orange Shirt Pin
Date: Saturday, September 12, 2026
Time: 10:30 am – 1:00 pm
Location: Bata Shoe Museum, 327 Bloor St. W.
Tickets: $65
Join Toronto-based Cree-Métis artist Marissa Magneson for a beginner-friendly beading workshop. Through this hands-on workshop, participants will walk away with a greater understanding of Indigenous beadwork, tools, and techniques as they work to complete a small beaded Orange Shirt pin. No experience is necessary.
A note from the artist: “I include ceremonial tobacco in these pins, recognizing that learning and discussing topics including, but not limited to, residential schools is heavy. The medicine is there to help us in navigating those feelings, while marking our commitment to and responsibility of reconciliAction. Likewise, this becomes a part of the ceremony found within this workshop, as the medicine is added in the community, making everyone a part of that work.”
Participants are invited to fill their pins with ceremonial tobacco, one of the four sacred medicines, but this step is not mandatory.
Agenda
10:00 am – Doors Open
10:30 am to 1:00 pm – Workshop (with a 30-minute break)
Recommended for participants 16+. Includes instruction, materials, and access to all current exhibitions.
Marissa Magneson is a Cree-Métis artist, photographer, educator, and workshop facilitator currently pursuing her Ph.D. at York University in the Faculty of Education, where she is researching Beadwork as Pedagogy: A Bridge Towards Cultural Reclamation and (re)Conciliation. She has a BFA honours degree from York University (Toronto, Canada) and a Master’s degree in Canadian and Indigenous Studies from Trent University (Peterborough, Canada). Her research explores Indigenous methodologies using beadwork as visual storytelling. Marissa’s work is rooted in decolonizing education, strengthening community, and cultural reclamation. In her collaborative work with various organizations, Marissa works towards photographing, consulting, educating, and creating programming in meaningful ways. Marissa would like to acknowledge her maternal grandmother, Elaine Jessop, whose life-long work on Indigenous women’s rights inspires her own journey.
Please review our Terms and Conditions in advance and check in with Visitor Services upon arrival. Questions? Email us info@batashoemuseum.ca anytime.
PD Day at the BSM
Date: Friday, November 20, 2026
Time: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Location: B1 level, Bata Shoe Museum
Tickets: Included with General Admission
Spend your PD Day at the Bata Shoe Museum! Explore our current exhibitions, take a museum tour, and get creative at our craft stations.
SCHEDULE:
11:00 am – Guided Exhibition Tour
12:00 pm – Be a Shoe Designer Presentation
2:00 pm – Guided Exhibition Tour
3:00 pm – Be a Shoe Designer Presentation
Each program runs for approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour. Activities are subject to change.
Please review our Terms and Conditions in advance and check in with Visitor Services upon arrival. Questions? Email us info@batashoemuseum.caanytime.
Late Night at the BSM: Collage Holiday Cards
Date: Friday, December 11, 2026
Time: 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Location: Bata Shoe Museum, 327 Bloor St. W.
Tickets: Included with General Admission
This is our final Late Night of 2026! Every second Friday of the month we’ve remained open until 9 pm (we usually close at 5 pm!) for all to enjoy, with special free programming new each week plus access to all current exhibitions.
This week: Collage Holiday Cards
Design your own holiday cards inspired by the colours, textures, and stories on display at the museum. Whether you’re crafting heartfelt messages for loved ones or simply getting into the festive spirit, this relaxed drop-in program offers a perfect blend of creativity, reflection, and fun.
No experience needed, and all materials are provided. Drop in, have some fun, and take home your own design.
Please review our Terms and Conditions in advance and check in with Visitor Services upon arrival. Questions? Email us info@batashoemuseum.ca anytime.
Late Night at the BSM: Friendship Bracelet Making
Date: Friday, November 13, 2026
Time: 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Location: Bata Shoe Museum, 327 Bloor St. W.
Tickets: Included with General Admission
NEW! Every second Friday of the month until the end of 2026, we will remain open until 9 pm (we usually close at 5 pm!) for all to enjoy with special free programming new each week plus access to all current exhibitions.
This week: Friendship Bracelet Making
Join us for an evening of crafting friendship bracelets inspired by the colours, patterns, and designs found throughout the museum. Whether you’re an experienced maker or picking up thread for the first time, this relaxed drop-in program offers a perfect blend of craft, creativity, and connection.
No experience needed, and all materials are provided. Drop in, have some fun, and take home your own design.
Please review our Terms and Conditions in advance and check in with Visitor Services upon arrival. Questions? Email us info@batashoemuseum.ca anytime.
Indigenous Beading Workshop: Poppy
Date: Saturday, November 7, 2026
Time: 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
Location: Bata Shoe Museum, 327 Bloor St. W.
Tickets: $65 General
In honour of Remembrance Day and National Indigenous Veterans Day, join Natalie Ortiz for a meaningful afternoon of beading, reflection, and remembrance. In this hands-on workshop, participants will create a beautiful beaded poppy while learning about the significance of poppies as symbols of remembrance and the important contributions and sacrifices of Indigenous veterans.
Guided step-by-step by Natalie, guests will explore traditional beading techniques in a welcoming and supportive environment. This workshop offers an opportunity to connect through artmaking while honouring histories, stories, and acts of service that continue to shape communities across Canada.
Recommended for participants 16+. Includes instruction, materials, and access to all current exhibitions.
Natalie Ortiz is a Toronto-based Indigenous artist. Her work focuses on handmade jewelry, moccasins, and leatherwork. Natalie is Anishinaabe of Wauzhushk Onigum Nation and of Peruvian decent. Her art carries deep meaning connected to her roots, reflecting the traditions and teachings passed down through generations. She learned beading and moccasin-making through traditional teachings. She has been making moccasins for five years, and every pair is crafted with intention, meant to be worn and appreciated by anyone who connects with them. Follow Natalie on social media for moccasins and leatherwork at @natymocs. Her jewelry can be found on Oliva’s Jewelry and @olivasjewelry.
Please review our Terms and Conditions in advance and check in with Visitor Services upon arrival. Questions? Email us info@batashoemuseum.ca anytime.
Beaded Hoop Earrings
Date: Saturday, December 5, 2026
Time: 10:30 am – 2:30 pm
Location: Bata Shoe Museum, 327 Bloor St. W.
Tickets: $65
Join Indigenous artist Marissa Magneson for an immersive workshop where you’ll learn the art of beading to create your own custom hoop earrings. Marissa will guide you through beading techniques and share the cultural significance behind this beautiful craft. This workshop is perfect for those looking to connect with Indigenous art while creating a unique, handmade accessory. Just in time for the holiday season!
Recommended for participants 16+. Includes instruction, materials, and access to all current exhibitions.
Marissa Magneson is a Cree-Métis artist, photographer, educator, and workshop facilitator. She has a BFA honours degree from York University and a Master’s degree in Canadian and Indigenous Studies from Trent University. Her research explores Indigenous methodologies, using beadwork as a form of visual storytelling. Marissa’s work is rooted in decolonizing education, strengthening community, and cultural reclamation. In her collaborative work with various organizations, Marissa works to photograph, consult, educate, and create programming in meaningful ways. Marissa would like to acknowledge her maternal grandmother, Elaine Jessop, whose life-long work on Indigenous women’s rights inspires her own journey. Marissa is currently pursuing her Ph.D. at York University in the Faculty of Education, where she is researching “Beadwork as Pedagogy: A Bridge Towards Cultural Reclamation and (re)Conciliation.”
Please review our Terms and Conditions in advance and check in with Visitor Services upon arrival. Questions? Email us info@batashoemuseum.ca anytime.
Linocut Workshop: André Perugia Themed Tote Bag
Date: Monday, November 23, 2026
Time: 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm (Doors open 6:00 pm)
Location: Bata Shoe Museum, 327 Bloor St. W.
Tickets: $50
Inspired by our current exhibition, André Perugia: A Design Legend Unveiled, step into the bold and imaginative world of André Perugia in this hands-on linocut workshop inspired by the visionary footwear designer’s sculptural and avant-garde creations. Participants will learn the fundamentals of linocut carving and printmaking while designing a one-of-a-kind tote bag influenced by Perugia’s iconic shapes, surreal details, and daring sense of style. Perfect for beginners and seasoned creatives alike, this workshop offers a chance to explore the intersection of fashion, art, and craftsmanship through print.
Recommended for participants 16+. Includes all materials and access to all current exhibitions.
Please review our Terms & Conditions in advance and check in with Visitor Services upon arrival. Questions? Email us at info@batashoemuseum.ca with any questions.
Doors Open 2026 Sunday
The world-renowned Bata Shoe Museum is North America’s only museum dedicated to exploring the history and cultural significance of footwear. Designed by Canadian architect Raymond Moriyama, this award-winning five-story structure features a flagship showcase called All About Shoes: Footwear Through the Ages, thematically changing exhibitions, a retail shop, and a private vault that protects the worlds most comprehensive collection of nearly 15,000 shoes and shoe-related artifacts. The shape of the museum was inspired by a shoebox, with the roof acting as a slightly ajar lid. Visitors can see several unique touches throughout the building, including a sole-shaped front desk, a majestic art-glass installation by Lutz Haufschild, and iconic bronze features by Canadian sculptor Dora de Pédery-Hunt.
Take a fascinating, self-guided journey through 4,500 years of shoes presented across four exhibitions. Current exhibitions include Unearthing Vindolanda: Footwear from the Edge of the Roman Empire Rough & Ready: A History of the Cowboy Boot, Exhibit A: Investigating Crime and Footwear, and All About Shoes: Footwear Through the Ages.
Learn more about the Bata Shoe Museum’s architecture here.
Admission for Doors Open is first-come, first-served; advanced tickets are not available. Please anticipate long wait times.
Doors Open 2026 Saturday
The world-renowned Bata Shoe Museum is North America’s only museum dedicated to exploring the history and cultural significance of footwear. Designed by Canadian architect Raymond Moriyama, this award-winning five-story structure features a flagship showcase called All About Shoes: Footwear Through the Ages, thematically changing exhibitions, a retail shop, and a private vault that protects the worlds most comprehensive collection of nearly 15,000 shoes and shoe-related artifacts. The shape of the museum was inspired by a shoebox, with the roof acting as a slightly ajar lid. Visitors can see several unique touches throughout the building, including a sole-shaped front desk, a majestic art-glass installation by Lutz Haufschild, and iconic bronze features by Canadian sculptor Dora de Pédery-Hunt.
Take a fascinating, self-guided journey through 4,500 years of shoes presented across four exhibitions. Current exhibitions include Unearthing Vindolanda: Footwear from the Edge of the Roman Empire Rough & Ready: A History of the Cowboy Boot, Exhibit A: Investigating Crime and Footwear, and All About Shoes: Footwear Through the Ages.
Learn more about the Bata Shoe Museum’s architecture here.
Admission for Doors Open is first-come, first-served; advanced tickets are not available. Please anticipate long wait times.
Guided Walk: Streets and Place Names
Date: Sunday, August 23, 2026
Time: 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Location: Tour begins at the Bata Shoe Museum, 327 Bloor St. W.
Tickets: Pay What You Wish
What’s in a street name?
Recent conversations about street and place names — and who or what they commemorate — have highlighted how these everyday markers quietly shape our sense of identity, belonging, and exclusion. The names we pass by without a second thought can tell powerful stories about a neighbourhood’s past, its values, and whose histories are centred.
This guided walk, led by artist and scholar Andrew Lochhead, invites you to see the city differently. Thinking of street names as the most visible “texts” of a city, we’ll explore the streets surrounding the Bata Shoe Museum and uncover the meanings behind their names. Together, we’ll consider what these names reveal about the Annex neighbourhood, its histories, and its wider connections.
After the walk, we’ll gather back inside the museum for a collaborative discussion, sharing what we “read” along the way and reflecting on how public naming shapes the stories our city tells.
The walk will take up to two hours. Please wear comfortable shoes.
ABOUT ANDREW LOCHHEAD:
Andrew Lochhead, is an artist and scholar who uses walking as a form of creative practice and research to bring to life stories about the city in ways that orient audiences toward imagining justice-based futures. A lifelong museum and gallery professional, Andrew has been an outspoken advocate for understanding how monuments, place names, and other forms of commemoration shape people’s relationships to places and to each other. His work as part of the public history campaign around the name of Dundas Street has contributed to significant changes to Toronto’s toponymic landscape, the development of new commemorative policy, and ongoing conversations about who or what Canada’s largest city remembers. Andrew’s research and activism have been featured in a number of documentary films and programs, including the BAFTA Award-winning Scotland, Slavery, and Statues. His PhD dissertation explores the role of walking in interpreting urban heritage landscapes.
Please review our Terms and Conditions in advance and check in with Visitor Services upon arrival. Questions? Email us info@batashoemuseum.ca anytime.