2^nd Floor of Martin House, Doon Heritage Village

This exhibition at Martin House, in the heart of Doon Heritage Village, invites visitors to reflect on the ways the different histories that have shaped Waterloo Region can exist side by side.

Built in the 1820s by Mennonite settlers, Martin House has long stood as a reminder of perseverance, family, and community. It also carries the layered story of the Martin family – early emigrants from Pennsylvania – whose home hosted worship services and multiple generations of family life.

Within this setting, Vintage Black Canada: A Doon Village Introspection introduces photographs from the Vintage Black Canada™ archive, curated by Aaron T. Francis. By introducing Black migration experiences into a Mennonite historic house, the exhibition invites visitors to consider local histories through a broader lens and celebrate the ways immigrants have created belonging in and contributed to the cultural fabric of Waterloo Region.

Aaron T. Francis is a filmmaker, artist, curator, community archivist, and founder of Vintage Black Canada™, a multidisciplinary archive and exhibition platform now entering its seventh year.

Works from Vintage Black Canada™ have been exhibited at the Art Gallery of Ontario, the University of Waterloo Art Gallery, the Centre for International Governance Innovation, BAND Gallery, and other cultural institutions across Canada. Material from the archive has also appeared in national publications and broadcast productions, including CBC’s Black Life: Untold Stories, an award-winning documentary series exploring Black Canadian cultural history.

Aaron is currently completing a doctorate at the Balsillie School of International Affairs at the University of Waterloo. His research examines the influence of Rastafari culture on Jamaican foreign policy and explores how millenarian movements shape political thought, public life, and policy development.

In June 2026, Aaron received the Waterloo Region Heritage Foundation’s Award of Excellence in recognition of his contributions to heritage preservation, cultural memory, and community storytelling.