Costume Specialist

Fonction publique de l'Ontario; Northwestern Ontario; On-site; CAD 40,000 - 44,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work arrangements

Career development

Seasonal contract

Job summary

Ontario Public Service is seeking a Costume Designer/Program Assistant for Fort William Historical Park in Thunder Bay. You will manage costumes, research 19th-century fashion, and coordinate production for reenactments and events.

You will also deliver educational programs and support staff with exhibits and planning tasks. Availability to work evenings, weekends, holidays, and overnight events as required is essential.

Qualifications

• Valid driver's license (Class G) or equivalent required.
• Knowledge of 19th-century fashion and costume design is essential.
• Hand sewing and pattern making skills are required.
• Ability to research historical clothing and reproduction techniques.
• Experience delivering living history demonstrations is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Manage costume collection, issuing/receiving, cleaning, repairs, and loans.
• Research 19th-century clothing and support costume reproduction.
• Coordinate design, production, procurement, and maintenance of costumes.
• Deliver educational programs, workshops and demonstrations.
• Support program operations and training of staff and volunteers.

Skills

Costume design

Hand sewing

Fashion history

Research

Communication

Tools

Inventory systems

Job description

Apply By: Friday, October 2, 2026 11:59 pm EDT

Fort William Historical Park / Major Attractions, Parks and Operations

City:

Thunder Bay

Position(s) language:

Job term:

1 Temporary - seasonal annually recurring contract from approximately February - November each year

Job code:

$29.07 - $31.61 Per hour*
*Indicates the salary listed as per the OPSEU Collective Agreement.

Bring history to life through costume design and heritage education

Join a team dedicated to preserving heritage and culture through hands on historical experiences. At Fort William Historical Park, you'll use your knowledge of fashion history, costume design, and historical storytelling to support programs, reenactments, and educational activities. This role offers an opportunity to express creativity and artistry while helping visitors connect with the stories, skills, and traditions of the past.

About the job

In this role, you will:

• manage Fort William Historical Park's collection of historical costumes and uniforms, including issuing and receiving items, arranging cleaning and repairs, maintaining records, and processing loans and rentals
• research 19th-century clothing, fabrics, sewing techniques, and fashion styles to support accurate costume reproduction and public programs
• coordinate the design, production, procurement, and maintenance of historically accurate costumes and related items for reenactments and special events.
• deliver educational programs, workshops, and historical demonstrations, and share your knowledge with staff, volunteers, clients, and program partners
• support program operations by training staff, coordinating suppliers and purchases, helping maintain exhibits, and assisting with planning and administrative tasks

Note: this position requires availability to work evenings, weekends, holidays, and attend overnight events as required

What you bring to the team

Mandatory requirements

The position requires the successful candidates to have a valid class G driver's license or equivalent as recognized by the province of Ontario. The offer of employment is conditional upon the successful candidates providing proof that they have a valid driver's license upon being hired.

Fashion history and costume design knowledge

You have knowledge of:

• costume design and wardrobe practices used in theatre, film, or related settings
• fashion history and 19th-century fur trade society history to ensure historical items are selected, created, and displayed accurately
• early 19th-century European, North American, and Indigenous clothing styles, materials, and tailoring techniques
• hand sewing and pattern making to conduct, demonstrate or oversee costuming work

Historical interpretation, collaboration and communication skills

You can:

• use living history and teaching techniques to deliver engaging historical demonstrations for audiences of all ages
• communicate effectively with staff, volunteers, and program partners to share historical expertise through training and consultation.
• support historical programming by fitting and issuing costumes, participating in dramatizations, and promoting accurate historical portrayals
• work independently and collaboratively as part of a team

Artifact conservation and inventory management knowledge

You can:

• apply accepted museum practices for the care, preservation, cataloguing, and removal of historical and reproduction artifacts and textiles
• use database inventory management systems to enter, update, and maintain accurate inventory records
• process and track loans, rentals, and associated documentation for costumes, artifacts, and period pieces
• apply organizational and attention to detail to meet deadlines and maintain accurate records

Research and analytical skills

You have:

• research skills to gather and analyze information about historical fashions and costumes and prepare materials for public programs
• analytical and evaluative skills to assess costume requirements, estimate preparation timelines, and ensure the historical accuracy of new, replacement, or updated costumes

Don't meet every qualification?

If you are excited about this position and meet most, but not all, of the listed qualifications, please still consider applying. We recognize that no one person might have every qualification in this job ad, and you just might be the right candidate!

How we support diversity, inclusion and accessibility

We are building an inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We encourage everyone interested in working with us to apply, including people with disabilities, Indigenous, Black and racialized individuals, as well as people from all ethnicities, cultures, sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions.

Our hiring process is accessible, consistent with Ontario's Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005. We are working to prevent and remove barriers in our hiring processes and can offer accommodation to address specific needs related to Code-protected grounds such as disability, family status and religion. For more information about accommodation during the hiring process please contact us.

Learn more about the work the OPS is doing to create an inclusive, anti-racist, accessible and diverse workplace:

• diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives
• accessibility
• Anti-Racism Policy

What we offer

The Ontario Public Service is one of Ontario's largest employers. Employees work for a wide range of ministries, with offices in more than 70 cities across the province.

• a career that can grow across ministries and job functions
• flexible learning and developmental opportunities, including education and mentorship programs
• a comprehensive compensation and benefits package
• base salary that aligns to market trends with performance-based pay and scheduled salary progression
• tailored work arrangements, including opportunities like flex hours, self-funded leave and more
• a modern, friendly and accessible physical work environment

Additional information:

Apply by:

Friday, October 2, 2026 11:59 pm EDT

• 1 English Temporary - Seasonal, duration up to 10 months, 1350 King Rd, Thunder Bay, North Region, Vulnerable Sector Check

Communications; Marketing and Creative Services

Language requirements and assessment:

All external Ontario Public Service (OPS) job ads are posted in English and French. Check the "position(s) language" section at the top of each job ad for the language requirements. For all roles, candidates are assessed in English, the business language of the OPS. If the position is bilingual (English/French), you'll also need to pass a French-language proficiency test.