Brian Wood will retire from the City of Brantford on Jan. 30, 2026, after 37 years as curator of the Bell Homestead National Historic Site, concluding a tenure that coincided with the site’s expansion as a cultural and educational institution.
Wood joined the City in 1989 and oversaw the stewardship and interpretation of the former family home of Alexander Graham Bell, where the telephone was invented in 1874.
His work focused on preserving the historic site while broadening public access, educational programming and community engagement.
In a statement released by the City of Brantford, Wood described his career at the Bell Homestead as a professional privilege.
“This place has always been about more than history,” Wood said. “It’s about creativity, connection, and community.”
A milestone during Wood’s tenure occurred in 1997, when the Bell Homestead was designated a Canadian National Historic Site following a submission to the National Historic Sites and Monuments Board.
The designation was marked on June 28 of that year by a visit from Queen Elizabeth II, during which the official plaque was unveiled.
Education was a central focus of Wood’s work. He introduced curriculum-based programming for school field trips and children’s day camps, expanding the site’s role within Ontario’s education system.
The Bell Homestead National Historic Site later received the Ontario Historical Society’s Museum Award of Excellence for Education for its Students as Museum Professionals program for Grades 7 and 8.
Wood also led the acquisition and preservation of original Bell family letters and oral histories.
These materials formed the basis of four published volumes of My Dear Aleck: The Selected Letters of the Bell Family and informed the restoration of rooms within the historic home to reflect daily life of the Bell family in the 1870s.
Over the years, the museum’s collection expanded through the acquisition of original artefacts from descendants of Alexander and Mabel Bell, including personal items, furniture, ivory miniatures, sketchbooks and portraits painted by Bell’s mother, Eliza Bell.
More recently, Wood oversaw the redesign and installation of a modern telephone gallery marking the 150th anniversary of the telephone.
Beyond the Bell Homestead, Wood was involved in broader cultural initiatives in the community. He helped re-establish the Brant Museums and Galleries Association, partnered with former MPP Dave Levac on the designation of Highway 403 between Hamilton and Woodstock as the Alexander Graham Bell Parkway, and contributed to the development of long-running public events such as the Summer Music Series, the Summer Theatre Festival and Candlelight Christmas tours.
Brantford Mayor Kevin Davis said Wood played a key role in shaping the Bell Homestead’s place within the community.
“Through his passion, scholarship, and commitment to public history, Brian helped transform the Bell Homestead into a place of learning, discovery, and pride for Brantford and beyond,” Davis said.
To mark Wood’s retirement, the Bell Homestead will host a series of guided events titled Brian Wood’s Last Call Bell Homestead Tour and Tea later this month, offering visitors an opportunity to experience the historic site through the perspective of its long-serving curator.
Wood will retire on Jan. 30, 2026. The City of Brantford has announced that Robert Stanczyk assumed the role of curator at the Bell Homestead National Historic Site on Jan. 5, 2026.
The Bell Homestead National Historic Site preserves the former family home of Alexander Graham Bell and related buildings and collections associated with the invention of the telephone, one of the most significant technological developments of the 19th century.
