The mural of Yonge Street's 200th anniversary restored for Bradford's Sesquicentennial (150th Anniversary).
"After: From left, sponsor Larry Timbers of Home Depot, Mayor Doug White, Councillor Peter Dykie Jr., Artist Bill Lewotchko, and assistant Rick Mackay (Home Depot) in front of restored mural."

"Councillor Peter Dykie Jr. has been busy, helping to spruce up Bradford for the Sesquicentennial celebration this year. In particular, he has made it his project to raise the funds to restore the Town's murals, in time for the 150th Anniversary - starting with the historic mural on Holland St. Eact, painted by artist Bill Lewotchko to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Yonge St..."

Article about Sir William Osler Public School's 50th anniversary celebrations.

Description : The 5th Anniversary of the WEGWHIST (West Gwillimbury History) Project will take place on October 19th, 1:30 p.m. at the Bradford West Gwillimbury Public Library. The meeting will feature a presentation of 2 copies of Governor Simcoe Slept Here: The Legacy of West Gwillimbury Township to representatives from each school in BWG, thanks to a generous local patron. The meeting will also feature a display of the development of the book, from the first list of the Table of Contents, through to the final text approved for printing - a once-in-a-lifetime happening. There will be a social time, to chat and reminisce. All are welcome to attend.

Description : October 13th marks the 4th anniversary of the 1st WEGWHIST (West Gwillimbury History Project) meeting. WEGWHIST is now in the final stages of producing a 2-volume history of West Gwillimbury Township that will be available by this December. At 2 p.m. on October 13th, come out to the Bradford Library, to mark the 4th anniversary, learn more about marketing plans, and purchase a copy, pre-publication. WEGWHIST will be asking for help in contacting all of those who have indicated an interest in buying the book.

Article about the upcoming celebration of the Trinity Anglican Church's 100th Anniversary.

Event Date : Saturday, July 27, 1957
Event Type : Death

Description : The end came suddenly for Bradford's veteran, and well-known townsman, Benjamin Briton (B. B.) Collings, last Saturday morning. During the past year Mr. Collings had shown some signs of his advanced years, but the firm step, the indifference to weather conditions, and the ready reply to all greetings, remained with him to the last. He had not been well for a week or more, but on Thursday he was downstairs in his home and returned to his room unaided. Friday he acknowledged he was tired and stayed in bed and on Saturday morning he was dead. He never had pain. He kept going to the last, and just quit. B. B. Collings was looking forward to the Centennial celebration and meeting old friends, and to many who are returning, Bradford has lost one of the interests for them, in his passing. Few will disagree that he was the most colourful character in Bradford. He knew everyone, and everyone knew him. He had a greeting for everyone, a greeting which seldom was particularly complimentary, but because it was B. B. Collings' remark, it was accepted with a laugh. Few days passed that those whose duties caused them to be about the street, did not have a few words with B. B.
"Mr. Collings was born in Bradford on August 9, 1876 the youngest member of a family of sixteen. From childhood days he was working. He told stories of the days when Amsterdam was a thriving village with its mills and he was an errand boy down there. The Collings family was associated with the Holland Marsh and did a profitable business in cutting marsh hay and selling this hay for packing and mattress making. B. B. decided that if this hay was worth Toronto mattress makers transporting it to Toronto he better get into the business. In the 1890's he went to Toronto and learned the trade and came back to Bradford and opened a little mattress making factory here where he employed some of the lacrosse players of the day. Today it is common practice for sport enthusiasts to give employment to star players but B. B. Collings began that nearly 60 years ago. He then went into the furniture and undertaking business taking a course in embalming. Then back to the marsh hay business and commercial fishing and his final business venture was the draining of what was named the Colbar Marsh area a big portion of which is now Federal Farms' gardens and in this he was singularly successful. This last project was accomplished after he was in his seventies.Mr. Collings and his men were recognized in the Lake Simcoe district as an able life-saving crew. Their business as commercial fishermen took them to all parts of the lake and the river and they were familiar with the water. Few accidents or tragedies have occured on the river or lake to which Mr. Collings and his men were not called to lend their help and they have many rescues to their credit.Mr. Collings was always keenly interested in sport particularly lacrosse and had served in official capacity on various lacrosse clubs. But few sporting events occurred in Bradford throughout the years which he did not attend whether hockey ball or lacrosse.Mr. Collings served on the Bradford Public Utilities Commission for several years and also on Bradford Board of Education.In September 1902 Mr. Collings married Etta May Waldruff of Bradford who survives him with their family of two daughters and one son namely Bernice (Mrs. Gordon Crutcher) of Thornhill; Kathleen (Mrs. Ken Blevins) of Toronto and Norman E. of Bradford. Five grandchildren also survive: Gordon Stephen and Tony Crutcher Tom Collings and Mary Jane Collings. Of the family of sixteen only two survive Dan Collings of Bradford and Libby (Mrs. Selby) of Eston Saskatchewan.The funeral was held from Bradford United Church yesterday afternoon. The services were taken by Rev. F. G. MacTavish assisted by Rev. H. P. Maitland of the Presbyterian Church and Rev. H. G. Blake of Toronto. Interment was in Mount Pleasant Cemetery. The pallbearers were C. T. S. Evans, A. L. Veale, Fred Collings, Roy Collings, Phil Latchman and James R. Webb."

"All aboard! That was heard one year ago on April 1 as Canadian National Railways opened up its commuter service between Bradford and Toronto.
The first anniversary was yesterday [April 3rd, 1975].
"Initially there were 95 commuters using the service in both directions," said spokesman Morris Simms of CN. "Currently 190 commuters are using the train in both directions."
The train leaves Bradford at 7:11 a.m. arriving at Union Station at 8:20 a.m. The return train leaves Unions at 5:15 p.m. and arrives in Bradford at 6:27 p.m.
There is a double fare system in effect for the commuter train. The single fare one way is $2.10. A flash card good for one month can be purchased for $52. This lowers the cost to about $1.25 pert trip.
The strike of the Toronto Transit Commission last year increased the daily number of people taking the train.
"The strike increased the passengers to about 582 going to Toronto during the day and 563 returnin," added Simms.
The number of coaches was increased from two to nine but now the train has four coaches with a seating capacity of about 240. During the strike 20 people were taking the train from Bradford each day.
The number of people using the service has doubled over the year and about 10 people are now using the train.
"The use is varying," stated the CN spokesman, "it is slow but is increasing." "

Mural celebrating the 200th Anniversary of Yonge Street, made in 1997 and restored in July of 2007. In 2007, the sesquicentennial of the Town of Bradford, a bubble noting this occasion was added to the mural by original artist, Bill Lewotchko.