Event Date : Saturday, August 14, 1965
Event Type : Marriage

Description : Nancy, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Jaques, R.R. 2, Newmarket, to John Evans of Bradford, son of D. Arthur Evans, M.P.P. and Mrs. Evans of Bradford. The wedding took place in Holland Landing United Church. Rev. Donald J. Lute officiated. Mrs. George Hunt, of Bradford, sister of the bride was matron of honour. The bridesmaids were Miss Winnie Miedema of Bradford and Miss Ann Romagnoli of R. R. 2 , Newmarket. The junior attendants were the groom's sister, Miss Cathy Evans, as flower girl and Brian Heyland, son of Dr. and Mrs. P. Heyland of Bradford, as ring bearer. Mr. Don Evans of Bradford was his brother's groomsman and the ushers were Messers. Robin Evans and Terry Jaques. Mr. and Mrs. Evans will reside in Bradford.

Digitized versions of old audio tapes, which include various interviews conducted with residents of Bradford West Gwillimbury. They are comprised of various interesting stories on everyday life in Bradford and surrounding areas over the past century.

Accompanying these recordings are written transcripts outlining each conversation in detail. Due to the age of the tapes, the sound quality of some may be a bit poor. These transcripts are provided to facilitate listening and complement the audio recording. All of these transcripts have been compiled into a book, which we have catalogued for anyone interested in reading them in a collected format.

Event Date : Thursday, January 31, 1974
Event Type : Death

"Walter Bak, well-known marsh farmer and produce stand operator, died at York County Hospital, Newmarket, on Thursday, January 31.A native of Chocznia, near Krakow in Poland, where he was involved in mixed farming, Mr. Bak emigrated to Canada in 1926. After working here for 10 years, he returned to his native land and the family he had left behind. Three years later, with his wife, Maria, and two of their five children, Theresa and John, he returned to Canada, to see if his family would adapt to life in Canada. Although he intended to bring over his three other children, Wladzia, Joseph and Stanley, the Second World War intervened and made emigration impossible. After share cropping in the Blenheim area during the war, Mr. Bak brought his family to Bradford in the spring of 1945. Three years after the war ended, sons Joseph and Stanley rejoined the family, although their sister Wladzia, did not come to Canada until 1959, when she arrived here with her husband and family. Two more children, Antoinette and Casmir, were born in Canada. In Bradford, Mr. Bak and his family began farming in the marsh and, after a few years, began selling produce to passers-by from a roadside stand. As the family business blossomed, the produce stand was expanded into a full building. Although he went into semi-retirement last year, Mr. Bak was still involved in the business and played an important part in the planning of the huge produce market now under construction on Bridge St. Mr. Bak is predeceased by his wife, Maria; and survived by three daughters - Mrs. Wladzia Balon of Bradford, Mrs. Theresa Sarabura, Toronto and Mrs. Antoinette Alexandrowicz, Kingston and four sons - Joseph, Peterborough, Father Stanley, Oblate of Mary Immaculate, John, Ottawa, and Casmir, Bradford. He is also survived by 26 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.Requiem High Mass was held at the Holy Martyrs of Japan Church in Bradford on Monday, February 4, with burial in Holy Cross Cemetery, Thornhill."

September 13, 1987
Death

Melbourne, Carl -- (retired from York Regional Police) at York County Hospital, Newmarket on Sunday, September 13, 1987. Carl Melbourne of Holland Landing and formerly of Sharon, Ontario in his 58th year. Beloved husband of Ruth Thompson, dear father of Bonnie (Mrs. Joe Haas) of Bradford, Carol (Mrs. Greg Parker) of Georgetown and Debbie (Mrs. Chris Bergin) of Bond Head. Dear son of William and Gertie Melbourne. Dear brother of Anne (Mrs. Harry Sparling) of London, Ontario, Joan(Mrs. Vincent Lackimia) of Sepulveda, California and the late Ross Melbourne and his wife Hilda. Dear grandfather of Jessica Parker, Allison, David and Anne Bergin. The funeral service was held at Lathangue & Skwarchuk Funeral Home, Bradford on Tuesday, September 15, 1987 at 2 o'clock p.m. Interment at Bond Head Cemetery. Donations to the CAT Scan at York County Hospital, Newmarket would be appreciated.

February 10, 1988
Birth

Holland Landing couple are proud parents of test tube quintuplets
Holland Landing will soon be home to Canada's first-ever test tube quintuplets, born early Saturday morning at a Toronto hospital. Remington, Lance, Wade, William and Maxine were delivered two months premature over a five-minute span that began at 3:59 a.m. Saturday morning to Wayne and May Collier, of Dutch Settlers Crescent in Holland Landing. While they're not the first quintuplets born in Canada they are the first to be conceived by way of the in vitro fertilization process, and theirs was also the largest multiple birth ever at Women's College Hospital in Toronto, according to the public relations officer there. Wendy Lewis said Sunday afternoon that the five babies were listed in stable condition and that doctors were pleased with their progress. The babies will remain on respirators and under close observation for at least another couple of months, she said. Ms. Lewis said that a team of 25 doctors and nurses were involved in the birth, which took place with relative ease, with children arriving about a minute apart. They ranged in size at birth from 805 grams (one pound, 12 ounces) to nearly 1,200 grams (Two pounds, 10 ounces). The public relations officer said that Mrs. Collier, a 33-year-old executive administrative assistant with a law firm, had gone through a carefully monitored fertilization and gestation process under the Toronto East General LIF (Laboratory Initiated Foetal Emplacement) program. She had been in hospital for two months prior to the birth, and anticipated the number of children and their premature arrival. "She actually knew after five weeks of pregnancy she was going to have quintuplets, " Ms. Lewis explained, adding that premature labor "is expected in multiple births." Om fact Mrs. May had gone into labor twice during the week before the actual birth, she said. It will be at least 11 weeks before the quintuplets can come home to father Wayne, 27, an air conditioning and heating apprentice. The couple have no other children. Mrs. Collier couldn't be reached by phone over the weekend, but was slated to appear at a press conference in Toronto sometime Monday.

February 10, 1988
Birth

Holland Landing couple are proud parents of test tube quintuplets
Holland Landing will soon be home to Canada's first-ever test tube quintuplets, born early Saturday morning at a Toronto hospital. Remington, Lance, Wade, William and Maxine were delivered two months premature over a five-minute span that began at 3:59 a.m. Saturday morning to Wayne and May Collier, of Dutch Settlers Crescent in Holland Landing. While they're not the first quintuplets born in Canada they are the first to be conceived by way of the in vitro fertilization process, and theirs was also the largest multiple birth ever at Women's College Hospital in Toronto, according to the public relations officer there. Wendy Lewis said Sunday afternoon that the five babies were listed in stable condition and that doctors were pleased with their progress. The babies will remain on respirators and under close observation for at least another couple of months, she said. Ms. Lewis said that a team of 25 doctors and nurses were involved in the birth, which took place with relative ease, with children arriving about a minute apart. They ranged in size at birth from 805 grams (one pound, 12 ounces) to nearly 1,200 grams (Two pounds, 10 ounces). The public relations officer said that Mrs. Collier, a 33-year-old executive administrative assistant with a law firm, had gone through a carefully monitored fertilization and gestation process under the Toronto East General LIF (Laboratory Initiated Foetal Emplacement) program. She had been in hospital for two months prior to the birth, and anticipated the number of children and their premature arrival. "She actually knew after five weeks of pregnancy she was going to have quintuplets, " Ms. Lewis explained, adding that premature labor "is expected in multiple births." Om fact Mrs. May had gone into labor twice during the week before the actual birth, she said. It will be at least 11 weeks before the quintuplets can come home to father Wayne, 27, an air conditioning and heating apprentice. The couple have no other children. Mrs. Collier couldn't be reached by phone over the weekend, but was slated to appear at a press conference in Toronto sometime Monday.