Showing 406 results

"While dignitaries gather at the war memorials in Normandy on Monday, June 6th a short but emotion-filled ceremony was held at the Cenotaph in Bradford. Between 50 and 60 veterans, their families, and members of the Royal Canadian Legion gathered for a Memorial Service led by Padre O. Hopkins, commemorating the 50th Anniversary of D-day. Among the dignitaries present was Mayor Pat Storey, who laid a wreath at the Cenotaph, in honor of the "boys who never came home." The Mayor was also on hand to confirm that the municipality, as part of the 50th Anniversary activities, will be following the recommendations of Chief of Police John Harrison, and renaming a number of streets after Bradford veterans. "It's something we've been trying to get on with for five years," commented Storey, noting that the proposed names have historical significance, as "the names of people that have contributed to our country and our community." Chief Harrison, who with Special Constable Les Bluestein, carried out the archival background research, told those gathered that following amalgamation, there were a number of duplicate street names in the town of Bradford West Gwillimbury. "Because of confusion in emergency situations, those street names have to be changed," the Police Chief said. Changing the names to honor veterans, living and dead, was an appropriate step, added. Councillors, in Committee of the Whole last night, voted to recommend the renaming of several streets after the veterans, "to honor those individuals while they are still living, and commemorate in part the 50th anniversary of D-Day." Barrie Street in West Gwillimbury will be known as Woolven Rd.; Centre Street in the marsh will be Noble St.; Church St. in Bond ...
(Page 2) ...Head - Booth St.; Simcoe Place i Bradford - Kneeshaw Place; Simcoe Road in Bond Head - Hopkins Rd.; Simcoe Street (the bend from Luxury to the canal) - Walker Avenue; Turner Rd in West Gwillimbury - Breeze Drive; and the Service Road on the north side of Highway 88 - McKinstry Road. For biographies of the veterans see pages 18 and 19."

Description : The West Gwillimbury History Project (WEGWHIST) meets Weds., Oct. 1st, in the Compton Room of the Bradford Library, 100 Holland Court, at 2 p.m. There are still some "missing families"... If you want your family history to be included, the Project must receive your information by October 1st! WWI Vetereans...To date, the project has the names of only 2 persons who served in WWI and returned home.

"James G. McKinstry was born in the town of Bradford on December 4th, 1884. He enlisted on December 11, 1915, into the 10th Royal Grenadiers, who were later absorbed into the 123rd Battalion Canadian Expeditionary Force. The 123rd served in Canada until they embarked for England, on August 8th, 1915. McKinstry served at Bramshott Camp and was confirmed in the rank of A/L Corporal, in 1916. He was appointed A/Cpl. in 1917. In early February, 1917, the 123rd Battalion served overseas in France and Flanders, as a Pioneer Battalion. McKinstry remained in England as a instructor, but was dispatched to the front one month later, as part of the Canadian Corps below Vimy Ridge. In October of that year, the Corps moved to Flanders to aid the British in their autumn offensive. The attack on Passchendaele Ridge took several stages to complete. Cpl. McKinstry was killed in action at Passchendaele on October 21st,1917, and is buried in Ypres Reservoir Cemetery, in Belgium. He was 31 years old at the time of his death. At the end of the offensive in November, the Canadian Corps had sustained 16,000 casualties.

An article about construction of the new library at 425 Holland Street West.

"Garry Pilon, principal of Salter Pilon + Lett Architects, provided an update on the new BWG REcreation complex and Library: 'There's lots of activity on that site...It's progressing well and on schedule.' Since September 1, excavation and grading have been underway on the 'campus lands' site - 21 acres fronting on Holland St. W., just west of Bradford District High School..."

An article about the ground breaking for the new Library and Leisure Centres to be built on Holland Street W.

"The site of the new Bradford West Gwillimbury Leisure Centre and Public Library/Cultural Centre was off-limits, as the contractor's crews continued to move earth, in preparation for the start of construction - so the official groundbreaking ceremony took place across the road, at the Canadian Tire Store, and in front of the fencing on Holland St. West..."

A newspaper article about the creation of the Gwen Taylor Memorial Library as a community library in Newtown Robinson. The library was conceived after the Newton Robinson branch of the Bradford West Gwillimbury Public Library was closed.

"The Gwen Taylor Memorial Library is an example of what a community can achieve, when it pulls together. The community library in Newton Robinson was opened by residents of the hamlet, after the local branch of the Bradford West Gwillimbury Public Library was closed by the Library Board..."

An article about the creation of a "Booketeria" in order to help provide library services to the Bond Head area.

"What is a Booketeria? It's a self-serve mini-library, a new and innovative way to make library resources more available in a small community. With the help of the Bond Head Post Mistress Judith Baguely, room was found in the tiny Bond Head Post Office for shelving that holds approximately 450 paperback books, ranging from adult titles to kids' literature, and from romance and murder mysteries, to the latest works by Canadian authors..."

Article containing the winning poem in the children's category for the library's poem contest. The contest was related to Carrotfest and the poem was written by Jaclyn Hodsdon.

"Last Sunday, May 27th, the town of Bradford launched 14 months of celebration, marking the 150th year since its incorporation.
In fact, the "actual receiving of Royal Assent incorporating the village of Bradford... was done on May 27th, 1857 by Queen Victoria," said Bradford Sesquicentennial Committee Chair Del Crake, "ten years prior to Confederation." ..."