Description : It was a magnificent effort: for 4 years, volunteers with the Bradford West Gwillimbury Local History Association and the community at large worked together as the "WEGWHIST" team, putting together a History of West Gwillimbury. The result was a 2-volume set, Governor Simcoe Slept Here: The Legacy of West Gwillimbury, containing the stories, records and photographs of the families that settled the Township. MP Peter Van Loan flew in to attend, and praised the book as a "remarkable and strong community project - a gift from older generations to younger generations. I commend you all, and I congratulate you all." The book was published by Friesens Corporation of Altona, Manitoba, thanks to seed money provided by the Municipal council, an Ontario Trillium Foundation grant, and contributions from Patrons. George Jackson, who chaired, co-ordinated and drove the process from the beginning thanked a long list of those involved.
Description : The WEGWHIST Project volunteers were busy during the week of October 17th, collating the pages of the History of West Gwillimbury that has been 4 years in the making. They were joined by professionals, Orland French and Sharon Voth of Friessens Publications, out of Altona, Manitoba, who provided advice in matching up text with the hundreds of photographs contributed by residents. The two-volume History, titled Governor Simcoe Slept Here, will come off the presses in December. Pre-publication price is only $55 if ordered now; post-publication price is $65.
Group which wrote the book "Governor Simcoe Slept Here: The Legacy of West Gwillimbury." This project was given the acronym "WEGWHIST." Back Row, from left: Donna Saunders, Franz Aschwanden, Bill Marks, John Fennell, Bob Sturgeon, Del Crake, Auke Ellens, Erica Marks, Kelly Roberts, Inset: Ann Stam. Seated: Janet Gunn, Marilynne Williams, Sarah Riley, Barbara Verney, George Jackson, Jan Blommaert, Leila Lloyd and Addy Ellens.
