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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.

Article about the amalgamation of the Bradford and Innisfil Police Departments; the previous defeated vote was reexamined after Innisfil Town Council voted for the bylaw, and BWG Town Council revisited the proposal.

"A land ambulance decommissioned by Simcoe County is still going to help save lives. In its second career, the ambulance is making a move to Africa. Simcoe County is donating a decommissioned land ambulance to the village of Ongutoi, Uganda." ...

Article about the opening of the fire hall on Melbourne Drive, which is its current location today (2017). The fire department moved from a small fire hall next to the courthouse and Town Hall on Holland Street East.

Photograph of a cheque presentation during fundraising for a new library at 100 Holland Court.

From Left: Lorraine Tompkins (Chariperson of the Library Board), Peter Mizzoni (President of Bradford Rotary Club), Anne Wagg (Chairperson of Library Committee), Dennis Roughley (Town Councillor)

Description : It was the realization of a 4-year dream... Back in 2001, George Jackson, founder and chair of the Bradford West Gwillimbury Local History Association, broached the idea of a comprehensive history of the Twp. of West Gwillimbury. The book would focus on the founders and settlers of the Township, the farming families, the businesses, and the flavour and character of life in a rural Township. Jackson quickly drew together a team of enthusiastic volunteers, many of them members of the Local History group, but also others, eager to participate and explore their own genealogy and heritage. In all, 115 volunteers spanning 5 generations took part in the "WEGWHIST" Project. They collected family histories and stories, tracked down archival records, collated photographs that spanned the decades, and worked with staff at Friessens Publishing in Altoona, Manitoba, to put together "Governor Simcoe Slept Here - The Legacy of West Gwillimbury Township." The original idea was to print 750 copies of a 500 page book. The book is now 825 pages, in 2 volumes - with scores of photographs, and a CD that contains a 100-plus page index with over 10,000 entries, and 140 color plates of the Twp. One thousand copies have been printed; 750 were pre-sold, before the launch. The book was formally launched on December 15 at St. John's Presbyterian Church in Bradford. Over 100 people turned out to watch as the volunteers were thanked, and a presentation copy, piped into the room, was presented to the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury by Jackson and Association Secretary, Barbara Verney. Deputy Mayor Dennis Roughley accepted the copy on behalf of the municipality.

A newspaper clipping about a fundraising drive to help raise funds for a new Bradford Public Library at 100 Holland Court.

Included with the article is a picture of those involved in fundraising for the new library.
Front Row (L-R): Bill Marks, Anne Wagg, Debbie Jesk, Ryan Lamb
Second Row (L-R): Art Kneeshaw, Eleanor Sherbo, Pauline Taylor
Back Row (L-R): Ron Quinton, Dennis Roughley, Gary Lamb
Absent for photo: George Jackson, Bob Evans, Brenda Nolan

Groundbreaking ceremony at the site of the new Bradford Public Library, October 24, 1987.
Left to right:
William Marks, Councillor
Sandy Hudson, Reeve & Building Cte. Member
Eleanor Sherbo, Chair, Library Board & Building Cte. Member
Louise Evans
Charles Evans, Honourary Chair, Fundraising Cte.
Dennis Roughley, Board Member & Councillor
William DePeuter, Mayor & Building Cte. Member Bruce Owen, M.P.P.

"Council highly praised the new library building when it was presented to them last week. the architect, Bill Lett, stood beaming along with the library committee as their $1.2 million proposal was unanimously approved..."

A newspaper article about the building of a new Bradford Public Library at 100 Holland Court.