"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." ..."
Photograph of Norman McKinstry from the Bradford Centennial edition of the Bradford Witness. He was one of many who returned home to Bradford for the celebrations.
"At 2 p.m., on Saturday, October 7, a weekend which will long be remembered, began for the residents of Newton Robinson and the Newton Robinson community, when friends of former years came to celebrate the village's Pioneer Family Days. The activities for the celebration were introduced with a parade, which assembled a Poole's garage, and was led by two pipers, Paul and Marilyn Moir of Cookstown, up the hill and into Lloyd Coburn's orchard, which was prepared in readiness for celebrating the occasion." ...
"The long anticipated commencement of our national existence as the Dominion of Canada is at length realized. Henceforward the four millions of British subjects upon this continent will exist but as one people. We begin our new era of history under most auspicious circumstances. The causes that provoked so much strife and bitterness between us and our sister provinces are at length happily removed; the objects for which as a people, we have so long struggled have been in the main effectually secured, and the calamities that loomed so ominously in the future have vanished altogether from the political horizon." ...
"The table was decorated with red and white flags, candles and napkins, and a red and white cake, for a multi-generation Canada Day party and Toast held at the home of Tom and Zelma Fuller, Jr. The Guests of Honor were Mae and Bill Fuller." ...
"Jack and Diane Kooiman and family recently moved into a new home on the 11th Concession, and found the perfect way to both celebrate Canada's birthday, and beautify their property. The three Kooiman sons, their friends and girl friends came up to Bradford West Gwillimbury for the day, and planted blue spruce and maple trees along the property's edge/ Their reward was a barbeque, followed by fireworks. And on Sunday, the Kooimans will be holding their first annual family reunion, with family members from as far away as Kingston coming up for the weekend. A birthday, notes Jack, is a special thing. "It only happens once a year - and your 125th is a wonderful day!"
