Description : The response to our book, Governor Simcoe Slept Here, has been overwhelming. It was never expected that our print run of 1,000 copies would be so well received. While there are still copies available, they are getting few in number. A sincere thank you to all who purchased a copy, or in many cases, more than 1 copy. Our appreciation also to those who have been in touch with us, to compliment us on the format and content of our book. This four-year project started in October of 2001, and culminated in our book launch on December 15th, 2005. Our publisher, Friesens and their representative Orland French provided assistance and guidance as we progressed along the path.
"Someone would like to thank you, Dr. Gilbert Blackwell of Bradford. Her name is Helen Michalowski, she lives in Toronto now, and she's almost 60. Twenty-two years ago, Helen was a recent immigrant from Poland and she brought her seven-month-old daughter, Mary, to your 72 Barrie Street office. Helen said her child was dying and you spotted a malignant cyst behind the baby's ear. You grabbed your coat and left the regular patients in the office to drive Helen and Mary to Sick Children's Hospital in Toronto, where an operation saved the young life. Helen was poor in those days and she couldn't afford to pay you. You said that was OK. But she never forgot. Helen went through a broken marriage, six major operations of her own, and now she's married a second time. Mary just graduated from the University of Toronto and she is working as a public health nurse. After all these years, Helen dropped into your office last week to pay you - but you wouldn't hear of it. You told her you were just pleased she had come to thank you and to hear that Mary is now in the business of helping people through medicine. You said money could not make you as happy. In broken English, Helen thanks you, Doctor: 'I'd like from the bottom of my heart to thank Dr. Blackwell. My girl has brought me so much happiness.This is priceless, what he did for me. God bless Dr. Blackwell forever.'"
"On the way west! Well, maybe. Last Thursday, the great Canadian wagon train made its way through Bond Head. Here the group is making its way up the hill on Highway 27. The horses took a run to make it up the hill, then had to pull in so they wouldn't run away going down the other side. The main feature of the event was the long lineup of cars waiting to pass the train. The train was re-routed off Highway 27 to Alliston and by Tuesday still had not passed Barrie."
"John Diefenbaker, Canada's 13th Prime Minister, will be making a sentimental journey on October 15 when he visits the York-Simcoe area. It was 18 years ago when The Chief last appeared in this area. The year was 1958, and his visit came on the eve of that year's federal election when the Conservatives swept to the greatest ever victory for any Canadian government. Of 245 seats in the House of Commons, Diefenbaker's candidates claimed 205 of them to form the most powerful majority government in Canadian history."
"The bounciest petunias and the most colourful marigolds on Simcoe Rd. are in the Van Der Hulst family garden. They grow 150,000 boxes of bedding plants each spring in the greenhouses behind their home so they have an advantage over their neighbours. With the flower season over, the family is growing tomatoes which will be ready when the field crops are depleted around September 15. Joe Van Der Hulst hasn't been too well this year but he hasn't worried about the greenhouses. Two of his children, Bert and Connie clip the tomato leaves and wind the vines around string as they grow taller and taller."
"The McCague family joined husband and father George on the podium after his nomination victory a week ago Tuesdday. The Conservative MPP will again represent Dufferin-Simcoe in the provincial election. From left to right are Barry, Heather, Ross, Raymond, and wife Elaine."
"Darryl Sittler, Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs, joins March of Dimes poster girl, Elaine Knox, in planning the 25th annual fundraising tactics. Darryl is Provincial Honorary Chairman for this year's March of Dimes Campaign."
"The Lefroy Atoms were consolation champions at a winter break hockey tournament in Stroud. Front row, from left: Morgan Russel, Jim Inglis, Bill Morris and Stephen Gooch; second row; Jeffrey Hynd, David Stewart, Jason Corner, Dave Jack and Mark Bruinin; third row; Brian Hogarth, Les Shannon, and Terry Bruining; at rear: trainer George Hogarth, coach Jasper Bruining, and manager John Bruining."
"More than 180 persons were on hand at the Bradford Community Centre Friday night to honor 'Uncle Joe' Magani on his retirement from 20 years in Bradford politics, the last 16 of those as mayor. Reeve Ken Wood was chairman for the evening, and he opened the meeting by introducing head table guests, and then handed the microphone over to Charlie Evans, former reeve, county warden, and town solicitor for Bradford. Chairman Ken Wood then called on Bradford Fire Chief Harold "Butch" Boyd to make another presentation. The gift from the firefighters was a gold-plated fire helmet naming Mr. Magani as honorary chief of the Bradford Fire Department."
