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Part 1 of a three part short series on the life of Elizabeth (Gwillim) Simcoe, wife of Lieut-Governor John Graves Simcoe of Upper Canada.

"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.

Article about the induction of a new minister at Coulson Hill's St. Paul's Anglican Church. Priest-in-charge Robert Gorham was inducted by Area Bishop George Elliott.

"The Bradford Community Centre...was where they bid farewell to the friends and parishioners they had served for ten years...Padre Hopkins, at the age of 69, is taking early retirement from the Anglican parish of Bradford..."

Newspaper article expressing interest in renaming streets to honour Bradford's history, and including plaques at the roadsides to explain the significance.

"The story of Ansnorveld began in 1928, when Peter Rol and his family arrived in Bradford from Holland. An experienced farmer, Rol was soon working on the land here, also. He learned to speak English by attending services in the Presbyterian church, and he learned to read English by reading comic strips. The language problem being resolved, the industrious family had, by 1930, opened up its own market where the Rol produce was sold. ..."

Article about road closures on the 6th Line that were expected to prevent Applefest. The road did reopen in time to have Applefest.

A proposed drainage scheme to relocate the drainage canals in the Holland Marsh will cost an estimated $8.7 million. This sum is too great for the Marsh farmers alone so they are attempting to extend the assessment area to 65,000 acres of upland property in Bradford West Gwillimbury, King Township, New Tecumseth, Newmarket, East Gwillimbury, and Caledon but this idea has been met with legal challenges. Due to the legal fees surrounding this the Holland Marsh Drainage Committee has asked the province for $2 million in extraordinary funding for the scheme. After being completed in 1930 the 17.5 miles of canals that ring the Holland Marsh have been dredged several times, and after Hurricane Hazel were even widened and deepened. Although, recent studies show that the canal is almost filled in at certain points. Studies have also shown that due to south canal being filled in so much the north canal is handling four times the flow of the south canal. Relocation of the canal is the preferred solution to this problem.

Description : As we approach the end of the writing and editing, we are faced with the challenge of marketing our product, the book. We need someone who can help us develop a marketing plan and execute it. We offer the same pay and benefits that we all enjoy as volunteers - an interesting project, good fellowship, positive enthusiasm and the real feeling of accomplishment. Governor Simcoe Slept Here: The Legacy of West Gwillimbury is the book being written by the volunteers of the WEGWHIST project. To help pay for publication costs, a Patrons Page has been established. Donors will be recognized in print, in this wonderful book that will be published this year, and hopefully available by December.

Description : Don't forget to order your copy of Governor Simcoe Slept Here, the History of West Gwillimbury Township. The 2-volume history, 900 pages filled with information on 470 families and crammed with photographs, can be ordered for only $55 prior to the Book Launch on December 15th; $65 per copy afterwards. Cheques should be made payable to the Bradford West Gwillimbury Local History Association. The official book launch is scheduled for December 15th, 2 p.m. at St. John Presbyterian Church, at the 8th Line and 10 Sideroad - just in time for Christmas.