Description : The reprint of the magnificent 2-volume local history book, Governor Simcoe Slept Here: The Legacy of West Gwillimbury is now available. Those who wish to mail out a copy as a Christmas gift should call Bill Marks or George Jackson.
Description : The 5th Anniversary of the WEGWHIST (West Gwillimbury History) Project will take place on October 19th, 1:30 p.m. at the Bradford West Gwillimbury Public Library. The meeting will feature a presentation of 2 copies of Governor Simcoe Slept Here: The Legacy of West Gwillimbury Township to representatives from each school in BWG, thanks to a generous local patron. The meeting will also feature a display of the development of the book, from the first list of the Table of Contents, through to the final text approved for printing - a once-in-a-lifetime happening. There will be a social time, to chat and reminisce. All are welcome to attend.
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 : In the recently published book, "Governor Simcoe Slept Here: A legacy of West Gwillimbury," there is an error on page 792. Part way down the first paragraph, the text should read: "Beatrice was born September 25, 1910, and died November 17, 1992. Evelyn was born March 14, 1917, and married Bob Stafford on August 17, 1940. They had two children, Jean and Don. Evelyn died April 6, 1991." Apologies to Marion West, who submitted this story, and to the West family for the typing error that occurred when transferring the story to the computer.
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.
"Military padre who compared his job to being a mosquito in a nudist colony spent more than 30 years ministering to troops.
Ottawa - Serving in Egypt 50 years ago was an eye-opener for Ormond Hopkins, a padre with the Royal Canadian Army Chaplain Corps. Not only did he have to cope with the heat, sand and flies, he also had to adjust to the local culture. On New Year's Eve, 1956, Mr. Hopkins, an Anglican priest known as Hoppy to his friends, had the opportunity of observing Egyptian culture at close range. The brass had booked two belly dancers from Cairo to entertain Canadian troops and, as a man of the cloth, he felt obliged to protest the salacious nature of the festivites..."
Read about the pioneers who settled West Gwillimbury and left a legacy of responsible government, free schooling and community service. This hardcover, two volume book of some 900 pages contains the story of 470 families, includes pictures that will let you show your grandchildren your picture when you were in senior third in Bowles school; we tell of plane crashes, train wrecks and buggy accidents; baseball and lacrosse teams and horse races on the frozen lake. This early offering is at the pre publication price of $55 and will be in effect until the Book Launch, in early December from then on the price is $65, per copy. It will cost you $8 to have your copy mailed to you in Ontario.
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.
Description : October 13th marks the 4th anniversary of the 1st WEGWHIST (West Gwillimbury History Project) meeting. WEGWHIST is now in the final stages of producing a 2-volume history of West Gwillimbury Township that will be available by this December. At 2 p.m. on October 13th, come out to the Bradford Library, to mark the 4th anniversary, learn more about marketing plans, and purchase a copy, pre-publication. WEGWHIST will be asking for help in contacting all of those who have indicated an interest in buying the book.
