"As part of Bradford's Sesquicentennial celebration, a new group has been formed. The Gwillim group - many of the same people who have been involved in the town's Downtown Revitalization, Communities in Bloom and local history - is dedicated to introducing a more cultural element to the community..."

"One of the groups celebrating Bradford's 150th Anniversary is the Gwillim Group - a group of history buffs, under the aegis of the Bradford West Gwillimbury Local History Association, that is turning the spotlight on Upper Canada's First Lady.
Elizabeth Posthuma Gwillim was not only the wife of Lieut.-Governor John Graves Simcoe, she was an ardent traveller, and exceptional hostess and an accomplished artist. The Gwillim Group has commissioned a bronze and rock sculpture, by artist Brenda Wainman Goulet, to be placed in the parkette beside the Post Office.
To raise funds, the Group has planned an evening of Dinner Theatre, in partnership with the Bradford District High School Drama Club. On June 8 and 9, the students will present "Bradford in 1857" - actually a history of Bradford, from the early days before incorporation, "to the present day - a fun celebratory tongue-in-cheek look at Bradford," says author and drama teacher Steve Bainborough.
The Gwillim Group will serve up a Spaghetti Dinner with Strawberry Shortcake for dessert, and there will be a Silent Auction; items include an original painting by artist Kathryn Bury."

Gwillim Group Committee members with Lieutenant Governor Onley, his wife Ruth Ann and Peter Van Loan. Back Row (l-r): Darlene Braybrook, Tom Fuller, Jennifer Gordon, Mary and Don Gardiner, Vera Stoddart and Peter Line. Middle Row (l-r): Natalie Dykie, Christine Houlieff, Brenda Winter, Zelma Fuller, Bill Marks, Joan Gibson, Mikki Nanowski and Judith Moses. Front: Lieutenant Governor Onley, Ruth Ann Onley and Peter Van Loan.

Description : Following four years of volunteer work by a team of members of the Bradford West Gwillimbury Local History Association, Governor Simcoe Slept Here - The Legacy of West Gwillimbury was launched on December 15th. In October, 2001 over forty people responded to the initial invitation to meet and discuss the possibility of writing a history of West Gwillimbury and they choose to call themselves WEGWHIST - West Gwillimbury History. The book was written by a team of 15 Bradford West Gwillimbury residents. Governor Simcoe Slept Here tells the story of the two waves of pioneer settlers to West Gwillimbury - the Scottish, Irish and English, who settled on the highlands during the 1820 - 1830 period and the European settlers who arrived a century later to the Holland Marsh. Churches, schools and hamlets are documented in the two volumes, along a CD which includes "The Many Faces of West Gwillimbury" as photographed by Franz Aschwanden, a listing of the Marsh Land Owners in 1949 and a Genealogical Index of the Families.

The transport truck arrived early Monday morning, with the reprinted copies of Governor Simcoe Slept Here: The Legacy of West Gwillimbury. If you have purchased a pre-publication copy, you may pick up your copy from Kelly in the Local History Room of the Bradford West Gwillimbury Public Library. Please bring your receipt. Copies can also be picked up at the WEGWHIST CarrotFest Booth today, August 19th. If you did not pre-order a copy, they are now available at the post-publication price of $75. Governor Simcoe Slept Here is a handsome, 2-volume set that makes a splendid gift for anyone interested in local history or genealogy - a book that will bring back memories, and in doing so, provide a record of the lifestyle of early days in West Gwillimbury.

Margaret Luella AKA Ella Adair feeding time - range feed. Known as Brooder House at first then later called chicken coop. This was Ella's source of income.

Part 3 of a three part short series on the life of Elizabeth (Gwillim) Simcoe, wife of Lieut-Governor John Graves Simcoe of Upper Canada.

Part 2 of a three part short series on the life of Elizabeth (Gwillim) Simcoe, wife of Lieut-Governor John Graves Simcoe of Upper Canada.

Newspaper article on the creation of the Elizabeth Gwillim Simcoe statue