The Ontario Historical Society

The Historical Society of St. Catharines Online Lecture (Virtual): “A Gentleman Politician from Niagara: The Life and Times of Robert Welch”
2023-05-25 19:30 (America/Toronto) | online
Presented by presented by Brock Professor Emeritus David Siegel.
Note that our AGM is on the same night from 7:00 to 7:30 p.m.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82274108094&nbsp

Grey Roots Museum and Archives: Our Roots Are Showing Concert Series: The Scottish Gaelic Diasporas: Healing Through Reclamation
2023-05-25 19:30 | Grey Roots Museum & Archives, 102599 Grey Road 18, RR4, Owen Sound, Ontario, N4K 5N6, Canada
Our Roots Are Showing, Grey Roots’ spring concert series, presents fresh and established talent in an intimate setting. On May 25th Camryn Ruthven presents The Scottish Gaelic Diasporas: Healing Through Reclamation.
Uniting her passions for music and history, Camryn explores the Gaelic lineage through song, reclaiming the traditions of her Scottish ancestors and honouring the ancient ways in the modern era.
As a folk musician, Camryn draws from her inspirations—the 60s, Earth-centredness, and Ancestral lineages. She weaves their medicines into her own creative tapestry using poetry, vocals, and instruments including piano, guitar, and bodhrán.
Admission is $15+tax or $12+tax for Grey Roots members.
Doors open at 6:30 pm, show begins at 7:30 pm.

Doors Open Toronto @ John McKenzie House
2023-05-27 10:00 - 17:00, 2023-05-28 10:00 - 17:00 | John McKenzie House, 34 Parkview Ave., North York, Ontario, M2N 3Y2, Canada
The John McKenzie House was built in 1913, in a style described as Queen Anne Revival, Arts and Crafts, and Edwardian. The grand, red brick house is profiled by a large L-shaped veranda with stylized Doric columns. Significant interior features include the centre hall plan, a vestibule door and sidelights with beveled and leaded glass, a large leaded art glass window that lights the landing of the main staircase, panelled doors, and original radiators. In 1993, the Ontario Historical Society (OHS) entered into a partnership with the former City of North York to preserve and restore the John McKenzie House, which serves as the provincial headquarters of the OHS.

Teddy Bears’ Picnic at the Elman W. Campbell Museum
2023-05-27 13:00 - 15:00 | Elman W. Campbell Museum, 134 Main St S, Newmarket, Ontario, L3Y 3Y7, Canada
All teddy bears and their owners are invited to the Museum for a teddy bears’ picnic! Games, teddy bear
contests, bear hunts, bear-aerobics, displays and light refreshments. Contest categories: Tiniest bear,
Bear that looks most like owner and Bear with the most creative costume. Saturday, May 27, 1:00p.m. to
3:00p.m., $5/child, suitable for ages 4 to 10. Register at newmarket.perfectmind.com. The Museum is
located at 134 Main St., S., Newmarket.

THE LAKESHORE ASYLUM CEMETERY PROJECT “Spring Visit and Clean-Up”
2023-05-27 13:00 - 17:00 | Lakeshore Psychiatric Hospital Cemetery, 231 Evans Ave., Etobicoke, ON, Ontario, Canada
THE LAKESHORE ASYLUM CEMETERY PROJECT INVITES YOU TO JOIN US FOR A:
“Spring Visit and Clean-Up”

Saturday May 27, 2023
(Rain Date: Sunday May 28)
1:00pm
To remember and honour in a dignified and respectful way the lives of the 1511 people buried in the Lakeshore Psychiatric Hospital Cemetery and to acknowledge their contributions to our community.
We will be gathering to do some yard work and freshen up the grounds. Grass/Hedge clippers and Lawn-edger will be useful. You are welcome to join us. Donations of artificial flowers would also be appreciated. For More information please contact: Among Friends at 416-251-8666
Directions to the Cemetery:
TTC – From the Royal York Subway take the #15 Evans bus to the northeast corner of
Evans and Horner Avenue where the cemetery is located. (From Kipling Subway, take
the #44 Kipling South bus to Evans Ave. and walk east.
Cars – The cemetery is just south of the onramp to the QEW where Evans and Horner
meet. There is a parking lot on the south side of the Evans Ave.
PLEASE NOTE: The cemetery is not wheelchair accessible; there is little shade, and no
water supply.

Paris Museum and Historical Society: Pottery Make-Dos: The Art of Repairs
2023-05-28 14:00 - 16:00 | Paris Museum and Historical Society, Syl Apps Community Centre, 51 William Street, Paris, Ontario, N3L 1L2, Canada
The necessity, ingenuity, skill and beauty of repaired household wares.
Speaker: James Christison, Curator, Waterford Heritage and Agricultural Museum
Admission by donation, all welcome
Questions? Email info@theparismuseum.com

National Trust for Canada (Virtual): Webinar: CARE Tool: Quantifying the Carbon Savings from Reuse
2023-05-31 12:00 - 13:00 | online
FREE
Presented by the Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals (CAHP) and National Trust for Canada
Are you looking for help to make the climate case for saving and reusing an older building? Join this webinar to learn about the newly released Carbon Avoided Reuse Estimator (“CARE Tool”).
Launched early this year by Architecture 2030, the CARE Tool estimates the operational and embodied carbon emissions associated with reusing and upgrading an existing building or replacing it with new construction. This innovative carbon estimator can be used by policymakers, planners, building owners, developers, heritage building officers, architects, educators, and others who are interested in a pre- or early-design, high-level assessment of the total carbon emissions of building reuse versus replacement.
The developers of the tool will demonstrate the tools capabilities and give us case examples from early adopters. There will also be discussion about the work needed to update the CARE tool for the Canadian context.
Presenters:
— Erin McDade, Associate AIA, Senior Program Director at Architecture 2030
— Lori Ferriss, AIA, PE, Regenerative Renewal Practice Leader and Director of Sustainability and Climate Action at Goody Clancy
Discussants:
— Emad Ghattas, Senior Associate, Architect, GBCA Architects
— Austin Parsons, Owner/Operator, Parsons Lumber Company Limited, & Parsons Heritage Works (Parsons)
Moderator:
— Chris Wiebe, Manager, Heritage Policy & Government Relations, National Trust for Canada

North Toronto Historical Society: Two Chinese Home Cooks: Asian Heritage Month Program
2023-05-31 19:00 | Northern District Branch, Toronto Public Library, 40 Orchard View Boulevard, Toronto, Ontario, M4R 1B9, Canada
Join Chef Leo Chan as he presents the stories of two Chinese men who worked for Canadian families in Toronto in the first half of the twentieth century. The men were employed as home cooks outside of Chinatown and interacted with households in an environment unfamiliar with Chinese immigrants. Mr. Wong Dong Wong worked for two generations of an Irish Canadian family and is the subject of the book Finding Mr. Wong by Susan Crean. Mr. Lee Sew left behind a handwritten book of recipes.
Author Susan Crean will have copies of her book, Finding Mr. Wong available for purchase prior to the presentation.
Masks are not required, but are strongly recommended.
NOTE: this meeting will not be available online.

Historical Society of Ottawa (Virtual): The Secret Murder of Country Constable John Morrison
2023-05-31 19:00 | online
Guest Speakers: Ivan Tanner & Gerard Boyer of the Cumberland Township Historical Society
Ivan and Gerard will highlight the stories from Cumberland Township’s Past including the secret murder of County Constable John Morrison.

This speaker series presentation will take place on Zoom. Registration: tinyurl.com/HSO-31-May-2023

All are welcome to attend without charge.
Joint presentation of the Historical Society of Ottawa and the Cumberland Township Historical Society.

Town of York Historical Society: A Paper Making Workshop
2023-06-03 08:00 - 17:00 | Toronto’s First Post Office, 260 Adelaide Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M5A 1N1, Canada
Join Heidi Breier from Paper Powered for a fun and easy introduction to recycled papermaking!
In this workshop, Heidi will guide you from pulling a sheet of paper, through adding embellishments and exploring a variety of techniques. Participants will go home with a selection of beautiful, unique, handmade paper, and a new appreciation for an ancient craft and its connection to environmental sustainability. Preregistration is required and spots are strictly limited!
(Please Note: This workshop requires standing for upwards of 45 minutes to 1 hour)
About the Instructor:
Heidi has an extensive background in teaching, performance and cultural interpretation. Over the years, she honed her skills as a papermaker and with the creation of Paper Powered in 2015, she found her passion to combine her skills for environment sustainability and all things creative. Offering customizable, on-site papermaking and paper craft workshops, Heidi engages participants in a hands-on and accessible lesson on how to make recycled paper and crafts from scrap materials. She guarantees attendees will walk away with something homemade but a renewed enthusiasm for make the world a better place.

Swansea Historical Society: Annual Guided Historical Walking Tour of the Swansea Area
2023-06-03 13:30 | Alex Ling Fountain, 2 Jane St., York, Ontario, M6S 4W3, Canada
Topic: Transportation and Industry
Starting location: Alex Ling Fountain on the north-west corner of Jane Street and Bloor Street West.
Route: The tour will wind its way south, finishing near the intersection of Windermere Avenue and The Queensway.
You are cordially invited to join us for this year’s instalment of the annual SHS guided historical walking tours of the Swansea area. This year’s tour will start at 1:30 pm on Saturday, June 3, 2023, at the Alex Ling Fountain on the north-west corner of Jane Street and Bloor Street West. The tour will wind its way south, finishing near the intersection of Windermere Avenue and The Queensway.

Kingston Historical Society: 6 June Commemoration Service of the Death of Sir John A. Macdonald
2023-06-06 13:30 | Cataraqui Cemetery, Kingston, 927 Purdy's Mill Rd., Kingston, Ontario, K7M 3N1, Canada
The Kingston Historical Society invites you to remember Sir John A. Macdonald on Tuesday, June 6, 2023. Please join us at 1:30 pm. in Kingston’s Cataraqui Cemetery to remember Canada’s first Prime Minister, Sir John Alexander Macdonald, who died on this day in 1891.
This year our guest speaker is Dr. Duncan McDowall of Queen’s University. He is noted for the op-ed pieces and essays in popular history he has contributed to such national publications as The National Post, The Queen’s Quarterly, The Globe and Mail and The Toronto Star. Hist recent publications include The Sum of the Satisfactions, on Canada’s highly-acclaimed system of national accounts, and Another World: Bermuda and the Rise of Modern Tourism. In 2016, Dr. McDowall wrote a history of Queen’s University since 1961, under the title Queen’s University, Volume III, 1961-2004: Testing Tradition.
His address is titled “Sir John A. Swings on the Pendulum of History.”
Following Dr. McDowall’s talk wreaths will be laid at Sir John’s graveside.
Before and after the ceremony, visitors are welcome to tour the historic and picturesque Cataraqui Cemetery, which is now a National Historic Site.

Historical Society of Ottawa (Virtual): 2023 Annual General Meeting
2023-06-07 19:00 | online
The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of The Historical Society of Ottawa will be held via Zoom.

It’s a chance to review the past year and plan for the future of the organization. Members and guests are welcome to attend.
Registration: tinyurl.com/HSO-7-Jun-2023

Ancaster Heritage Days: Author Grant Karcich Speaking on Jean-Baptiste Rousseau
2023-06-07 19:00 | Ancaster Old Town Hall, 310 Wilson St E., Ancaster, Ontario, L9G 2B9, Canada
Celebrate Ancaster’s History
Fieldcote Museum is pleased to present as part of Ancaster Heritage Days an informative talk by Grant Karcich on the life of John Baptiste Rousseau, one of the early settlers of Ancaster.
Details will be provided on Rousseau’s French-Canadian background growing up on the island of Montreal; his exploits during the American Revolution and the Battle of Queenston Heights in 1812; his mercantile pursuits in Kingston, Toronto, and Ancaster, and his unique role in British Treaty negotiations with the Mississauga and Chippewa.
The talk will take place at the Ancaster Old Town Hall, located at 310 Wilson Street East, on the evening of Wednesday June 7, 2023. The talk is scheduled to begin at 7:00 pm. The Hall will be open to the public from 6:30-8:30 pm to accommodate both the talk and the book launch.
Author Grant Karcich’s extensive research is also the focus of his book, Jean Baptiste Rousseau, St. John: a Canadian Interpreter and Trader, which will be available for purchase that evening. The biography of Rousseau will be available from Red Handprint Publishing (http://redhandprint.ca) later in June.
To be sure to secure a seat, please register at https://rec.hamilton.ca/Fieldcote/ticketing/browse?StartDate=2023-06-07&LocationId=1736.

Myseum of Toronto Walking Tour: Old Meets New
2023-06-10 10:00, 2023-06-10 12:30 | Royal Ontario Museum, 100 Queens Park, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 2C6
Explore over 150 years of unique architectural history in and around the University of Toronto’s St. George Campus.
How can we preserve our city’s past while meeting the needs of the future? What defines heritage and how can it help us reimagine architecture?
Led by Joël León of the Toronto Society of Architects, this walk delves into how architects have repaired, adapted, and rebuilt some of the earliest structures in the area.
Get to know one of the most remarkable architectural collections in Canada, taking stock of buildings such as the Royal Ontario Museum, the Faculty of Arts and Science, and Robarts Library.
Dates + Times:
Saturday, June 10th @ 10 am
Saturday, June 10th @ 12:30 pm

Museum of Lennox & Addington: Book Signing and Discussion with Rick Revelle
2023-06-10 13:30 | Museum of Lennox & Addington, 97 Thomas Street East, Napanee, ON, K7R 1L1, Canada
Come out and meet Rick Revelle as he reads from his new book The Elk Whistle Warrior Society. This is Rick’s 5th novel since 2013. The previous four books were a series under the name “The Algonquin Quest Series” that took place in the 1300’s pre-contact. The Elk Whistle Warrior Society is about a secret society of Native women who hunt down human traffickers, and murders of Native women and abusers of Native children. They all have either a masters or PhD degree and a Martial Arts black belt. They do not use guns, only the weapons of their ancestors. Rick will also be talking about his writing experiences and the journey to write this and his other novels. His books will be for sale at the museum that day.
Free, no pre-registration required.

Campbell House Museum: Daniel Maltz - Fortepiano Concert
2023-06-10 19:30 | Campbell House Museum, 160 Queen Street West, Toronto, Ontario, M5H 3H3, Canada
Enjoy Haydn’s and Mozart’s piano works performed as they intended them to be heard — in a historic house on a period instrument.
During the Classical era in Vienna, composers expected their keyboard music to entertain relatively small audiences in more intimate settings than today’s large concert halls. And, the era’s pianos (known as “fortepianos”) are very different from modern Steinways.
Campbell House Museum is offering you this unique chance to experience the Classical era in the Blue Ballroom, so get your tickets now!
Fortepianist Daniel Adam Maltz is based in Vienna and studied Historical Performance at the Royal Academy of Music in London and at Vienna’s University for Music and Performing Arts. He performs on historic Viennese fortepianos, utilizing the vast range of tones, colours, and techniques familiar to Classical-era composers.

Culinary Historians of Canada (Virtual): From Figgy Duff to Loblolly: History on the Newfoundland & Labrador Table
2023-06-11 13:00 - 14:00 | online
Whet your appetite & your curiosity: Explore the history of foods that have travelled the world to arrive on Newfoundland & Labrador tables.
Jennifer Leigh Hill’s The Foods of Newfoundland and Labrador: Tracing the History of the Province’s Cookery is not a traditional “cookbook”(even though it includes 170 recipes), but rather a look at the history of how some of the various dishes that are typically served in both homes and restaurants around the province have evolved and continue to evolve.
This book has arisen from the author’s love of the people of Newfoundland and Labrador, their culture and their food, and she has tried to be as accurate as possible in presenting the fascinating history of “traditional” Newfoundland cookery from the 1600s to the present.
The book examines food that can be traced back to the early settlers: the English, Irish, Scottish, French, Spanish, Portuguese and Basque, and recipes that are representative of each group are presented. Examples include Figgy Duff (England), Boxty (Ireland), Scotch Eggs (Scotland), Croquettes (France), Sardinhas Asadas (Spain), Char-Grilled Octopus (Basque), and Egg Tarts (Portugal).

Myseum of Toronto Walking Tour: Big Taste of Little Manila
2023-06-11 14:00, 2023-06-11 16:00 | Mabuhay Garden, 3749 Bathurst Street, Toronto, Ontario, M3H 3M4, Canada
Explore the history and diversity of the Filipino community in Toronto through food, culture, and stories.
With the largest Filipino population in Canada, Toronto’s “Little Manila” at Bathurst Street and Wilson Avenue is a vibrant community linchpin. Celebrate Filipino Heritage Month by exploring Little Manila with historians, educators, architects, and local entrepreneurs.
Learn how the community and neighbourhood came to be – one bite at a time.
Developed in collaboration with Jennilee Austria (author/educator), Diana Roldan (architect) and Ysh Cabana (community historian).
We want everyone to enjoy Little Manila’s iconic food, however, we cannot guarantee this tour can accommodate all allergies or dietary restrictions.
Dates + Times:
Sunday, June 11th @ 2 pm
Sunday, June 11th @ 4 pm

Campbell House Museum: Daniel Maltz - Fortepiano Concert with Vocalist Keely Rhodes
2023-06-11 15:00 | Campbell House Museum, 160 Queen Street West, Toronto, Ontario, M5H 3H3, Canada
Enjoy Haydn’s and Mozart’s piano works performed as they intended them to be heard — in a historic house on a period instrument. The June 11th concert features mezzo-soprano vocalist Keely Rhodes.
During the Classical era in Vienna, composers expected their keyboard music to entertain relatively small audiences in more intimate settings than today’s large concert halls. And, the era’s pianos (known as “fortepianos”) are very different from modern Steinways.
Campbell House Museum is offering you this unique chance to experience the Classical era in the Blue Ballroom, so get your tickets now!
Fortepianist Daniel Adam Maltz is based in Vienna and studied Historical Performance at the Royal Academy of Music in London and at Vienna’s University for Music and Performing Arts. He performs on historic Viennese fortepianos, utilizing the vast range of tones, colours, and techniques familiar to Classical-era composers.
Mezzo-soprano vocalist Keely Rhodes is a sought-after solo and chamber recitalist and sings in the United States, Europe, and Central and South America.

Kingston & District Branch UELAC: Loyalist Day, Signage Unveiling
2023-06-12 14:00 | Cataraqui United Church, 965 Sydenham R., Kingston, Ontario, K7M 3L8, Canada
The Board of the Heritage Cemetery at Cataraqui, Kingston and District Branch of the United Empire Loyalists’ Association of Canada, and members of the King’s Royal Regiment of New York cordially invite the public to attend the unveiling of signage designating the cemetery as a Loyalist Burial Ground on Monday, June 12 (Loyalist Day in Kingston*) at 2:00 p.m. at 965 Sydenham Road, Kingston. Light refreshments to follow. All are welcome.
In the event of rain, the ceremony will be held in the church hall adjoining the cemetery.
*On June 12, 1784, Governor Haldimand received confirmation from King George III, “His Majesty approves the plan you have proposed for settling some of the Loyalists at Cataraqui and places adjacent.”

Bruce County Historical Society: Annual Bus Trip to Lucan, ON
2023-06-14 09:00 - 17:30 | Ontario
The annual bus trip is back! Join us on a highway coach tour to Lucan, Ontario, to learn more about the infamous Donnelly Family. Our visit includes a tour of the Donnelly Museum, a picnic lunch, and a guided bus trip up the Roman Line (passing by the Donnelly Homestead). After visiting the museum, we will spend an hour at the Lucan Architectural store before heading home to stops in Walkerton and Port Elgin.
For tickets, call Karen Ribey (519-389-4405) or email bchsregister@gmail.com. Cost is $100 for BCHS members and $120 for non-members.
Schedule:
— 9:00 – coach pickup at Saugeen Shores Plex
— 9:40 – coach pickup at Walkerton Arena
— 11:15 – picnic lunch (provided) at museum
— 11:45 – start museum tour (90 min.)
— 1:15 – start 60 min. vigilante route bus tour with guide (finish at museum)
— 2:30 – stop at Lucan Architectural store (https://www.lucanarchitectural.com/)
— 3:30 – leave for home
— 5:00 – drop off at Walkerton Arena
— 5:40 – drop off at Saugeen Shores Plex
— Please note – NO DINNER/SUPPER PROVIDED

Esquesing Historical Society: Glen Williams Walking Tour
2023-06-14 18:30 | Beaumont Mill Antiques & Collectibles, 586 Main St., Georgetown, Ontario, L7G 3T6, Canada
Local historian, Mark Rowe, brings the society back to the Glen for an evening walking tour. Unlike earlier tours we will begin at the Beaumont Mill Antiques building. This walk will include climbing a hill so wear your runners!

Elliot Lake Historical Society June 2023 General Meeting
2023-06-14 19:00 | Laurentian Lodge, Hwy. 639 North, Elliot Lake, Ontario, P5A2J6, Canada
We look forward to seeing you, family and friends!
Agenda:
–Brief Update
–Guest Speaker: Doug Seal, “Exploring Early Logging Sites.”
–Questions & Other
If you plan to attend the meeting, please call Edo at 705-849-8106 or email at: vesuvio@eastlink.ca.
If you wish to dine before the meeting, please make a reservation by calling 705-848-0423.

Canadian Lighthouses of Lake Superior: 2023 Annual General Meeting
2023-06-14 19:00 - 21:00 | Alexander Henry, Sleeping Giant Pkwy, Thunder Bay, Ontario, P7A 0E7, Canada
Our Annual General Meeting is taking place on Wednesday, June 14 2023 at 7pm Alexander Henry at Pool Six on the Waterfront. There will be a short formal meeting followed by a local slide show of the north shore lighthouses. Library Archives Canada’s images of No. 10, Porphyry and Trowbridge Island from around 1905 and onward. Another short talk will take place later with local diver and historian Rick Oldale on two shipwrecks near No. 10 lighthouse. Light refreshments served.
Agenda to be sent to membership.

Toronto Railway Museum (Virtual): A Tale of Two Tunnels Beneath the St. Clair River
2023-06-15 19:00 - 20:00 | online
Join us for “A Tale of Two Tunnels Beneath the St. Clair River”, an online lecture on June 15!
Join Christina Sydorko, Educational Programs Coordinator at the Oil Museum of Canada, on a journey to discover the engineering marvel that is the St. Clair tunnel.
Picture this: Rail traffic is backed up and at a stand still on a frozen stormy night in the middle of winter. It is too dangerous for the Grand Trunk Railway ferries to make the river crossing in the storm and tomorrow will be lost due to ice jams. The St. Clair River crossing has become a bottleneck and delays are costing money. How can this problem be solved? The solution is digging a tunnel in the soft clay beneath one of the fastest rivers to join Canada and the United States by a ribbon of steel!
Construction of the St. Clair tunnel was an engineering marvel of its time, only to be repeated again 100 years later! The second version saw crews employing the latest laser-guided technologically-advanced tunneling machine dubbed “Excalibore” built in Toronto, Ontario.
TICKETS
Tickets for this event are free, although registration is required.
Attendees will get access to our exclusive Zoom meeting room, where they can engage directly with the presenter and museum historians in a post-lecture Q&A. The event will begin at June 15th, 7:00 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, and will end at June 15th, 8:00 P.M. EST.

Niagara-on-the-Lake Museum: Onion Skins and Peach Fuzz: Memories of Ontario Farmerettes
2023-06-15 19:30 - 20:30 | Niagara-on-the-Lake Museum, 43 Castlereagh Street, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, L0S 1J0, Canada
Presented by Shirleyan English & Bonnie Sitter
Bonnie and Shirleyan will take you back in time to WWll by showing photos and telling stories about the teenage Farmerettes who volunteered and replaced men who had been employed doing farm labour. The men had enlisted for military service and farmers were desperate for help. Not many farmers or parents even believed the young girls could replace them, but they proved them wrong., They worked on market garden farms, orchards and vineyards and canning factories from 1941-1952 . They ensured food production continued.
Lectures are $10 for the general public or free for members of the Niagara Historical Society.
Call to reserve your spot as seating is limited.
