The Ontario Historical Society

La Société d'histoire de Toronto HISTORITOUR - Les murales de l’avenue Islington
2026-06-13 13:30 (America/Toronto) | ON
Les murales de l’avenue Islington
Samedi le 13 juin 2026 à 13h30
Départ : Devant l’auberge Montgomery sur la pelouse, coin sud-est de l’avenue Islington et et de la rue Dundas ouest (TTC ligne 2 jusqu’à Islington, bus 37 jusqu’à la rue Dundas) Parking à l’auberge
Arrivée : même lieu
Guide : Marie-Claude Douville
Venez découvrir plus de 25 fresques de l’artiste John Kuna sur la rue Dundas ouest dans le village historique d’Islington. Ces fresques nous permettent de découvrir l’histoire de cette région.
Le projet est une initiative du BIA / Association commerciale locale en collaboration avec la Etobicoke Historical Society et la ville de Toronto.
Historitours 2026 – pas nécessaire de réserver. La SHT passe le chapeau à la fin de la visite, merci.
Pas de chien
Contacts : info@sht.ca ou mcdouville@yahoo.ca

Historical Society of Ottawa - Meet the Founders of Bytown
2026-06-14 13:30 | Beechwood Cemetery, 80 Beechwood Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario, K1L 8A6, Canada
Beechwood Cemetery tour: admission is free but spaces are limited, so early email registration is strongly recommended. Please confirm by email: museumclub@historicalsocietyottawa.ca
Attendees will be responsible for their own transportation.
Accessibility: Note this event is not considered as an accessible tour as walking is on grass and uneven ground.
Parking: Free parking available onsite.
Public transit: OC Transpo Route 7 (Carleton/St-Laurent) is the primary bus providing direct service to Beechwood Cemetery, stopping at Beechwood/MacKay near the entrance. It runs between St-Laurent and Carleton, passing through downtown.

La Société d'histoire de Toronto HISTORITOUR - Le quartier Arc-en-ciel (du village gai)
2026-06-14 14:00 | ON
Le quartier Arc-en-ciel (du village gai)
Dimanche 14 juin 2026 à 14H
Départ : 14h en partance de l’angle des rues Yonge et Alexander (2 rues au nord de Carlton, métro College)
Arrivée : 15h30 au parquette George Hislop (12, rue Isabella)
Guide : Gilles Marchildon
Lieu très animé, notamment en juin, mois de la Fierté, on en trouve de toutes les couleurs dans le quartier émanant du carrefour des rues Church et Wellesley. Surnommé le “village gai/gay”, ce quartier “arc-en-ciel” a subi plein de transformations au cours des ans.
Que vous soyez membre ou non de la communauté 2ELGBTQIA+ (l’alphabet s’est allongé ces dernières années!) ou une personne dite “alliée” ou encore, simplement curieuse, juin est le moment idéal pour approfondir ses connaissances et son appréciation du quartier et de l’histoire. Cette dernière est parfois très (certains diraient trop) évidente, parfois cachée ou perdue… ou emportée par ordre de la ville comme une certaine malheureuse statue en bronze.
Coincé entre la rue Yonge, artère principale Nord-Sud de la ville, et la rue Jarvis où on trouve encore les anciennes maisons des riches, le quartier abrite : des archives, un centre communautaire unique, un parc mémorial, des saunas, des boutiques d’articles sexuels, des bars très tendance, le plus ancien théâtre “queer” en activité continue au monde et plus encore.
Venez découvrir ce quartier qui se déshabille allégrement en été pour faire place à l’une des plus grandes célébrations de la diversité au monde!
Historitours 2026 – pas nécessaire de réserver. La SHT passe le chapeau à la fin de la visite, merci. Pas de chien
Contacts : gilles.marchildon@gmail.com pour la visite du 14 juin ou pour tout autre renseignement, info@sht.ca.

Oakville Historical Society - SPEAKER NIGHT Wednesday June 17
2026-06-17 19:30 | Oakville Historical Society, King Street 110, Oakville, Ontario, L6J 1B1, Canada
The Oakville Historical Society is pleased to announce the speaker for our June 17th “Speaker Night”, presented by Henry Jelinek. Mr. Jelinek will tell the story of the cork business
of his ancestors, which began in 1855 in Austro-Hungary, recounting the many hardships they underwent, dealing with war, the Great Depression, Nazi occupation and communist nationalization.
Having lost everything, the family fled to Oakville in 1948, and rebuilt a thriving business that continues today, and spans across five generations – being one of Oakville’s oldest enterprises.
The talk also explores cork itself – its origins, unique properties and value as a sustainable natural material – and how it has grown to be used across various industries. Henry Jelinek has spent a lifetime working with and studying cork, and is a leading authority on cork and its many uses. A graduate of Marietta College in Ohio, he went on to earn his master’s degree from The New School for Social Research in New York City. He has spent months in various cork forests throughout the Mediterranean region, participating in numerous cork harvests. Jelinek is a strong advocate of using natural materials in responsible ways while ensuring their sustainability. He has spent over fifty years in the cork business. He has written numerous articles and several books. He and his wife Cathy reside in Oakville. Their three children are currently the fifth generation to lead Jelinek Cork Group.
Please join us on Wednesday, June 17, 2026 at 7:30 pm in the Coach House (right next door to the Oakville Historical Society), and learn more about this business and the industry, which for
over 75 years has grown alongside our community – and provided a family and business a strong foundation.
Hope to see you soon!

Culinary Historians of Canada - Ingredients for Queer Food and the Makings of a Feminist Restaurant
2026-06-18 19:00 - 21:00 | online
Ingredients for Queer Food and the Makings of a Feminist Restaurant
Alex Ketchum, McGill University
Coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the trailblazing restaurant Mother Courage of New York City, Alex Ketchum’s book Ingredients for Revolution: A History of American Feminist Restaurants, Cafes, and Coffeehouses was the first history of the more than 230 feminist and lesbian-feminist restaurants, cafés, and coffeehouses that existed from 1972 to the present.
In celebration of Pride Month, the Culinary Historians of Canada has invited Alex Ketchum to discuss how these Canadian and American eateries were and continue to be key sites of cultural and political significance. These institutions served an essential role for multiple social justice movements including women’s liberation, LGBTQ equality, and food justice, as well as providing a training ground for women workers and entrepreneurs.
Thursday, June 18, 2026
7:30-9:00 pm EST
(virtual event on Zoom)
Tickets on sale through Eventbrite
$15.00 – $23.50 plus service fee
Alex Ketchum (she/her) is an Associate Professor at McGill University’s Institute for Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies (IGSF). She is an elected member of the Royal Society of Canada: College of New Scholars. Dr. Ketchum is the Director of the Just Feminist Tech and Scholarship Lab. She is the author of several books including Engage in Public Scholarship!: A Guidebook on Feminist and Accessible Communication, Ingredients for Revolution: A History of American Feminist Restaurants, Cafes, and Coffeehouses, How to Organize Inclusive Events and Conferences, and the forthcoming Digital Queers, and High Tech Gays: A History of LGBTQ+ Cyber Activism. She is also co-editor of the anthology: Queers at the Table: An Illustrated Guide to Queer Food with Recipes.

Guelph Black Heritage Society - Bloom & Belong Summer Drop-In for BIPOC Youth
2026-06-19 16:30 - 18:30, 2026-06-26 16:30 - 18:30, 2026-07-03 16:30 - 18:30, 2026-07-10 16:30 - 18:30, 2026-07-17 16:30 - 18:30, 2026-07-24 16:30 - 18:30, 2026-07-31 16:30 - 18:30, 2026-08-07 16:30 - 18:30 and 3 more dates | Heritage Hall, Essex Street 83, Guelph, Ontario, N1H 3K9, Canada
Fridays in July & August
Heritage Hall, 83 Essex Street, Guelph
Open to youth ages 12–18
Free refreshments provided
Join us for a welcoming and empowering space where BIPOC youth can connect, create, and celebrate community all summer long. All are welcome.
Special thanks to the Upper Grand District School Board and Wellington Catholic District School Board for their generous support of this initiative.
For more information, contact: info@guelphblackheritage.ca

Thornhill Historical Society - 20th Annual THS Bus Trip
2026-06-20 08:00 - 18:00 | Holy Trinity Church, 140 Brooke St, Thornhill, ON, L4J 1Y9
Saturday, June 20th (reservations by Friday, June 5th)
20th Annual THS Bus Trip
Destination – Muskoka Heritage Place, Huntsville
Cost – $ 85 per person (this includes transportation and entrance to the Muskoka Heritage Place)
Departure 8 am (please be on the bus by 7.45 am)
Arrival home time – 6 pm
Departure Place – Holy Trinity Church, Brooke Street
Contact Judy Dawson-Ryan at mayfair30.jdr@gmail.com

Historical Society of Ottawa - Pride Month Speaker History of “Gays of Ottawa”
2026-06-20 13:30 | Ottawa Public Library, Main Branch, 120 Metcalfe St., Ottawa, Ontario, K1P 5M2, Canada
Guest Speaker
Glenn Crawford, Researcher/writer/designer, Village Legacy Project
Details
Gays of Ottawa (GO, 1971-1995) was Ottawa’s first 2SLGBTQ+ organization, providing social services, political activism and awareness, and social events for a burgeoning community. Join us as Glenn Crawford recounts the challenges and successes of GO from its humble origins to a catastrophic fire, to its founding of other significant groups and services and its eventual closure.
Admission is free. All are welcome to attend.

North York Garden Club’s 100th Anniversary commemorative plaque unveiling
2026-06-22 12:00 | North York Central Library, 5120 Yonge St., North York, ON, M2N 5N9, Canada
Save the date and join us at noon for the unveiling of a very special commemorative plaque honouring the 100th Anniversary of the North York Garden Club!
We will be joined by Councillor Lily Cheng @lilychengto and guests in Mel Lastman Square, then head to North York Central Library, keeper of the Club’s archives and historical material on the whole of North York and surrounds!

Plague dedication to take place Mel Lastman Square Outdoors at 12 PM
Reception will be held at North York Central Library, History Room, 5th floor at 12:30 PM
Light refreshments

Historical Society of Ottawa - Billings Estate National Historic Site Guided Tour of House & Cemetery
2026-07-03 14:30 - 16:00 | Billings Estate National Historic Site, 2100 Cabot Street, Ottawa, Ontario, K1H 6K1, Canada
All are welcome. The admission fee is $6.09/person (special group rate). Spaces are limited so early registration is strongly recommended.
Please email your confirmation: museumclub@historicalsocietyottawa.ca
Attendees are responsible for their own transportation.
Accessibility
The museum pathway that leads to the cemetery includes gravel, grassy, and uneven terrain and is not considered accessible. While the City of Ottawa is constantly working to improve access, please note that not all parts of every facility are necessarily ‘accessible for all’ as facilities were built to meet accessibility standards of their time. This includes the second floor of the Main House which is only accessible by staircase.
Parking
Free parking is available on-site at the Billings Estate National Historic Site, located at 2100 Cabot Street in Ottawa. A large, dedicated parking lot is accessible at the end of Cabot Street, off Pleasant Park Road, serving visitors to the museum, historic house, and grounds.
Public Transit
To reach the Billings Estate National Historic Site (2100 Cabot Street) by OC Transpo, take any rapid bus to Billings Bridge Station. From there, it is a short walk, (10 min / 1km), or a quick transfer to local bus routes that pass near the museum, such as Route 44. Use the OC Transpo Travel Planner to find specific routes from your location.

Bronte Historical Society Speaker
2026-07-07 19:00 | Sovereign House, 7 West River Street, Oakville, ON, L6L 6N9, Canada
Searching for your roots? Discover your past and preserve your family’s story. Please join us! GENEALOGIST Coral Harkies is coming to speak to Bronte Historical Society.
July 7th, 2026
Sovereign House
7:00 PM
Free Parking is available adjacent to Sovereign House, 7 West River St.
Register by email:
historian@brontehistoricalsociety.ca
Call the House: (905) 825-5552

Culinary Historians of Canada - Hearth Baking & eat make share: a taste of immigration
2026-07-11 09:30 - 14:00 | Ireland House Museum, 2168 Guelph Line, Burlington, ON, L7P 5A8, Canada
CHC is hosting a visit to 2 museums in Burlington, Ontario on the same day. Join us in Burlington on July 11.
In the morning, there will be a guided tour and hearth baking workshop at Ireland House. This was the home of Joseph Ireland, one of the earliest settlers to the area. Several generations of the Ireland family lived on the property until 1985. It is currently operated as a museum by the city of Burlington and showcases 3 distinct periods: 1850’s, 1890’s, 1920’s.
After lunch at Ireland House (bring a lunch), we will move to Joseph Brant Museum for a presentation and time to explore eat make share: a taste of immigration. This travelling exhibition created by the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 in Halifax makes a stop in Burlington from April 18 to September 5.
Ireland House
2168 Guelph Line, Burlington, ON L7P 5A8
Joseph Brant Museum
1240 North Shore Boulevard East, Burlington, ON L7S 1C5
Tickets on sale through Eventbrite until July 6
$35.00 – $45.00 plus service fee
Registration fee includes admission to both museums, guided tours, and the baking workshop. Participants must be at least 15 years of age. Provide your own transportation or carpool. Burlington can be reached by taking the GO train on the Lakeshore West line. Please direct any questions about carpools or transportation from GO stations to info@culinaryhistorians.ca. Refunds may be requested up to 7 days before the event. The service fee is non-refundable.

Historical Society of Ottawa - Perth Museum & Tay Canal Tour
2026-08-18 10:30 - 14:00 | Perth Museum, 11 Gore St E, Perth, ON, K7H 1H4, Canada
Join us in historic Perth! A 1-hour tour of Perth Museum before lunch; 1-hour walking tour of Tay Canal after lunch; followed by optional visit to Bridge Masters Brewing Company. All are welcome. Fee for the Museum & Canal tours is $15, payable on arrival.
Spaces are limited and so early email confirmation is strongly recommended: museumclub@historicalsocietyottawa.ca
Attendees are responsible for their own transportation. Please include in your email confirmation if you wish to participate in carpooling.
Please also indicate if you would like to join us for lunch at Fiddlehead’s Bar & Grill.
