A gigantic map of all the cool plaques in the world. A project of 99% Invisible.

The College of Iona

Established by the Reverend Alexander Macdonell, father of Roman Catholic education in Upper Canada and later Bishop of Kingston, the College of Iona was opened in 1826 in a log building near this...

Established by the Reverend Alexander Macdonell, father of Roman Catholic education in Upper Canada and later Bishop of Kingston, the College of Iona was opened in 1826 in a log building near...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Court-House and Gaol 1817-1866

Here stood the court-house and gaol of the Niagara District. Erected in 1817, they were considered to be among the finest public buildings in the province. Robert Gourlay, the radical reformer,...

Here stood the court-house and gaol of the Niagara District. Erected in 1817, they were considered to be among the finest public buildings in the province. Robert Gourlay, the radical...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Capture of Detroit

To counter the American invasion of the Detroit frontier, Major General Isaac Brock mustered a force of about 50 regulars and 250 militia here in Port Dover. They embarked on 8 August 1812 and,...

To counter the American invasion of the Detroit frontier, Major General Isaac Brock mustered a force of about 50 regulars and 250 militia here in Port Dover. They embarked on 8 August 1812...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

Canada's First Commune

In 1829 Henry Jones of Devon, England, a retired purser in the Royal Navy, brought a group of more than 50 emigrants from the United Kingdom to this area where he established a settlement on a 400...

In 1829 Henry Jones of Devon, England, a retired purser in the Royal Navy, brought a group of more than 50 emigrants from the United Kingdom to this area where he established a settlement on a 400...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

Cobalt Mining Camp

About 820 m southwest of here, on August 7, 1903, two lumbermen seeking timber for railroad ties made the initial discovery of the Cobalt silver camp. Named for its discoverers, the...

About 820 m southwest of here, on August 7, 1903, two lumbermen seeking timber for railroad ties made the initial discovery of the Cobalt silver camp. Named for its discoverers, the...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Canadian Car & Foundry

"Can Car" was the main plant of Canada's largest manufacturer during the Second World War. Here, workers built 1,451 of the reliable Hawker Hurricanes that won renown in the battle of Britain and...

"Can Car" was the main plant of Canada's largest manufacturer during the Second World War. Here, workers built 1,451 of the reliable Hawker Hurricanes that won renown in the battle of Britain and...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Captain John W. Meyers 1745-1821

Meyers gained fame as a loyalist spy during the American Revolution. He recruited soldiers, gathered intelligence, and carried dispatches through enemy lines for the British army in his native New...

Meyers gained fame as a loyalist spy during the American Revolution. He recruited soldiers, gathered intelligence, and carried dispatches through enemy lines for the British army in his native New...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Central Presbyterian Church

Erected to serve a thriving congregation established in 1841, Central Presbyterian Church was built in 1907-08 after an earlier building was destroyed by fire. It is reputedly the only church...

Erected to serve a thriving congregation established in 1841, Central Presbyterian Church was built in 1907-08 after an earlier building was destroyed by fire. It is reputedly the only...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Cornwall Canal

The Cornwall Canal was one of eight canals that connected western Canada with the ocean by way of the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River. Constructed in 1834-1842 to overcome the rapids of the...

The Cornwall Canal was one of eight canals that connected western Canada with the ocean by way of the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River. Constructed in 1834-1842 to overcome the rapids of the...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Catharine Parr Traill 1802-1899

A member of the literary Strickland family, the talented author married Lieut. Thomas Traill and emigrated to Upper Canada in 1832. For seven years they struggled unsuccessfully to establish a...

A member of the literary Strickland family, the talented author married Lieut. Thomas Traill and emigrated to Upper Canada in 1832. For seven years they struggled unsuccessfully to establish...

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  • alan brown

The Capture of Fort William

In 1812, the Earl of Selkirk settled dispossessed Scottish highlanders on Red River valley lands granted by the Hudson's Bay Company. The HBC's rival in the fur trade, the North West Company,...

In 1812, the Earl of Selkirk settled dispossessed Scottish highlanders on Red River valley lands granted by the Hudson's Bay Company. The HBC's rival in the fur trade, the North West...

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  • alan brown

Charles Lennox 4th Duke of Richmond and Lennox (1764-1819)

Charles Lennox was appointed Commander-in-Chief of all the British North American colonies and Governor-in-Chief of Lower Canada in May 1818. He received a mandate to improve the colonies'...

Charles Lennox was appointed Commander-in-Chief of all the British North American colonies and Governor-in-Chief of Lower Canada in May 1818. He received a mandate to improve the...

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Colonel William Chisholm 1788-1842

The founder of Oakville was born in Nova Scotia of Loyalist parents who moved to Burlington Bay in 1793. William served with distinction in the militia during the War of 1812. He settled in Nelson...

The founder of Oakville was born in Nova Scotia of Loyalist parents who moved to Burlington Bay in 1793. William served with distinction in the militia during the War of 1812. He settled in Nelson...

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  • alan brown

Cornwall Grammar School

Cornwall Collegiate and Vocational School traces its beginning to an educational institution founded by John Strachan in 1803. Strachan, an Anglican priest, opened a private school in his home...

Cornwall Collegiate and Vocational School traces its beginning to an educational institution founded by John Strachan in 1803. Strachan, an Anglican priest, opened a private school in his home...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

Carleton University

Founded by the Ottawa Association for the Advancement of Learning to meet the educational needs of war-time Ottawa, this non-denominational college was opened in 1942. In the beginning it was...

Founded by the Ottawa Association for the Advancement of Learning to meet the educational needs of war-time Ottawa, this non-denominational college was opened in 1942. In the beginning it was...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

Commissariat Building 1827

This structure, the oldest existing stone building in Ottawa, was used as a storehouse, office and treasury during the construction of the Rideau Canal (1826-32) under the direction of...

This structure, the oldest existing stone building in Ottawa, was used as a storehouse, office and treasury during the construction of the Rideau Canal (1826-32) under the direction of...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

Champlain's Journey of 1613

The Father of New France, Samuel de Champlain, made the first of two voyages into what is now Ontario in 1613. He travelled up the Ottawa River seeking the northern sea (Hudson Bay) which one of...

The Father of New France, Samuel de Champlain, made the first of two voyages into what is now Ontario in 1613. He travelled up the Ottawa River seeking the northern sea (Hudson Bay) which one...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

Captain Daniel Rapelje 1774-1828

Emigrating from New York State to the Long Point Settlement in 1802, Rapelje later received 80 ha of land on the south side of the Talbot Road at Kettle Creek. He settled here with his family in...

Emigrating from New York State to the Long Point Settlement in 1802, Rapelje later received 80 ha of land on the south side of the Talbot Road at Kettle Creek. He settled here with his family...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

Canada's Capital

After the union of the two Canadas in 1841, Kingston, Montréal, Toronto, and Québec were in succession the seat of government. During the 1850's these cities contended for designation as the...

After the union of the two Canadas in 1841, Kingston, Montréal, Toronto, and Québec were in succession the seat of government. During the 1850's these cities contended for designation as the...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Colonial Advocate

This influential journal of radical reform was first published on May 18, 1824, at Queenston, by William Lyon Mackenzie. A native of Scotland, Mackenzie had immigrated to Upper Canada in 1820 and...

This influential journal of radical reform was first published on May 18, 1824, at Queenston, by William Lyon Mackenzie. A native of Scotland, Mackenzie had immigrated to Upper Canada in 1820 and...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown