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The most recent plaques:

Bruce Peninsula Portage

The Bruce Peninsula presents a formidable barrier to water transportation between Lake Huron and southern Georgian Bay. To avoid a difficult detour to the north, aboriginal peoples developed a...

The Bruce Peninsula presents a formidable barrier to water transportation between Lake Huron and southern Georgian Bay. To avoid a difficult detour to the north, aboriginal peoples developed...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Battle of Cook's Mills

In October 1814 an American army advanced from Fort Erie toward the British line along the Chippawa River. Lieutenant-General Drummond ordered a reconnaissance towards Cook's Mills on his right...

In October 1814 an American army advanced from Fort Erie toward the British line along the Chippawa River. Lieutenant-General Drummond ordered a reconnaissance towards Cook's Mills on his right...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

"Beautiful Joe"

Born in Milton, Nova Scotia, Margaret Marshall Saunders, (1861-1947) taught school briefly before starting her career as a novelist. Her second book, 'Beautiful Joe', received international...

Born in Milton, Nova Scotia, Margaret Marshall Saunders, (1861-1947) taught school briefly before starting her career as a novelist. Her second book, 'Beautiful Joe', received...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Black Donald Graphite Mine

The most important producer of graphite in Canada during the first half of the twentieth century, the Black Donald Graphite Mine was located near here. The extensive deposit of high-quality ore it...

The most important producer of graphite in Canada during the first half of the twentieth century, the Black Donald Graphite Mine was located near here. The extensive deposit of high-quality ore...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

Bishop Alexander Macdonell 1762-1840

Patriot, colonizer and priest, he was born in the Highlands of Scotland. In 1804 he came to Canada as chaplain of the disbanded Glengarry Fencibles and later became Auxiliary Bishop of Quebec. As...

Patriot, colonizer and priest, he was born in the Highlands of Scotland. In 1804 he came to Canada as chaplain of the disbanded Glengarry Fencibles and later became Auxiliary Bishop of Quebec....

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

Alexander Cameron Rutherford 1857-1941

The first premier of Alberta, Rutherford was born in Osgoode Township of Scottish parents and educated at McGill University. In 1895, after practising law in Ottawa and Kemptville, he moved to...

The first premier of Alberta, Rutherford was born in Osgoode Township of Scottish parents and educated at McGill University. In 1895, after practising law in Ottawa and Kemptville, he moved to...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Asa Wolverton House

This house and the adjoining structure were built by Asa Wolverton, a native of Cayuga County, New York, who had immigrated to Upper Canada in 1826. About 1832 he settled in Paris, where he...

This house and the adjoining structure were built by Asa Wolverton, a native of Cayuga County, New York, who had immigrated to Upper Canada in 1826. About 1832 he settled in Paris, where he...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Arctic Watershed

North of this watershed all flowing water eventually reaches Hudson Bay, while south of it all watercourses form part of the Great Lakes drainage system. The height of land follows an erratic...

North of this watershed all flowing water eventually reaches Hudson Bay, while south of it all watercourses form part of the Great Lakes drainage system. The height of land follows an erratic...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

"Auld Kirk" 1836

This stone church, an attractive example of an early form of Gothic Revival architecture, was constructed in 1835-36 on land obtained from John Mitchell, one of Ramsay Township's earliest...

This stone church, an attractive example of an early form of Gothic Revival architecture, was constructed in 1835-36 on land obtained from John Mitchell, one of Ramsay Township's...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Abolition Movement in British North America

From 1783 until the 1860s, abolitionists in British North America took part in the fight to end slavery both at home and in the United States. Thanks to the determination of colonial officials,...

From 1783 until the 1860s, abolitionists in British North America took part in the fight to end slavery both at home and in the United States. Thanks to the determination of colonial...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Ayling and Reid Flight

On 8 August 1934 J.R. Ayling and L.G. Reid, flying "The Trail of the Caribou" a twin-engined biplane, the De Haviland "Dragon", took off from the hard sands of Wasaga Beach headed for Baghdad. An...

On 8 August 1934 J.R. Ayling and L.G. Reid, flying "The Trail of the Caribou" a twin-engined biplane, the De Haviland "Dragon", took off from the hard sands of Wasaga Beach headed for Baghdad. An...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

Aqua-Plano Indians of the Upper Great Lakes

In 1950 archeological investigations in this area uncovered a site which had been used as a workshop camp by a group of the earliest known people in this part of the Upper Great Lakes basin....

In 1950 archeological investigations in this area uncovered a site which had been used as a workshop camp by a group of the earliest known people in this part of the Upper Great Lakes basin....

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

Archibald Byron Macallum 1859-1934

Born at Belmont, Upper Canada, and educated at Toronto and Johns Hopkins, Macallum joined the faculty of the University of Toronto and established there the first physiological laboratory in...

Born at Belmont, Upper Canada, and educated at Toronto and Johns Hopkins, Macallum joined the faculty of the University of Toronto and established there the first physiological laboratory in...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

Agnes Campbell Macphail, 1890-1954

The first woman elected to the parliament of Canada was born on a nearby farm in Proton Township. In 1919 women had received the right to sit in the federal house, and in that year Agnes Macphail...

The first woman elected to the parliament of Canada was born on a nearby farm in Proton Township. In 1919 women had received the right to sit in the federal house, and in that year Agnes Macphail...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

Alexander Young Jackson 1882-1974

Born in Montréal, A.Y. Jackson studied painting there and in Paris before moving to Toronto in 1913. After serving overseas in World War I he returned to paint in Toronto and in other regions of...

Born in Montréal, A.Y. Jackson studied painting there and in Paris before moving to Toronto in 1913. After serving overseas in World War I he returned to paint in Toronto and in other regions of...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

Andrew Edward McKeever, 1895-1919

A World War I flying 'ace', McKeever was born and raised in Elma Township. He enlisted with the Canadian Expeditionary Force in 1916 but, attracted by the life of the fighter pilot, transferred to...

A World War I flying 'ace', McKeever was born and raised in Elma Township. He enlisted with the Canadian Expeditionary Force in 1916 but, attracted by the life of the fighter pilot, transferred to...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Alma College

In response to a petition from a provisional Board of Management appointed in 1876, the Ontario Government granted a charter the following year for the erection of a ladies' college in St. Thomas....

In response to a petition from a provisional Board of Management appointed in 1876, the Ontario Government granted a charter the following year for the erection of a ladies' college in St. Thomas....

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

Archibald McKellar MacMechan 1862-1933

Born in Berlin (Kitchener) and educated at Toronto and Johns Hopkins Universities, MacMechan served as professor of English at Dalhousie from 1889 until his death. Book critic for the Montreal...

Born in Berlin (Kitchener) and educated at Toronto and Johns Hopkins Universities, MacMechan served as professor of English at Dalhousie from 1889 until his death. Book critic for the...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

Aurora Armoury

Built in 1874 as a drill shed for the 12th Battalion of Infantry or York Rangers, the Aurora Armoury was part of a network of defence training facilities for citizen soldiers. It evokes the larger...

Built in 1874 as a drill shed for the 12th Battalion of Infantry or York Rangers, the Aurora Armoury was part of a network of defence training facilities for citizen soldiers. It evokes the larger...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Acting Sergeant John Rennie, G.C. 1919-1943

"Jock" Rennie was awarded the George Cross posthumously in May 1944 for an instinctive, selfless act of heroism. Born in Aberdeen, Scotland, he came to Ontario with his family as a child and grew...

"Jock" Rennie was awarded the George Cross posthumously in May 1944 for an instinctive, selfless act of heroism. Born in Aberdeen, Scotland, he came to Ontario with his family as a child and grew...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown