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The most recent plaques:

Walter Allward (1875-1955)

An outstanding sculptor of some of Canada's finest public monuments, Walter Allward is best known for his masterpiece, the Vimy war memorial in France. He emerged as a dominant figure in the...

An outstanding sculptor of some of Canada's finest public monuments, Walter Allward is best known for his masterpiece, the Vimy war memorial in France. He emerged as a dominant figure in the...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Welland Mills

Believed to have been one of Upper Canada's largest flour mills, this substantial limestone structure was erected in 1846-47 by Jacob Keefer. It was constructed on the Second Welland Canal, a...

Believed to have been one of Upper Canada's largest flour mills, this substantial limestone structure was erected in 1846-47 by Jacob Keefer. It was constructed on the Second Welland Canal,...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

West Lake Boarding School

Built before 1839, this home, a fine example of "Loyalist Neo-Classical" architecture, was the main building of the West Lake Boarding School between 1841 and 1865. The first seminary in Canada of...

Built before 1839, this home, a fine example of "Loyalist Neo-Classical" architecture, was the main building of the West Lake Boarding School between 1841 and 1865. The first seminary in Canada of...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Wilson Pugsley MacDonald (1880-1967)

Wilson MacDonald, born here at Cheapside, established his reputation as a poet with the publication in 1926, of "Out of the Wilderness", a collection of poems which received wide acclaim. This...

Wilson MacDonald, born here at Cheapside, established his reputation as a poet with the publication in 1926, of "Out of the Wilderness", a collection of poems which received wide acclaim. This...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

William Saunders 1836-1914

Born in England, Saunders came to Canada in 1848 and became a manufacturing chemist. A recognized expert in scientific agriculture, he was appointed Director of the new Experimental Farms Branch...

Born in England, Saunders came to Canada in 1848 and became a manufacturing chemist. A recognized expert in scientific agriculture, he was appointed Director of the new Experimental Farms Branch...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Waterloo Pioneers

In the spring of 1800, Joseph Schoerg and Samuel Betzner, Jr., brothers-in-law, Mennonites, from Franklin County, Pennsylvania, began the first two farms in the County of Waterloo; Schoerg on land...

In the spring of 1800, Joseph Schoerg and Samuel Betzner, Jr., brothers-in-law, Mennonites, from Franklin County, Pennsylvania, began the first two farms in the County of Waterloo; Schoerg on...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

William Canniff 1830-1910

Born at Thurlow, Upper Canada, and educated in medicine, Canniff served as Medical Officer with the Royal Artillery during the Crimean War. Returning to practice in Belleville and Toronto, he...

Born at Thurlow, Upper Canada, and educated in medicine, Canniff served as Medical Officer with the Royal Artillery during the Crimean War. Returning to practice in Belleville and Toronto, he...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

William Kirby 1817-1906

Born in England, Kirby came to Canada in 1839 and began work as a tanner in the vicinity of Niagara-on-the-Lake. There he developed his literary talents and soon after moving into the town in 1848...

Born in England, Kirby came to Canada in 1839 and began work as a tanner in the vicinity of Niagara- on-the-Lake. There he developed his literary talents and soon after moving into the town...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

William Hamilton Merritt 1793-1862

Born of a Loyalist family in the state of New York, Merritt became a pioneer merchant and industrialist on Upper Canada's Niagara frontier. In 1818 he began to promote construction of the Welland...

Born of a Loyalist family in the state of New York, Merritt became a pioneer merchant and industrialist on Upper Canada's Niagara frontier. In 1818 he began to promote construction of the Welland...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Wolseley Expedition 1870

In August, 1870, a force of British regulars and Canadian militia comprising some 1,200 men commanded by Colonel Garnet Wolseley, arrived in this area en route to the Red River to establish...

In August, 1870, a force of British regulars and Canadian militia comprising some 1,200 men commanded by Colonel Garnet Wolseley, arrived in this area en route to the Red River to...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Western Route of the C.P.R.

In June, 1875, the first sod on the Canadian Pacific Railway's line from the Lakehead to the West was turned at Fort William. A government contract of that year called for the building of a line...

In June, 1875, the first sod on the Canadian Pacific Railway's line from the Lakehead to the West was turned at Fort William. A government contract of that year called for the building of a line...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Wasdell Falls Hydro- Electric Development 1914

Completed in 1914, after several municipalities on the eastern shore of Lake Simcoe had requested a supply of electric power, this was the first generating station constructed by the...

Completed in 1914, after several municipalities on the eastern shore of Lake Simcoe had requested a supply of electric power, this was the first generating station constructed by the...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Whitchurch Quaker Settlement

Among the early settlers locating in this area were a number of Quakers, including Samuel Lundy who provided land for the construction of a Meeting House in 1814. Formerly part of the Yonge Street...

Among the early settlers locating in this area were a number of Quakers, including Samuel Lundy who provided land for the construction of a Meeting House in 1814. Formerly part of the Yonge Street...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

William Henry Drummond 1854-1907

Physician and poet, William Henry Drummond was born in Ireland in 1854, and came to Canada with his parents about ten years later. In 1884 he graduated in medicine from Bishop's College,...

Physician and poet, William Henry Drummond was born in Ireland in 1854, and came to Canada with his parents about ten years later. In 1884 he graduated in medicine from Bishop's...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

William J. Wintemberg 1876-1941

An outstanding Canadian archaeologist, Wintemberg was born in New Dundee and, as a youth, developed an avid interest in this region's folklore and prehistory. After 1901, he pursued various trades...

An outstanding Canadian archaeologist, Wintemberg was born in New Dundee and, as a youth, developed an avid interest in this region's folklore and prehistory. After 1901, he pursued various...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Windsor Ford Strike of 1945

As wartime labour shortages eased in 1945, contract talks between Ford of Canada and the United Auto Workers in Windsor stalled. The 10,000 members of Local 200 went on strike on September 12 to...

As wartime labour shortages eased in 1945, contract talks between Ford of Canada and the United Auto Workers in Windsor stalled. The 10,000 members of Local 200 went on strike on September 12 to...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

William Warren Baldwin 1775-1844

The grandson of the former mayor of Cork, William Baldwin, one of the most influential politicians in Upper Canada (Ontario), was born some 8 km from here on his family's estate. In 1797 he...

The grandson of the former mayor of Cork, William Baldwin, one of the most influential politicians in Upper Canada (Ontario), was born some 8 km from here on his family's estate. In 1797 he...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Williamstown Fair

Ontario's oldest continually operated agricultural fair received its patent on March 29, 1808, from Francis Gore, Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada. It is probable that at first, the local...

Ontario's oldest continually operated agricultural fair received its patent on March 29, 1808, from Francis Gore, Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada. It is probable that at first, the local...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Woodstock College 1857-1926

Here stood the Canadian Literary Institute which was incorporated in 1857, opened in 1860 and renamed Woodstock College in 1883. Sponsored by the Baptist Church, its establishment was largely the...

Here stood the Canadian Literary Institute which was incorporated in 1857, opened in 1860 and renamed Woodstock College in 1883. Sponsored by the Baptist Church, its establishment was largely the...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

White Otter Castle

Woodsman Jimmy McOuat completed this house in 1915 when he was sixty years old. Ever since people have wondered why and how he built it. McOuat claimed that as a child in the Ottawa valley he was...

Woodsman Jimmy McOuat completed this house in 1915 when he was sixty years old. Ever since people have wondered why and how he built it. McOuat claimed that as a child in the Ottawa valley he was...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown