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

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...

  • toronto
  • 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...

  • toronto
  • 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....

  • toronto
  • 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...

  • toronto
  • 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...

  • toronto
  • 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...

  • toronto
  • 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....

  • toronto
  • 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...

  • toronto
  • 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

"The Allenford Pow- Wow" 1855

In July, 1855, at nearby "Floodwood Crossing" (now Allenford), representatives of the Ojibwa Indians conferred with government officials at a meeting later called the "Allenford Pow-Wow". The...

In July, 1855, at nearby "Floodwood Crossing" (now Allenford), representatives of the Ojibwa Indians conferred with government officials at a meeting later called the "Allenford Pow-Wow"....

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Adam Shortt 1859-1931

Born near London, Shortt studied at Queen's University and in Scotland, later returning to Queen's where he established the department of political economy. A noted teacher, he was an advisor to...

Born near London, Shortt studied at Queen's University and in Scotland, later returning to Queen's where he established the department of political economy. A noted teacher, he was an advisor to...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Abel Stevens

Born at Quaker Hill, New York, about 1750, Stevens served as a British agent during the Revolutionary War despite being enrolled in the rebel militia. After the war he lived in Vermont where, as...

Born at Quaker Hill, New York, about 1750, Stevens served as a British agent during the Revolutionary War despite being enrolled in the rebel militia. After the war he lived in Vermont where, as...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Amherstburg Navy Yard

A Navy Yard was built here in 1796 to replace Detroit as the base and supply depot for the Provincial Marine on Lakes Erie and Huron. In 1812 the GENERAL HUNTER and QUEEN CHARLOTTE, built here,...

A Navy Yard was built here in 1796 to replace Detroit as the base and supply depot for the Provincial Marine on Lakes Erie and Huron. In 1812 the GENERAL HUNTER and QUEEN CHARLOTTE, built here,...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Aimee Semple McPherson 1890-1944

The celebrated evangelist and faith healer Aimee (Kennedy) McPherson was born on a farm west of here. She led revivalist meetings in Ontario in 1915-16 and then barnstormed the United States,...

The celebrated evangelist and faith healer Aimee (Kennedy) McPherson was born on a farm west of here. She led revivalist meetings in Ontario in 1915-16 and then barnstormed the United...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Arthur Sturgis Hardy

Provincial Secretary of Ontario, 1877-89Commissioner of Crown Lands, 1889-96Premier and Attorney General of the Province, 1896-99Born at Mount Pleasant, 14th December, 1837Died in Toronto, 13th...

Provincial Secretary of Ontario, 1877-89Commissioner of Crown Lands, 1889-96Premier and Attorney General of the Province, 1896-99Born at Mount Pleasant, 14th December, 1837Died in Toronto, 13th...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Acton

Methodist preachers Ezra and Zenas Adams and their brother Rufus settled on the west branch of the Credit River in the 1820s. A community of pioneer families grew around the Adams family farms....

Methodist preachers Ezra and Zenas Adams and their brother Rufus settled on the west branch of the Credit River in the 1820s. A community of pioneer families grew around the Adams family...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The African Methodist Episcopal Church of Oro

Built in 1849, this church is the last vestige of one of the oldest African-Canadian settlements in Upper Canada. Here at Oro, former members of the Loyalist militia from the War of 1812...

Built in 1849, this church is the last vestige of one of the oldest African-Canadian settlements in Upper Canada. Here at Oro, former members of the Loyalist militia from the War of 1812...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Admiral Sir Charles Edmund Kingsmill 1855-1935

Admiral Sir Charles Edmund Kingsmill was the founder of the Canadian Navy. Born in Guelph, Ontario, he attended Upper Canada College and in 1869, entered the Royal Navy in Britain. In 1908, he...

Admiral Sir Charles Edmund Kingsmill was the founder of the Canadian Navy. Born in Guelph, Ontario, he attended Upper Canada College and in 1869, entered the Royal Navy in Britain. In 1908, he...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown