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The most recent plaques:

The Founder of Preston

Born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, John Erb (1764-1832) was a Mennonite of Swiss ancestry. He came to Upper Canada in 1805, acquired 3035 ha of land from the German Land Company, and settled...

Born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, John Erb (1764-1832) was a Mennonite of Swiss ancestry. He came to Upper Canada in 1805, acquired 3035 ha of land from the German Land Company, and settled...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

French Community in Welland

The neighbourhood that became commonly referred to as "French Town" was established in this area in 1918, when approximately 20 French-Canadian families arrived from Quebec to work at the Empire...

The neighbourhood that became commonly referred to as "French Town" was established in this area in 1918, when approximately 20 French-Canadian families arrived from Quebec to work at the...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Founding of Brussels

In 1854 William Ainley purchased 80 ha of land here on the Middle Branch of the Maitland River. The following year he laid out a village plot which he named Ainleyville. A post office named Dingle...

In 1854 William Ainley purchased 80 ha of land here on the Middle Branch of the Maitland River. The following year he laid out a village plot which he named Ainleyville. A post office named Dingle...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Founding of Newmarket

In 1801 Joseph Hill, attracted by the water-power potential of the Holland River, built a grist-mill on the site of present day Newmarket and opened a general store. The settlement here in...

In 1801 Joseph Hill, attracted by the water-power potential of the Holland River, built a grist-mill on the site of present day Newmarket and opened a general store. The settlement here in...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

First Forestry Station 1908

Here, on 40 ha of wind-eroded sandy land, the Ontario government established Canada's first provincial forestry station. That father of reforestation in Ontario, Edmund John Zavitz, was born July...

Here, on 40 ha of wind-eroded sandy land, the Ontario government established Canada's first provincial forestry station. That father of reforestation in Ontario, Edmund John Zavitz, was born July...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Frederick Stanley Haines 1879-1960

One of Ontario's outstanding artists and teachers, Haines was born in Meaford and educated at this school. In 1896 he moved to Toronto where he attended the Central Ontario School of Art. He later...

One of Ontario's outstanding artists and teachers, Haines was born in Meaford and educated at this school. In 1896 he moved to Toronto where he attended the Central Ontario School of Art. He later...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

French-Canadian Settlement and the CPR in the Mattawa Area

Francophone settlement rapidly increased in the Mattawa area with the arrival of the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) in 1881. During construction of the rail line, the local economy benefitted from...

Francophone settlement rapidly increased in the Mattawa area with the arrival of the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) in 1881. During construction of the rail line, the local economy benefitted from...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Fort St. Joseph

The most westerly military post in Upper Canada. Built in 1796-99, and garrisoned from 1796 to 1812 by parties from the Queen's Rangers, Royal Canadian Volunteers, 41st and 49th Regiments and 10th...

The most westerly military post in Upper Canada. Built in 1796-99, and garrisoned from 1796 to 1812 by parties from the Queen's Rangers, Royal Canadian Volunteers, 41st and 49th Regiments and 10th...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Founding of Arkona

By 1836 the earliest settlers on the site of Arkona, notably Henry Utter, Nial Eastman, and John Smith, had located in the vicinity. Within three years Utter, the first to arrive, had constructed...

By 1836 the earliest settlers on the site of Arkona, notably Henry Utter, Nial Eastman, and John Smith, had located in the vicinity. Within three years Utter, the first to arrive, had constructed...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Founding of New Hamburg

A grist-mill built by Josiah Cushman about 1834 formed the nucleus around which a small community of Amish Mennonites and recent German immigrants developed. A village plot was surveyed in 1845...

A grist-mill built by Josiah Cushman about 1834 formed the nucleus around which a small community of Amish Mennonites and recent German immigrants developed. A village plot was surveyed in 1845...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Founding of Dundas

In 1793 Lieutenant-Governor Simcoe authorized a townplot in this vicinity at the then eastern terminus of Dundas Street. Its original name, "Coote's Paradise", was derived from that of the...

In 1793 Lieutenant-Governor Simcoe authorized a townplot in this vicinity at the then eastern terminus of Dundas Street. Its original name, "Coote's Paradise", was derived from that of...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Founding of Chesley

A small settlement, "Sconeville", developed here following the erection of mills on the Saugeen River by Adam Elliot in 1858-59. A post-office, named after Solomon Chesley, a former Indian...

A small settlement, "Sconeville", developed here following the erection of mills on the Saugeen River by Adam Elliot in 1858-59. A post-office, named after Solomon Chesley, a former...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Founding of Queenston

Following the loss, after the American Revolution, of the Niagara River's east bank, a new portage around Niagara Falls was established in the 1780s' with Queenston its northern terminus. Wharves,...

Following the loss, after the American Revolution, of the Niagara River's east bank, a new portage around Niagara Falls was established in the 1780s' with Queenston its northern terminus....

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Founding of Petrolia

Following the discovery of oil at Oil Springs in 1857 prospectors extended their search to the entire township of Enniskillen. At the site of Petrolia, which contained two small settlements with...

Following the discovery of oil at Oil Springs in 1857 prospectors extended their search to the entire township of Enniskillen. At the site of Petrolia, which contained two small settlements with...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The First Meeting of the Executive Council of Upper Canada

Because of the Loyalist influx into the western part of Quebec after the American Revolution, the province was divided into Upper and Lower Canada (now Ontario and Quebec). The Constitutional Act...

Because of the Loyalist influx into the western part of Quebec after the American Revolution, the province was divided into Upper and Lower Canada (now Ontario and Quebec). The Constitutional...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Founding of Port Robinson

Port Robinson, the southern terminus of the original Welland Canal, opened in 1829, was named for John Beverley Robinson, chief justice of Upper Canada. The village grew rapidly when hundreds of...

Port Robinson, the southern terminus of the original Welland Canal, opened in 1829, was named for John Beverley Robinson, chief justice of Upper Canada. The village grew rapidly when hundreds...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Founding of Seaforth

Anticipating the construction of the Buffalo, Brantford and Goderich Railroad through this region, Christopher and George Sparling acquired, during 1850-53, most of the present site of Seaforth....

Anticipating the construction of the Buffalo, Brantford and Goderich Railroad through this region, Christopher and George Sparling acquired, during 1850-53, most of the present site of Seaforth....

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Founding of Teeswater

By 1855 the first permanent settlers on the site of Teeswater, the families of Matthew Hadwen and Peter Brown, had located here on the Tesswater River, In that year Brown erected a saw-mill and...

By 1855 the first permanent settlers on the site of Teeswater, the families of Matthew Hadwen and Peter Brown, had located here on the Tesswater River, In that year Brown erected a saw-mill...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Founding of London

In 1793 here on the river Thames, Lieutenant-Governor John Graves Simcoe selected a site for the capitol of Upper Canada. York, however, became the seat of government and the townsite of London...

In 1793 here on the river Thames, Lieutenant- Governor John Graves Simcoe selected a site for the capitol of Upper Canada. York, however, became the seat of government and the townsite of...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Founding of Lyndhurst

Development of this community began after the construction of the province's first successful iron smelter and a sawmill in 1801. On the west bank of the river a grist-mill was built in 1827 and a...

Development of this community began after the construction of the province's first successful iron smelter and a sawmill in 1801. On the west bank of the river a grist-mill was built in 1827 and a...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown