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

Sir Rodmond P. Roblin 1853-1937

Born and brought up on this property, purchased by his grandfather Levi Roblin in 1821, Rodman Roblin moved to Fort Garry (Winnipeg) in 1877. Elected as an Independent member to the Manitoba...

Born and brought up on this property, purchased by his grandfather Levi Roblin in 1821, Rodman Roblin moved to Fort Garry (Winnipeg) in 1877. Elected as an Independent member to the Manitoba...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Sir John Johnson House

One of the oldest buildings standing in Ontario, the original five-bay structure at the centre of this house was built between 1784 and 1792. It was once part of a mill site developed by Sir John...

One of the oldest buildings standing in Ontario, the original five-bay structure at the centre of this house was built between 1784 and 1792. It was once part of a mill site developed by Sir...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

Sergeant Aubrey Cosens, V.C. 1921-1945

Born in Latchford and raised near Porquis Junction, Cosens enlisted in the Argyll and Sutherland Regiment, Canadian Active Service Force, in 1940 and transferred to the Queen's Own Rifles of...

Born in Latchford and raised near Porquis Junction, Cosens enlisted in the Argyll and Sutherland Regiment, Canadian Active Service Force, in 1940 and transferred to the Queen's Own Rifles of...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

Steamboating on the Upper Ottawa

The first steamboat on the Upper Ottawa River was the 25 horse-power "Lady Colborne" built in 1833 for service between Aylmer and Chats Falls. Gradually other sections of the river where opened to...

The first steamboat on the Upper Ottawa River was the 25 horse-power "Lady Colborne" built in 1833 for service between Aylmer and Chats Falls. Gradually other sections of the river where opened to...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

Stratford Normal School 1908

In the 1900s, concerns about the quality of rural education prompted the Ontario government to build four new Normal Schools to increase the supply of qualified teachers in the province. Identical...

In the 1900s, concerns about the quality of rural education prompted the Ontario government to build four new Normal Schools to increase the supply of qualified teachers in the province....

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

Surrender of Indian Lands

By treaties made in 1798, 1815 and 1818, the Indian tribes surrendered the ancient country of the Hurons lying north and west of Lake Simcoe. From this area grants were made, in fulfillment of...

By treaties made in 1798, 1815 and 1818, the Indian tribes surrendered the ancient country of the Hurons lying north and west of Lake Simcoe. From this area grants were made, in fulfillment...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Sir Edmund Walker Head 1805-1868

In 1848, Sir Edmund Walker Head was the first civilian appointed lieutenant governor of New Brunswick and presided over the introduction of responsible government to the colony. He ably...

In 1848, Sir Edmund Walker Head was the first civilian appointed lieutenant governor of New Brunswick and presided over the introduction of responsible government to the colony. He...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Sandwich First Baptist Church

Erected in 1851 on land donated by the Crown, the Sandwich First Baptist Church represents the once numerous Black border-town churches which were built to serve the rapidly increasing numbers of...

Erected in 1851 on land donated by the Crown, the Sandwich First Baptist Church represents the once numerous Black border-town churches which were built to serve the rapidly increasing numbers...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Settlement of Puslinch

Originally known as the "Church Lands", Puslinch Township was named by the lieutenant-governor of Upper Canada, Sir John Colborne, after Puslinch, his wife's birthplace in Devon, England....

Originally known as the "Church Lands", Puslinch Township was named by the lieutenant-governor of Upper Canada, Sir John Colborne, after Puslinch, his wife's birthplace in Devon, England....

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Serpent Mounds

The principal mound of this group is the only known example in Canada of a mound of serpentine shape. The earliest archeological excavation on the site was carried out by David Boyle in 1896....

The principal mound of this group is the only known example in Canada of a mound of serpentine shape. The earliest archeological excavation on the site was carried out by David Boyle in...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

Sir Casimir S. Gzowski 1813-1898

First chairman of the Niagara Parks Commission (1885-93) Gzowski was born in Russia of Polish parents. Forced to emigrate, following participation in the Polish Rising of 1830, he came to Canada...

First chairman of the Niagara Parks Commission (1885-93) Gzowski was born in Russia of Polish parents. Forced to emigrate, following participation in the Polish Rising of 1830, he came to Canada...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

St. Mark's Church

One of the earliest Anglican churches in the province, St. Mark's was begun in 1804 to serve a congregation organized twelve years earlier. Its first rector, the Reverend Robert Addison, chaplain...

One of the earliest Anglican churches in the province, St. Mark's was begun in 1804 to serve a congregation organized twelve years earlier. Its first rector, the Reverend Robert Addison, chaplain...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

Sir Edouard Percy Cranwill Girouard 1867-1932

Born in Montréal, Girouard was educated at Royal Military College, Kingston, commissioned in the Royal Engineers in 1888, and appointed to the Royal Arsenal Railways at Woolwich. Charged in 1896...

Born in Montréal, Girouard was educated at Royal Military College, Kingston, commissioned in the Royal Engineers in 1888, and appointed to the Royal Arsenal Railways at Woolwich. Charged in 1896...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

Simon James Dawson 1820-1902

Born in Scotland, Dawson emigrated to Canada as a young man and began his career as a civil engineer. In 1857 as a member of a Canadian government expedition, he surveyed a line of road from the...

Born in Scotland, Dawson emigrated to Canada as a young man and began his career as a civil engineer. In 1857 as a member of a Canadian government expedition, he surveyed a line of road from the...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

Sieur de La Vérendrye 1685-1749

Pierre Gaultier de Varennes, Sieur de La Vérendrye, was born at Trois Rivières and saw military service in North America and Europe before entering the fur trade. While stationed at Lake Nipigon...

Pierre Gaultier de Varennes, Sieur de La Vérendrye, was born at Trois Rivières and saw military service in North America and Europe before entering the fur trade. While stationed at Lake Nipigon...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

St. Andrew's Church

Presbyterians formed a congregation at Niagara in 1794 with John Dun as resident minister. Within a year they had built a church, and by 1802 a schoolhouse. American troops burned the church...

Presbyterians formed a congregation at Niagara in 1794 with John Dun as resident minister. Within a year they had built a church, and by 1802 a schoolhouse. American troops burned the...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

Sir Oliver Mowat 1820-1903

Born in Kingston, Mowat studied law under John A. Macdonald. After moving to Toronto in 1840 he was elected a Liberal member of the legislature of the Province of Canada in 1857 and served as...

Born in Kingston, Mowat studied law under John A. Macdonald. After moving to Toronto in 1840 he was elected a Liberal member of the legislature of the Province of Canada in 1857 and served...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

Sir Allan Napier MacNab 1798-1862

Politician, businessman, land speculator and soldier, Allan MacNab enjoyed a very public life. He was a successful lawyer and was appointed Upper Canada's first Queen's Counsel. In 1838 he was...

Politician, businessman, land speculator and soldier, Allan MacNab enjoyed a very public life. He was a successful lawyer and was appointed Upper Canada's first Queen's Counsel. In 1838 he...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

Sir Richard William Scott 1825-1913

Born at Prescott, Scott was admitted to the bar in 1848 and practiced law in Ottawa. As a member of the legislature of Upper Canada (1857-63) he sponsored the Separate School Act of 1863....

Born at Prescott, Scott was admitted to the bar in 1848 and practiced law in Ottawa. As a member of the legislature of Upper Canada (1857-63) he sponsored the Separate School Act of...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

Sir Richard Bonnycastle, 1791-1847

As an officer in the Corps of Royal Engineers, Bonnycastle was trained in engineering, mapmaking, geology and painting. He served in Europe and Nova Scotia before coming to Upper Canada in 1826....

As an officer in the Corps of Royal Engineers, Bonnycastle was trained in engineering, mapmaking, geology and painting. He served in Europe and Nova Scotia before coming to Upper Canada in 1826....

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  • ontario
  • alan brown