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The most recent plaques:

Gananoque Town Hall

Built about 1831-32, and designed in the late phase of the Neo-Classic style, this structure is among the best of its type remaining in Ontario. Constructed as a dwelling for John McDonald, a...

Built about 1831-32, and designed in the late phase of the Neo-Classic style, this structure is among the best of its type remaining in Ontario. Constructed as a dwelling for John McDonald,...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Grand Trunk Railway Prescott

The Grand Trunk was incorporated in 1853 to run from Sarnia to Portland, Maine. Although it took over existing lines, new ones had to be built, including sections of the key Toronto to Montréal...

The Grand Trunk was incorporated in 1853 to run from Sarnia to Portland, Maine. Although it took over existing lines, new ones had to be built, including sections of the key Toronto to...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

George Mackinnon Wrong 1860-1948

Born in Gravesend, Upper Canada, Wrong graduated from Wycliffe College and the University of Toronto where, in 1895, he became the first Professor of Modern History. A believer in the historian's...

Born in Gravesend, Upper Canada, Wrong graduated from Wycliffe College and the University of Toronto where, in 1895, he became the first Professor of Modern History. A believer in the historian's...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Guelph City Hall

Many Canadian cities erected well-designed municipal buildings during the mid-19th century railway boom. Guelph City Hall, one of the best of this group, symbolized the city's confidence in its...

Many Canadian cities erected well-designed municipal buildings during the mid-19th century railway boom. Guelph City Hall, one of the best of this group, symbolized the city's confidence in its...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Great Storm of 1913

In a storm that struck Lake Huron on November 9, 1913, ten lake freighters were lost. Seven of them vanished, ranging from the 30-year-old, 82 m "Wexford" to the 168 m "James Carruthers", launched...

In a storm that struck Lake Huron on November 9, 1913, ten lake freighters were lost. Seven of them vanished, ranging from the 30-year-old, 82 m "Wexford" to the 168 m "James Carruthers", launched...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Grand Portage

Circumventing 34 km of falls and rapids, this portage ran some 14 km from this vicinity to a point upstream on the Pigeon River. It was first mentioned in 1722 by a French trader named Jean...

Circumventing 34 km of falls and rapids, this portage ran some 14 km from this vicinity to a point upstream on the Pigeon River. It was first mentioned in 1722 by a French trader named...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

George Agnew Reid 1860-1947

Born near Wingham, Reid became a successful genre painter and muralist who believed art to be an integral part of the human environment. He was active in organizing support organizations to...

Born near Wingham, Reid became a successful genre painter and muralist who believed art to be an integral part of the human environment. He was active in organizing support organizations...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

George Richardson, V.C. 1831-1923

Private Richardson won the Victoria Cross while fighting with the Border Regiment of the British Army in northern India during the Indian Mutiny of 1857-59. As part of an attachment sent to...

Private Richardson won the Victoria Cross while fighting with the Border Regiment of the British Army in northern India during the Indian Mutiny of 1857-59. As part of an attachment sent to...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Gouzenko Affair 1945-1946

The Gouzenko Affair brought the realities of the emerging Cold War to the attention of the Canadian public. On September 5, 1945, cipher officer Igor Gouzenko left the Soviet Embassy with more...

The Gouzenko Affair brought the realities of the emerging Cold War to the attention of the Canadian public. On September 5, 1945, cipher officer Igor Gouzenko left the Soviet Embassy with more...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Grand Trunk Railway Belleville

The Grand Trunk was incorporated in 1853 to run from Sarnia to Portland, Maine. Although it took over existing lines, new ones had to be built, including sections of the key Toronto to Montréal...

The Grand Trunk was incorporated in 1853 to run from Sarnia to Portland, Maine. Although it took over existing lines, new ones had to be built, including sections of the key Toronto to...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Gold Mining in Canada

After the Cariboo and Klondike rushes, gold production in Canada entered a new era with the discovery of lode deposits in the Porcupine area in 1909. The mines in this district, notably the...

After the Cariboo and Klondike rushes, gold production in Canada entered a new era with the discovery of lode deposits in the Porcupine area in 1909. The mines in this district, notably...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Great Fire of 1916

On July 29, 1916, fires which had been burning for some weeks around settlers' clearings along the Timiskaming & Northern Ontario Railway were united by strong winds into one huge conflagration....

On July 29, 1916, fires which had been burning for some weeks around settlers' clearings along the Timiskaming & Northern Ontario Railway were united by strong winds into one huge...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Great Western Railway

The main line of "The Great Western", from Niagara Falls through Hamilton and London to Windsor, was opened in 1854. The company extended its line from Hamilton to Toronto in 1855, from Komoka to...

The main line of "The Great Western", from Niagara Falls through Hamilton and London to Windsor, was opened in 1854. The company extended its line from Hamilton to Toronto in 1855, from Komoka to...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Great Fire of 1922

On October 4, 1922, scattered bush fires which had been burning for some days north of Haileybury were united by strong winds into a holocaust which spread over most of 18 townships and took an...

On October 4, 1922, scattered bush fires which had been burning for some days north of Haileybury were united by strong winds into a holocaust which spread over most of 18 townships and took...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Goldie Family and the Village of Greenfield

From 1817 to 1819, Scottish botanist John Goldie (1793-1886) visited Canada and the northern U.S. to collect plant specimens. He returned with his family in 1844 to settle here on a farm they...

From 1817 to 1819, Scottish botanist John Goldie (1793-1886) visited Canada and the northern U.S. to collect plant specimens. He returned with his family in 1844 to settle here on a farm they...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

General Sir Arthur William Currie 1875-1933

The first Canadian-born general, Currie grew up on a farm in Napperton and attended Strathroy Collegiate Institute. In 1894 he went to Victoria, B.C. where he joined the militia in 1897. At the...

The first Canadian-born general, Currie grew up on a farm in Napperton and attended Strathroy Collegiate Institute. In 1894 he went to Victoria, B.C. where he joined the militia in 1897. At...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

George Tillson 1782-1864

Born in Enfield, Massachusetts, Tillson immigrated to Canada in 1822. With Hiram Capron and Joseph Van Norman, Tillson was part-owner of the Normandale Iron Foundry in Norfolk County, one of...

Born in Enfield, Massachusetts, Tillson immigrated to Canada in 1822. With Hiram Capron and Joseph Van Norman, Tillson was part-owner of the Normandale Iron Foundry in Norfolk County, one...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Great Sauk Trail

Part of an ancient network of Indian paths, the Great Sauk Trail, as it came to be known, extended from Rock Island in present-day Illinois to the Detroit River. It played a significant role in...

Part of an ancient network of Indian paths, the Great Sauk Trail, as it came to be known, extended from Rock Island in present-day Illinois to the Detroit River. It played a significant role in...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Glengarry Cairn

This cairn was erected under the supervision of Lieut-Col. Lewis Carmichael of the Imperial Army, then stationed in this district on particular service, by the Highland Militia of Glengarry which...

This cairn was erected under the supervision of Lieut-Col. Lewis Carmichael of the Imperial Army, then stationed in this district on particular service, by the Highland Militia of Glengarry which...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Grand Bend

Grand Bend derived its name from a hairpin turn in the Ausable (Aux Sables) River a short distance inland from Lake Huron where sand dunes blocked the river's outlet to the lake. Frequent flooding...

Grand Bend derived its name from a hairpin turn in the Ausable (Aux Sables) River a short distance inland from Lake Huron where sand dunes blocked the river's outlet to the lake. Frequent...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown