Saturday, April 30, 2011

DOORS OPEN ONTARIO 2011

Doors Open Ontario returns for its 10th year, starting with Guelph today (April 30).

"This season, participants will have the opportunity to explore iconic landmarks, natural wonders, architectural gems and hidden heritage treasures at 56 community events across the province," says Liane Nowosielski of the Ontario Heritage Trust.

There are seven new destinations: Deseronto-Napanee; Grimsby; Highlands East; Kapuskasing; Middlesex; Merrickville; and Pickering.

Brantford and Brant County are featured on Sept. 24th.

Here are the upcoming Doors Open events (most are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.):

- Guelph, April 30; Chatham-Kent, Whitby, May 7; Hamilton, May 7-8; Temiskaming Shores, May 14; Deseronto-Napanee and Milton, May 28; and Brockville-Thousand Islands and Toronto, May 28-29.

- Whitchurch-Stouffville, June 4; Huronia, Ottawa and Owen Sound, June 4-5; Smiths Falls, June 5; Clarington and Richmond Hill, June 11; Burlington and Highlands East, June 11-12; Kingston and Perth, June 18; Fergus-Elora, June 25; and Muskoka, June 25-26.

- Aurora, July 9; Kapuskasing, July 23; Norfolk, Aug. 13; Georgina and Markham, Aug. 27; Belleville, Sept. 10; Cornwall-Seaway Valley, Sept. 10-11; Kawartha Lakes, Sept. 11; Amherstburg, Haldimand County, Newmarket, Rideau Lakes-Westport, St. Marys and Waterloo Region, Sept. 17.

- London, Middlesex and South Bruce Peninsula, Sept. 17-18; Merrickville, Sept. 18; and Brant, East Elgin, Oxford County and Pembroke, Sept. 24.

- Grimsby, Oakville, Oshawa and Peterborough, Sept. 24-25; Barrie, Mississauga, Pickering and Port Stanley-Sparta, Oct. 1; Gananoque, St. Thomas and Vaughan, Oct. 1-2; and Kincardine, Oct. 15-16.

To learn more about the Doors Open Ontario events and sites: visit the website at www.doorsopenontario.on.ca; or call 1-800-ONTARIO and request the Doors Open Ontario booklet.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

JANE'S WALK OF ST. GEORGE 2011

JANE'S WALK OF ST. GEORGE 2011
presented by the South Dumfries Historical Society

Meet at the St. George Museum & Archives
36 Main Street South
St. George
N0E 1N0

Sunday, May 8, 2011 at 3:00 PM.

A free walking tour of St. George, dedicated to the memory of Jane Jacobs, author of Life and Death of Great American Cities and an advocate for strong communities.

The South Dumfries Historical Society will be presenting the third Jane's Walk of St. George on Sunday, May 8th, 2011, at 3:00 pm.

Starting at the St. George Museum & Archives (36 Main Street South,) the walk will explore the past, present and possible futures of the community.

What is a Jane's Walk?

Jane's Walks are a series of free neighbourhood walking tours that help put people in touch with their environment and with each other, by bridging social and geographic gaps and creating a space for cities to discover themselves.

Since its inception in 2007, Jane's Walk has happened in many North American cities: Toronto, New York, Ottawa, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, Winnipeg, Halifax, Guelph, Charlottetown, Thornbury, and Salt Lake City.

More partner cities and towns were added in 2009, including Montreal, Regina, Boston, Chicago, Hamilton, New Orleans, and St. George.

Jane's Walk honours the legacy and ideas of urban activist and writer Jane Jacobs who championed the interests of local residents and pedestrians over a car-centered approach to planning.

Jane's Walk helps knit people together into a strong and resourceful community, instilling belonging and encouraging civic leadership.

All Jane's Walk tours are given and taken for free.

The St. George walk should last approx. 60 - 75 minutes.

These walks are led by anyone who has an interest in the neighbourhoods where they live, work or hang out. They are not always about architecture and heritage, and offer a more personal take on the local culture, the social history and the planning issues faced by the residents.

Jane Jacobs believed strongly that local residents understood best how their neighbourhood works, and what is needed to strengthen and improve them.

Jane's Walks are meant to be fun, engaged and participatory - everyone's got a story and they're usually keen to share it

Visit the Jane's Walk website at www.janeswalk.net for more information (our walk is listed under “Brant County”).

Thursday, April 7, 2011

DIGITAL PRESERVATION DAYS

DIGITAL PRESERVATION DAYS

The South Dumfries Historical Society and the County of Brant Public Library will be hosting special Digital Preservation Days at the Glen Morris and St. George Branch Libraries.

This is your chance to preserve your family's history and help us build an online historical collection that will be preserved for generations to come.

All types of items are welcome to be digitized, and nothing is too old or too new!

Bring your photos and documents like team pictures, street scenes, school pictures or land deeds, family histories, and ledgers....even physical artifacts can be photographed and included in the collection!


Glen Morris Branch
When: Tuesday, May 10
Time: Noon-4:00 p.m.
Cost: Free event

St. George Branch
When: Friday, May 13
Time: Noon-4:00 p.m.
Cost: Free event

This project is made possible thanks to the generous support of the Ontario Trillium Foundation.