Sunday, May 23, 2010

Historic Griffin House open holiday Mondays

The Historic Griffin House in nearby Ancaster (Hamilton), Ontario has limited times when it is open to the public - only during the afternoons of holiday Mondays. With Victoria Day upon us, the home will be open from 1 pm to 4 pm on Monday, May 24th, 2010.

The house is at 733 Mineral Springs Road and was the home of Enerals Griffin from 1834 and he is believed to have come to Canada as an escaped slave by way of the "underground railroad."

Owned and operated now by the Hamilton Region Conservation Authority, it was declared a National Historic Site of Canada in 2008.

Admission fees do apply. Adults $3, Students & Seniors $2.50, Children ages 5 - 12 $2.00 and a Family rate of $8.00.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Re-enactment of The Battle of Stoney Creek - June 5 & 6, 2010

Re-enactment of The Battle of Stoney Creek
June 5 & 62010
A Top 100 Event in Ontario

Experience the drama, pageantry, and excitement of one of the most important eventsin Canada's history. Bring the whole family for old-fashioned games, food, historicals demonstrations,musical entertainment, fireworks, and the Re-enactment itself.

Featuring:

- a 19th Century encampment
- one of a kind shopping
- food & refreshments

Saturday, June 5th from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., and
Sunday, June 6th from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Battlefield House Museum & Park,
77 King Street West, Stoney Creek.

Admission fees are $8.00 for adults and $2.00 for children
(Cost covers the whole weekend. Wristband provided).

For additional information, visit www.battlefieldhouse.ca,email battlefield@hamilton.ca or call 905-662-8458.

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

An intriguing historical play in Paris - Queen Milli of Galt

Is Queen Milli of Galt the story of a well-kept royal secret ... or a Canadian fairy-tale about a strange royal marriage? Audience members will have to decide as they enjoy this witty romantic comedy, based on a true Canadian story!

Queen Milli of Galt, by Gary Kirkham, directed by Marion J. Smith and produced by Bonnie McCrae, was the winner of the 2004 Samuel French Canadian Playwriting Contest and is being staged by Paris Performers' Theatre with special permission from Samuel French Inc.

In 1972 the Duke of Windsor died while living in exile. Two weeks later, an 80-year-old woman living in Galt, Ontario, bought a tombstone and had it beautifully engraved with the claim that she was the wife of the Duke of Windsor (the former King Edward VIII). That is, she was Queen Milli of Galt.

That part of the story can be proved as the tombstone still exists in a cemetery. In the play, a young journalist appears at the home of Millicent Milroy, a retired school teacher, trying to verify the circumstances of Milli's relationship with the former king of England.

Flashback to 1919 when the Prince of Wales tires of the pomp and circumstance of his tour of Canada and slips away for some private time. Prince Edward teases and charms his way into the life of a young school teacher, Milli. Is this part of the story fact or fiction?

The cast includes: Nicole Drake (Milli), Kelly Malone (Milli's friend Mona, an actress), Sandra Mann (Milli's mother), Trevor Wellwood (His Royal Highness, Edward, the Prince of Wales), and Roger Smith (Sir Godfrey, equerry to the Prince).

Tickets are available at the Green Heron Bookstore on Grand River Street North in downtown Paris.

Order tickets by phone at 519-302-0169.

Also, you can order tickets by emailing: bmccrae@primus.ca.

Tickets for Queen Milli of Galt cost $15. Pre-paid purchase of 10 or more tickets to a single performance cost only $12 per ticket.

Performances are held in the Special Events Building at the Paris Fairgrounds, 139 Silver Street, Paris, Ontario. The doors open one hour before curtain time and light refreshments and beverages are available. The facility is wheel-chair accessible and padded chairs provide comfortable seating.

CURTAIN TIMES
Friday, June 4 at 8 p.m.
Saturday, June 5 at 8 p.m.
Sunday, June 6 at 2 p.m.
Thursday, June 10 at 8 p.m.
Friday, June 11 at 8 p.m.
Saturday, June 12 at 8 p.m.
Sunday, June 13 at 2 p.m.

Monday, May 17, 2010

ST. GEORGE ANTIQUE SHOW SEPT 4th & 5th, 2010

Announcing the return of the Village of St. George FALL ANTIQUE SHOW!

LABOUR DAY WEEKEND
September 4th and 5th, 2010

Saturday 10 am to 5 pm & Sunday 11 am to 5 pm

A St. George tradition for over 20 years.

We had to miss a year in 2009 because of renovations at the arena, but the Show is back and will impress again.

Quality dealers presenting a range of antiques;
Light lunches, delicious desserts, coffee & tea

Located at the St. George Arena (The South Dumfries Community Centre) -
Approx. 15 minutes west of Flamboro Downs Race Track on Highway #5

Admission $5.00 (under 12 free with an adult).

Plenty of free parking.

Stay and browse and then visit the shops and restaurants downtown, too!

For more information, call Jeff Stutley at (905) 659-1166 or email: sdhs@bfree.on.ca

Hosted by the South Dumfries Historical Society/St. George Museum & Archives

Celebrate the Navy 100 onboard HMCS Haida

The Canadian Navy is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. The Military Museum in Brantford is one place to explore to learn more about this branch of our Armed Forces. Another great place is close by in Hamilton, Ontario, onboard an actual ship!

HMCS Haida
National Historic Site of Canada

Hours of Operation (Open Seasonally)
From May 15th until September 6th
Open seven days a week – 10am - 5pm

September 7th – October 11th - Please call for hours

She is the last remaining example of the 27 Tribal Class destroyers built for the Royal Canadian Navy, the Royal Navy and the Royal Australian Navy between 1937 and 1945. It has been said that The Tribals were "magnificent in appearance, majestic in movement and menacing in disposition".

Technologically, they represented the most advanced naval architecture, marine propulsion systems and weaponry of their time.

Once, HAIDA was a mighty fighting ship. Today, she is an irreplaceable historic artifact and her significance has been formally recognized by the Canadian Historic Sites and Monuments Board.

Not only is the ship historically significant, but she is a cultural asset representing a life style, however transient, of more than a generation of Canadians who served in Canada's Navy between 1943 and 1963.

The thousands of men who sailed in Haida represented a total cross section of Canadian society during that period.

Admission fees:
Adult $3.90
Senior $3.40
Youth $1.90
Family/Group $9.80
School Groups, per student $1.90

(Fees listed are valid from April 1, 2010 until March 31, 2011. Please check back on April 1 of each year for new and updated fee information. All fees listed include applicable taxes and are subject to change - and probably will change when the HST starts up.)

AppleFest at Ireland House Burlington - Sept 26th

If, God forbid, you should happen to miss St. George's Apple Festival, there is some consolation to be had in Burlington the following weekend at one of their nice museums - Ireland House at Oakridge Farm.

September 26, 2010 from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

It’s an old-fashioned fall fair at the farm in the city! Enjoy the fruit of the season and take part in scarecrow making, pony rides and face painting. See antique tractors and, pioneer apple schnitzing and old-time apple cider making.

Artisans, music and live country-style entertainment all day! Plenty of apple specialties and a country BBQ! (Pancake breakfast 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m)

For more information visit or call:

Ireland House at Oakridge Farm
2168 Guelph Line
(just a bit south of Hwy 5/Dundas Street)
Burlington, ON L7P 5A8

905-332-9888

Joseph Brant Day in Burlington - August 2nd

Joseph Brant lives on in Brant County and Brantford as a namesake, but there is very little going on locally that commemorates and actively keeps his story alive.

In the city of Burlington, Ontario, they have Brant Street, the Joseph Brant Hospital and the Joseph Brant Museum - and every year on the August Civic Holiday they celebrate Joseph Brant Day:

August 2nd, 2010 from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.

Celebrate the City of Burlington and one of the area's most famous original settlers—Joseph Brant Thayendanegea!

Come for an incredible line-up of music and entertainment at one of Burlington’s best parks!

Featuring:

Sophisticated Swing, a 19-piece big band orchestra that gets your toes tapping with their sparkling performance

The Lost Dancers of the Six Nations who engage you in a mesmerizing presentation of art, dance and Six Nations culture

Encampment and drilling demonstrations by The 22nd U.S. Infantry, Henderson’s Co., historic re-enactors who bring history to life.

Community exhibitors, a summer BBQ and refreshment stands, splash park for kids, fair-style games, crafts and hands-on activities, a treasure hunt adventure, artisans and vendors, the famous Joseph Brant Day Silent Auction and other attractions.

As well, on July 31, 2010 from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. meet at the Joseph Brant Museum for a special evening celebrating the legacy of Joseph Brant.

Joseph Brant Museum
1240 North Shore Blvd. East
Burlington, ON L7S 1C5

For more information call 905-634-3556.

The Irelands renew their vows - and you are invited!

Sunday, June 6th
You Are Invited to
A Historic Ireland Wedding!
10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Ireland House at Oakridge Farm &
St. John’s Anglican Church & Presentation Centre, Burlington, Ontario

Become a member of the wedding party during the re-enactment of a historic Ireland Family wedding! Guests will follow the wedding couple through the ceremony of a wedding including: a wedding brunch, wedding shower, a visit at the family homestead (Ireland House), a marriage ceremony at church (St John’s) and a festive wedding banquet at St. John’s Hall!

Call Ireland House (905-332-9888) to join the wedding party!

Children /Seniors - $12.00 Adults - $15.00

Ireland House at Oakridge Farm
2168 Guelph Line
Burlington, ON L7P 5A8

http://www.museumsofburlington.com/ireland-house

Built between 1835-1837, Ireland House at Oakridge Farm was the home of Joseph Ireland, one of Burlington's earliest settlers. Emigrating from Bowes, Yorkshire, England in 1819 at the age of 27, he petitioned for land at Oakridge Farm and so began a legacy that continues today.

Joseph and his descendants occupied Ireland House until 1985. In 1987, the City of Burlington purchased the property from the estate of Lucie Marie Ireland Bush and established a museum, restoring the homestead to illustrate three distinct time periods that represent the generations of Irelands who lived in the house: 1850s, 1890s and 1920s.

Ninety percent of the furnishings are original to the Ireland family thanks to a generous donation by Helen Ireland Caldwell, Marie's first cousin. Restorations of the house have reclaimed missing elements of former times, bringing the Museum back to its feeling of a period home and farm.

The property consists of 4 acres of woodland, gardens, potting shed, cottage/drive shed, and picnic areas. Tours of the property, living historical demonstrations, special events and educational programs are offered.

St. John's Anglican Church
2464 Dundas Street, RR #1
Burlington, Ontario L7R 3X4

Southwest corner of Guelph Line and Dundas St. (former Highway #5)

Phone: 905) 336-5164
Website: www.stjohnsburlington.ca

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Canadian Industrial Heritage Centre event June 12th

The Canadian Industrial Heritage Centre will host a special afternoon event on Saturday, June 12th, 2010, from 12:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Laurier Brantford's Odeon Theatre (50 Market Street).

The event is free and open to the public.

Warren Stauch will give a talk on historic mills along the Grand River watershed based on the inventory of mills that he did for the Grand River Conservation Authority.

CIHC's executive director, Karen Dearlove, will make a presentation on adaptive reuse of industrial buildings in the Grand River Valley. She will examine the many ways industrial buildings have been reimagined and repurposed in Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo.

A discussion, featuring Elizabeth McLuhan from the Workers Arts and Heritage Centre (Hamilton), Mac Swackhammer from the Hamilton Museum of Steam and Technology, and Neil White, will consider the importance of preserving built heritage for understanding community history.

Guests will also get to see "Brantford and Me," a short film by Laurier Brantford journalism student Joel Tansey.

The CIHC will be launching a logo design contest.

The afternoon schedule will also include conducting the Centre's Annual General Meeting.

For more information about the Canadian Industrial Heritage Centre, contact Karen Dearlove at karendearlove@canadianindustrialheritage.org or 519-732-1000.