Category: People

Tracy Gordon - Sharing a Journey of Remembrance

4/2/2017

Many of the stories of everyday Canadians participating in World Wars I & II have come to light in recent years due to the painstaking research of history enthusiasts. They are accounts of sacrifice, personalities, hopes, thoughts, family ties, and ordinary people doing extraordinary things. They are shared with us through writing, historical re-enactment and lectures in a manner that is often more enlightening than the telling of history via a recounting of dates, battles, motivations and viewpoints of generals and political leaders. One local woman from Dutton, Tracy Gordon, has taken on such a story-telling mission on many fronts.

History Brought to Life at Aylmer-Malahide Museum & Archives

8/31/2016

Amanda VandenWyngaert became curator of the Aylmer Malahide Museum & Archives in April 2014. Under her direction, exhibits have included ones which transformed sections of the museum into a Victorian home and into a World War I trench. As we sat upon a quite lovely, very yellow kitchen set which will become part of the upcoming Fabulous 50s exhibit, she shared some of the “behind the scenes” at the museum.

This Year's Vimy Lecture Set Against Exhibit Featuring Elgin's Contribution in WWI

4/9/2016

This year, the Elgin County Museum is featuring the centenary of WWI and Elgin’s contribution to the war both at home and overseas. The current exhibition fills the museum space with archival photographs and displays on that theme. It made an especially appropriate backdrop to this year’s Vimy Lecture, held annually on the anniversary of the first day of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, April 9, 1917.

Nurturing Nature in Noteworthy Ways

9/1/2015

An Eskimo Curlew (Archibald Thorburn)

Local naturalists have helped restore lost habitats, maintained trails, counted wildlife, banded, documented, inventoried, photographed, created resources, volunteered on boards, and helped raise funds. They have kept watch and understood what we stand to lose without constant care and vigilance. Three local naturalists of the past are amongst those who have served as inspiration to the generations which followed.

Read the entire article in the Relish Elgin Fall 2015 Edition

The Arts & Cookery Bank Launches "One Hundred Years, One Hundred Families"

12/11/2014

Driving Ontario’s rural back roads, you may have noticed “Century Farm” signs and wondered about the stories of the people who worked and played in these homes and fields through several generations. “One Hundred Years. One Hundred Families” was launched on Thursday at the Arts and Cookery Bank in West Lorne and tells the stories in words and photos, of 100 families from their surrounding community, over the past century.

We'll Be Home By Christmas - A First World War Story by the Elgin Military Museum's Jeffrey Booth

12/11/2014

In 1914, our boys marched off to war. Their battle cry was “We’ll be back by Christmas.”

We all know that the boys did not return for Christmas with their families. On the Western Front, there had been one million casualties and the fast battles of the summer had turned to slow mud-filled trenches of stagnation. Slowly everyone became aware that this was going to be a long war with many more millions yet to die.

Starting on Christmas Eve, many troops sang Christmas carols across the lines, and at spots brass bands joined in their joyous singing.

Championing a Story of Homegrown Inspiration

9/1/2014

Photo by Mark Girdauskas

St. Thomas-born major league baseball player Jack ‘Glad’ Graney’s plaque on the Timken Centre’s St. Thomas Wall of Fame was unveiled this year in July. That was cause for celebration by his nominating committee, but they are hopeful recognition for Graney and his inspiring story won’t end there.

Read our feature on Jack Graney in Relish Elgin Fall 2014 ...