Local History

Active History on the Grand: Historic Gardens

February 27, 2012

This article provides examples of historic gardens and landscapes in Ontario.

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Active History on the Grand: Heritage Trees in Ontario

January 2, 2012

I think that I shall never see, A poem as lovely as a tree. – Sergeant Joyce Kilmer (1886-1918) While many of us may be familiar with the designation of built heritage properties under the Ontario Heritage Act, recently municipalities have been using the Ontario Heritage Act to designate individual trees as heritage trees.  Municipalities [...]

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Active History in an Age of Austerity

November 17, 2011

Budget cuts at the municipal, provincial, and federal levels of government across the country have targeted cultural and heritage institutions, threatening the integrity of the capacity of Canada to maintain an adequate understanding of its collective past. Just as Margaret Atwood helped mobilize opposition to proposed cuts to Toronto libraries, the challenge for active historians who oppose such measures is to make their opposition public.

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Active History on the Grand: the War of 1812 and the Six Nations

November 7, 2011

In Canada the debate over the commemoration of the War of 1812 largely ignores the role that the First Nations played as allies of Britain. For the Six Nations of the Grand River the war was a pivotal moment in their history, but the aftermath marked the end of their independence and sovereignty.

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Announcement: History on the Grand – People and Place

October 8, 2011

Join us for a day of history and heritage in beautiful downtown Cambridge on Saturday 22 October 2011 for the local history symposium History on the Grand: People and Place.

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Active History on the Grand: History and Bricks

September 19, 2011

Two years ago Brant County proposed to sell eight community buildings to save costs. These buildings served as schools, daycares, museums, and community centres for the rural residents of Brant County. This article examines the fight to save one building, Langford School.

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Stepping into the Past: Everyday Places that Awaken the Historical Imagination

August 15, 2011

As summer days begin to wane, we explore some of the everyday places that challenge us to think more deeply about the past. Got a place to add? Send us a message and we will add it to this post!

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Recreation to Re-creation: Restoring Natural Heritage in Public Parks

August 8, 2011

Growing up in Cambridge next to Soper Park, the park became an extension of my backyard.  I spent many days exploring the park, wading in the creek, catching crayfish and racing home-made boats.  As a child the creek seemed mysterious and ancient.  It was dammed with stone and concrete dams, and walled in with massive [...]

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Announcement: Longwoods Barn Quilt Trail

July 2, 2011

Announcing the Longwoods Barn Quilt Trail. Come to an organizing meeting on July 6th, 2011 at 7 pm at the Longwoods Road Conservation Area.

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Active History on the Grand: The Greenwich Mohawk site and Community History

June 20, 2011

The Greenwich Mohawk brownfield site in Brantford represents both the city’s industrial past and its recent deindustrialization. The 1903 heritage designated Cockshutt Office building on the site is in jeopardy of being demolished by those who want to forget Brantford’s industrial history and recent failures.

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