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Haldimand County has partnered with the Great Art for Great Lakes organization to bring public art to local communities.

The Ontario Trillium Foundation has provided funding to support five Great Art for Great Lakes public art projects in 2019, and an additional five in 2020. Two of the art projects will be created and located in Haldimand County – one in 2019 and a second in 2020.

Haldimand County has committed to providing up to $7,500 of in-kind support, including:

– providing space for community workshops/programming;

– identifying location(s) for the installation of art pieces;

– providing assistance with the installation of art piece(s); and

– working with Great Art for Great Lakes to promote the project and programming

Through public workshops and events, local makers, creators & artists will work towards the co-creation of permanent, public artwork to be installed within Haldimand County. The art installation, in whatever form it may take, will focus on ideas that showcase the grandeur of the Great Lakes and how it connects people, their shared history and diverse cultures.

How to get involved:

Great Art for Great Lakes has issued a call for proposals from the local creative community and will be hosting a preliminary artist information session on March 20, 2019 at Ruthven Park National Historic Site (6:00pm – 8:30pm). Interested artists may register for the information session via gaglhaldimand.eventbrite.ca. The call for proposals closed April 5, 2019.

For more information about the project, including proposal submission requirements, visit the Great Art For Great Lakes website or e-mail gagl@waterlution.org.

Tourism Caledonia recently recognized Edinburgh Square Heritage & Cultural Centre for its presentation of the history of Caledonia through education/outreach activities and the numerous permanent & temporary exhibits available for tourists.

Edinburgh Square was also commended for the many improvements made to the 1857 building, an architectural design of the renowned John Turner.

The old Town Hall with its original 1857 jail cell is appealing to visitors from near and far. The permanent display highlighting the gypsum mining industry along the Grand River is an interesting feature. Family ancestors researched in the Gillespie Clark Reference Library attract tourists with Caledonia connections. The library contains books, files and historic documents relating to Caledonia’s rich history. The collection of surviving editions of the Grand River Sachem from 1856 to the present day is also valuable for visitor research.

More than 150 years ago, the community of Canfield welcomed slaves fleeing the United States through the Underground Railroad, providing a safe haven and freedom. In September 2017, the Canfield Community Centre, Heritage Haldimand and Haldimand County collaborated on the installation of a marker honouring this history.

On Sunday, February 10, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. the community will come together again to celebrate Black History Month and the donors to this important project with a presentation by local historians Sylvia Weaver and Barbara Topp.

“This project has been a wonderful collaboration for us with the Canfield Community Centre and Haldimand County,” said Sylvia Weaver, Heritage Haldimand member and the volunteer project manager for this proposal. “From the time the County approved the request for this memorial, we have been overwhelmed by the response from people who either grew up in the area or had family who lived in Canfield during those times. From Niagara Region to Windsor and into the United States, we have been contacted by so many for whom this is a meaningful part of their personal family history,” said Weaver.

“We are so happy to have been able to formally recognize this important part of our local story,” added Weaver, “and we’re very excited to be able to come together again to share stories and celebrate the support which has been received.”

The Underground Railroad was a secret network organized by people who helped men, women and children escape from slavery to freedom. It operated before the Civil War (1861-1865) ended slavery in the United States. Black settlers first started coming to Canfield in 1837, with 137 black residents identified in the North Cayuga census by 1851.

The installation of the natural stone and plaque, recognizing Canfield as a ‘station’ within the Underground Railroad, was approved through the County’s Community Partnership Program—including almost $4,000 in grant funding—and saw almost $9,000 raised in the community.

“This is an incredible part of Haldimand County’s history,” said Ward 4 Councillor Tony Dalimonte, “and one which continues to engage residents and visitors to our community. The County was very happy to have been able to support Heritage Haldimand and the Canfield Community Centre in ensuring not only that we remember this important part of our local history but, in fact, formally recognize it and encourage everyone to learn about the wonderful community of Canfield.”

The event takes place Sunday, February 10 at 2:00 p.m. at the Canfield Community Centre; all are welcome to attend. Parking and seating are limited.

On Wednesday, December 5 at 1:00 p.m., Haldimand County Museum and Archives will host its 12th Annual Christmas Tea & Talk. This year, curator Karen Richardson will explore the history of Christmas celebrations and traditions over the past 235 years.

“The earliest settlers to Haldimand County were loyalists. Despite facing many hardships, they continued to celebrate Christmas with traditions and customs from their home countries,” said Richardson. Loyalist settlers of German descent brought the idea of a Christmas tree to Upper Canada. Decorations were natural and included pine cones, nuts, holly berries, feathers and chains made of cranberries and popcorn,” she added.

Even the custom of “decking the halls” – draping walls with evergreen garland – came from the British Isles and was introduced over a century ago by settlers in their Upper Canada cabins. The Victorian era ushered in a much more elaborate Christmas tree; while homemade ornaments were still utilized, precious glass ornaments and gilled gold began to adorn the tree. WWI had a major influence on holiday celebrations, as well. Trees were decorated with a patriotic theme and included union jack flags and paper ornaments.

In addition to Richardson’s talk, attendees will be treated to delicious homemade scones, tea and sweet treats. The cost to register is $10 per person, and pre-registration is required. Interested individuals may register online or at any Haldimand County office using program code 8060.

Edinburgh Square Heritage and Cultural Centre will present its annual Harvest Lunch and Talk on Thursday November 8^th. This year’s event will feature guest speakers and a preview of the museum’s latest exhibit that commemorates the 100^th anniversary of the Great War.

Special guest speaker for the afternoon will be Marilynn Havelka, CAO, Ruthven Park National Historic Site who will discuss the role of the Thompson Family during the First World War – beginning with patriarch Andrew, his wife Violet, sons Andrew and Walter and daughter Margaret. Havelka will also elaborate on the family’s connection to the  37th Haldimand Rifles and Haldimand 114th Battalion of which Andrew Sr. became Commanding Officer in February 1916.

The Harvest Lunch and Talk will also provide guests with a sneak preview of the  Centre’s current exhibition, We Will Remember Them. The exhibit officially opens November 11^th, 2018 coinciding with the 100^th anniversary of the end of the Great War.  We Will Remember Them is a photographic retrospective recognizing those men and women from Haldimand County who served their Country over the past 100 years, beginning with the Great War.

Also included as part of this exhibition is the display Blood Brothers, Brothers in Arms, which examines an almost forgotten WWI connection between Canadian First Nations soldiers serving in the Haldimand 114th Battalion and the City of Edinburgh, Scotland. The display pays tribute to the links between the soldiers of the Haldimand 114th Battalion and their Scottish friends – links which are still evident today.

The Harvest Lunch  and Talk takes place at 80 Caithness St. E., Caledonia from 12:00 – 2:00 p.m. Cost is $15.00 per person and includes the presentation, a hearty lunch of soups and amazing cheese scones, Edinburgh Square’s special tea blend and sweet treats.

Pre-registration for this event must be completed online or at any County office using the program code 6445. For further information, please contact Anne Unyi, Edinburgh Square Heritage & Cultural Centre at 905-765-3134, or by email at esquare.centre@haldimandcounty.on.ca.