I have been working on this article since I first began writing this column nearly five years ago, looking back at some of the memories associated with Newmarket’s Teen Town that are still so strong after all these years. My sincere thanks need to go out to all those who have participated in quite a few…
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Young Doctor’s Persistence Behind Southlake’s Beginnings
How many know the history of institutionalized medical care in Newmarket? Here is an overview of how we progressed from rooms in a local hotel to a modern facility called Southlake Regional Health Centre. The Royal Hotel at the corner of Main Street and Millard Avenue was repaired after the fire of 1907 and, in…
Two Sides Of Newmarket, Split By Prospect, Once Competed For Prominence
In this article, we are going examine the history of one of the main streets in Newmarket, now know as Prospect Street but once called Garbutt Hill. During my research for articles in this series on subjects ranging from York County Hospital, the Srigley Brick Works, the Cane family and first Methodist Church to the provenance of Newmarket’s…
Southern Ontario Was Home To 2 Notorious Residential Schools
This is part two of my two-part series on the history of the residential school system,with a focus on southern Ontario. You can read part one here. In Ontario, there were roughly 15 residential schools and 13 of those were attended by Nishnawbe Aski Nation children. I have listed below the Ontario schools and posted a…
Residential Schools An Appalling Chapter In Canada’s History
This is the first of a two-part series on residential schools in Canada. In part one, we will examine the subject from a national perspective, while in part two, we will narrow our focus to southern Ontario. I hope to start the discussion by addressing some facts that you may not currently know or perhaps…
Notable Main Street Merchants Abound In Newmarket’s Ward 4 Street Names
Let’s continue our look at the provenance of Ward 3 street names. There are a few streets omitted as I need to do further research, but I’ll tackle them before the end of this series. If you would like to participate by offering some insight into the specific origins of any streets I haven’t mentioned, I…
Many Ward 3 Street Names Honor Original Landowners, Merchants In Newmarket
Let’s return to our series on Newmarket’s street names and the celebration of residents who have been so honoured. We still have a few street names to look at from Ward 2 before we begin looking at Ward 3. Bert Budd Avenue carries the name of the man who for years was “the photographer” in…
Newmarket Founding Families, Sports Heroes, Longtime Politicians Honored In Ward 2 Street Names
This part two of my series on the providence of our Newmarket street names. In the first article, we looked at our street names in Ward 1. Before we get started, I need to add to the criteria and process for the dedication of street names as I forgot to mention another avenue available for getting a…
Street Names In Newmarket’s Ward 1 Honor Our Fallen Soldiers
Ever wonder how Davis Drive became Davis Drive, or Memorial Way got its name? This article begins a series exploring Newmarket’s long history of commemorating its heritage through street names. I have examined the process as it relates to the naming of parks and recreational sites in an earlier article. I’ll examine the history behind the naming…
‘Discovery’ Of Remains On Former Newmarket Cemetery Site Unearthed Storm Of Controversy
Let’s return to a story I touched on recently, the Methodist cemetery known as God’s Acre on Garbitt Hill, now Prospect Street, at the former site of Alexander Muir school and now Chartwell Alexander Muir Retirement Residence. I must admit the story invokes a bit of bewilderment within me as it involves, if you can remember, the…