Wainfleet Historical Society

03/03/2025

03/03/2025

The Brier is currently going on, so each day of the big event I am sharing a photo from Canada's curling past.

Today, it is a group of women curling on a frozen slough outside of Banff in 1903.



📸Glenbow Archives CU181977

03/03/2025

A biosphere reserve represents one of the world’s important ecosystems and is divided into three zones: a protected core zone (such as a park or wildlife area...

03/02/2025

As we move into spring, the RCMP Musical Ride is getting ready for its 2025 tour.

This year, it will visit Alberta, Quebec and the Northwest Territories.

The history of the Musical Ride dates back decades, and is quite interesting.

Let's learn more :)

When the North-West Mounted Police was formed in 1873, the relationship between horse and officer was very important. Through riding across the Canadian West, an officer and his horse bonded. It could also be a bit boring at times in the police outposts.

To break up that monotony, officers performed tricks and exercises with their horses. In 1886, the North-West Mounted Police established their first riding school in Regina. During the winter of 1887, five public performances were held at the Regina barracks.

The performances were held in the winter before the men left for their summer postings. Unfortunately, the riding school burned down a few months later. It would be years before the horseback performances returned.

In 1901, the performances on horseback returned.

This early Musical Ride was held in Brandon, Manitoba and Qu'Appelle, Saskatchewan. Seven years later to celebrate the 300th anniversary of Quebec City, a Musical Ride was performed in the city.

At that Musical Ride, the Prince of Wales attended.

This was also the first Musical Ride performed outside Western Canada.

The Musical Ride continued to be performed until 1914 when the First World War began. It would not return until 1920. That year, the RNWMP and Dominion Police merged to become the RCMP

To celebrate the merger, a Musical Ride was organized on May 24, 1920 in Ottawa. From this point, the Musical Ride happened annually. In 1930, the Musical Ride performed at Wembley Exhibition in London, and in 1934 it was performed in the USA for the first time.

Due to the war, there was no Musical Ride from 1939 to 1948. in 1953, the Musical Ride was performed at the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.

The NFB also released a film that same year about Musical Ride:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzLNI4QgDoI

For Canada's Centennial Year in 1967, the Musical Ride was performed in nine provinces. In 1969, the Musical Ride escorted Queen Elizabeth II from Windsor Castle to the showgrounds. This was the first time any troop other than the Household Cavalry escorted the Queen.

In 1981, the first woman joined the Musical Ride. The Ride has also performed at every Olympics on Canadian soil. Currently, the Musical Ride tours Canada and the world each year, performing in 40 to 50 locations.

I hope you enjoyed that look at the Musical Ride.

If you enjoy my Canadian history content, you can support my work with a donation at 👇

http://www.buymeacoffee.com/craigu

03/02/2025

It's just about maple syrup season and we'll be getting into the spirit all March Break!! Join us on March 10th to help us tap a tree! Pop back in the rest of the week to help us collect sap, learn about the history of maple syrup and other sugars, and enjoy hands-on activities and crafts!

03/02/2025

🍀 Spring is just around the corner, and we’re gearing up for a month full of exciting events at The Welland Museum! As the weather warms up, why not take a trip to the museum and join us for some hands-on fun, history, and community engagement? Here’s what’s happening this March! ⬇️

Messy @ the Museum – LAST DAY!
📅 Monday, March 3 | ⏰ 5:00–6:00 PM
A friendly reminder to all parents that this will be the final session of Messy @ the Museum! Thank you to everyone who joined in on the creative chaos!

March Break Camp: Jr. Builders & Makers
📅 March 10–14 | ⏰ 9:00 AM–4:00 PM | Ages 6-12
Let your child’s imagination run wild during our hands-on Jr. Builders & Makers March Break Camp! From STEAM projects to construction crafts, there’s something for every little innovator. Limited spots available!

Insights Into Our Past: The Sweet Story of Maple Syrup in Canada
📅 Saturday, March 15 | ⏰ 2:00–4:00 PM
Dive into the fascinating history of maple syrup—one of Canada’s most iconic exports! From its Indigenous origins to the infamous Great Canadian Maple Syrup Heist, this event is a must for history buffs and syrup lovers alike.

Wayne Campbell Gallery Dedication
📅 Saturday, March 22 | ⏰ 5:00–7:00 PM
Our business gallery is getting a refresh! Join us as we dedicate the space in honour of Wayne Campbell, dedicated board member and advocate for local history. More details to come!

☀️ March is the perfect time to shake off the winter blues and explore something new! Whether you’re crafting, learning, or just looking for a cozy indoor activity, we’ve got something for everyone at The Welland Museum. We can’t wait to see you!

03/02/2025

I'm sharing an image a day to celebrate the vibrant and unique culture and history of Canada.
Today, it is the World's Largest Pysanka in Vegreville, flanked by RCMP Officers.


📸Ernie's Photo Studio

03/01/2025

Katherine “Kate” Ryan (aka Klondike Kate), NWMP special constable, restaurateur, nurse (born 20 August 1869 in Johnville, NB; died 20 February 1932 in Vanco...

03/01/2025

03/01/2025

This week’s Top Pick was chosen by Emily, our curator, and it's an artifact on display in our Canal Gallery—a model of the S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald!

The Edmund Fitzgerald’s story is one of the most mysterious and controversial shipwreck tales of the Great Lakes. Canadian folksinger Gordon Lightfoot immortalized the vessel with his 1976 ballad, The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.

Tragically, the ship and her entire crew of 29 men were lost on November 10, 1975, in Lake Superior, 17 miles north-northwest of Whitefish Point, Michigan. Over the years, multiple expeditions have explored the wreck to uncover more details about the ship’s final moments.

Launched in 1958, the 729-foot bulk carrier was once the largest ship on the Great Lakes. It was built for the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company and transported taconite from Minnesota to steel mills in Detroit and Toledo. However, during what was meant to be a routine trip in November 1975, the Fitzgerald met its untimely fate in a storm.

💬 Why did Emily choose this as her Top Pick?
"I chose this model ship because of my fascination with the Edmund Fitzgerald and its tragic story. When I first saw the model in the collection, I was working on an exhibit and decided to research it. I had heard Gordon Lightfoot’s song, but I didn’t know the full story. Since then, I’ve been absolutely fascinated by how such a large ship, in radio contact with other vessels, was able to disappear in a matter of minutes."

Want to see this incredible artifact in person? Visit our Canal Gallery at The Welland Museum!

03/01/2025

What do “The Handmaid’s Tale,” “Bambi,” “The Complete Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm,” “To Kill a Mockingbird,” and “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” have in common? They are all challenged books!

Censorship and challenges are nothing new in the literary world. Navigating these waters is always tricky, especially for public and school libraries, where most challenges happen.

Thankfully, initiatives such as Freedom to Read Week raise awareness and provide resources to help equip educators and librarians and ultimately keep books on the shelves.

As LAC is a non-circulating library, we are in an enviable position of not being influenced by such challenges. The collection includes almost every book (paper, digital and audio) ever published in Canada. This allows us to ensure that our country’s published heritage remains accessible to all Canadians regardless of any challenges or censorship in other institutions.

Ready more about this and the importance of Freedom to Read Week raises awareness of these issues in The LAC Blog! – https://thediscoverblog.com/?p=18083

📷 4365680

02/28/2025

02/27/2025

I'm sharing an image a day to celebrate the vibrant and unique culture and history of Canada.
Today, it is Emily Carr's masterpiece 1931 painting Big Raven.


📸Emily Carr

02/27/2025

02/27/2025