Tag Archives: military

Fort York National Historic Site

Conservation / Preservation:

Architecture

The walled Fort is home to eight original military structures dating to 1813-1815, including soldiers’ barracks, blockhouses, and munitions storehouses. In addition, the 17.5 hectare national historic site contains a significant portion of the original 1793 Garrison Common, including Victoria Memorial Square, Strachan Avenue Burying Ground, the mouth of the now-lost Garrison Creek, the still-active Fort York Armoury, and the Fort York Visitor Centre.

Artefacts

The site contains many artefacts documenting early Canadian and British military history, including uniforms, weapons, headgear, artillery, tools, musical instruments, bottles, cookware, and personal items, many of which are on display in the museum’s exhibits.

Public Programming:

Exhibitions

Approximately eight exhibitions that offer a window into early nineteenth-century life at the Fort, including,

  • Restored soldiers’ and officers’ barracks, and 1826 officers’ mess dinner kitchen.
  • Archeological exhibits documenting the excavation and preservation of site itself.
  • Audio/visual exhibits focusing on the War of 1812 and development of Fort York, and how it relates to the City of Toronto, over the centuries.

Tours

Guided tours by costumed staff are regularly conducted (inquire in advance of visit to find out availability).

Educational Programming

Progressive curricula for elementary school students focusing on various aspects of the lives of the Forts inhabitants, military history, and British North America in general.

Living History Animation

In the summer, interpreters in period military dress drill, fire musket and artillery, and play music.

Special events

Special programming, such as concerts, outdoor food festivals, as well as arts and cultural events take place throughout the year.

48th Highlanders Museum

Conservation/Preservation:

Archives

Provides records of the 48th Highlanders of Canada and its members, however, detailed Military Service Records are located at the National Archives of Canada. Research and research guidance is provided for free for descendants and family members of the 48th Highlanders who have served.

Artefacts

The history of the 48th Highlanders of Canada is shown through uniforms and accoutrements. A large photo collection expands on the battalion history. The museum also provides the stories of individual soldiers through artefacts.

  • Distinguished Regimental Individuals
  • Early Regiment 1891-1914
  • Africa 1899-1902
  • World War One 1914-1918
  • World War Two 1939-1945
  • Service in Afghanistan
  • Service in Canada
  • Regimental Sports
  • NATO Service
  • Regimental Bands
  • Cadet Corps
  • Medal Collections
  • Headdresses
  • Arts and Literature
  • Padres of the Regiment
  • WW1 Trench Art
  • Gas Warfare
  • Military Food

Royal Canadian Military Institute

Conservation / Preservation:

Artefacts

  • Primitive and modern weaponry.
  • Flags, badges, and medals.
  • British, American, and French soldier figurines.
  • Sketches, watercolours, prints, photographs, and oil paintings with emphases on Canadian and British Military History.

Library

  • Military manuals, service journals, periodicals, and rare books dating back to the eighteenth century.
  • Canadian Official War Photographs of World War One.
  • Canadian Expeditionary Force Casualty and Nominal Rolls.
  • Orders of Battle for World War One and World War Two.
  • British and Canadian Officer Lists for the Army, Navy and Air Force.
  • British and Canadian Regimental, squadron, and ship histories.

Public Programming:

Exhibitions

Exhibits focus on the evolution of Canadian military arms, equipment, and uniforms.

Public Lectures

Regular lectures on aspects of Canadian military history, international affairs, and military strategy are held, often as part of the Insitute’s Military History Nights and Defence Studies Committee Roundtables and Luncheons.

Publications

Regular publications, such as RCMI Commentary, Sitrep, The General Sir William Otter Papers, and Heritage Papers dealing with contemporary military and strategic issues, foreign affairs, and artefacts of significance to the Institute and its museum.

Tours

Tours of museum exhibits for school classes as well as the general public and participation in Toronto’s Door’s Open festival.

Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada Regimental Museum

Conservation / Preservation:

Archives

Materials related to the regiment’s activities in war and peace time including, architectural records, cartographic materials, prints and drawings, manuscripts, films/videos, and photographs.

Artefacts

  • Costumes
  • Metalwork, silverwork and gold work
  • Musical instruments
  • Medals
  • Weapons
  • Photographs

Public Programming:

Exhibitions

Several dioramas display regimental artefacts and history.

Online Programming

An online exhibit displays regimental history, focusing on their participation during major military conflicts and achievements of famous members.

Tours

Tours are offered to examine the materials in the regimental museum. Special European tours are organized that specifically focuses on the history of Canada’s participation in World War II

St. James Cathedral Archives and Museum

Conservation / Preservation:

Archives

  • Marriage and burial records.
  • Parish personnel records and biographical information about prominent parishioners
  • Pew records listing individuals who owned and rented pews, and related correspondence.
  • Photographs and sound recordings.
  • Records of parish deliberations, decisions, actions, administration, correspondence, and finances.
  • Pictorial records including site maps, engineering and architectural drawings.
  • Records of special events of the congregation.
  • Music written and arranged for the Cathedral.

Museum

  • Bibles, prayer books, and a small reference library.
  • Organ pipe and portable organ.
  • Coat of arms, paintings, drawing, prints, icons.
  • Memorial plaques and busts.
  • Textiles: embroideries, flags, and regimental colours.
  • Woodenware and furnishings: crosses, candlesticks, carvings, prayer desks, seats and chairs.
  • Ironwork: bell, fencing, weathervane.
  • China.
  • Brass and silver, both liturgical and secular.
  • Créche collection.

Public Programming:

Exhibitions

Two regular exhibits include The September Art Show to mark Toronto Arts Week, and The Crèche Exhibit of Nativity Scenes from Around the World in December. Other exhibits are held throughout the year such as,

  • Black History, (opening February 5, 2017).
  • The Cathedral during the War of 1812, focusing on Bishop Strachan’s role in the Battle of York and the Cathedral’s use as a field hospital.
  • Vision and Devotion, organized in partnership with the Ontario Society of Artists, focusing on the society’s connections to the Cathedral. The exhibit displayed art by the society’s members housed within the Cathedral.
  • A celebration of the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II and the links between the British monarchy and the Cathedral (to close October 28, 2012).

Tours

  • Specially organized Cathedral Tours for school classes normally engaged in the study of medieval history, Canadian history, art, architecture, religion, the Cathedral itself, and the broader theme of the Anglican Church and Christianity (the focus of tours catering to the grade 11 World Religions curriculum). Tours also focus on memorials and biography, church windows, carvings, military history, prominent local historical figures, and church architecture.
  • Tours of special exhibits.
  • Tours of Toronto’s Old Town and churches elsewhere in Toronto.

Public Lectures

The Archives and Museum Committee offers public lectures related to exhibitions and / or publications related to the history of the Cathedral and its parishioners.

Publications

Occasional publications related to Parish, Cathedral, and neighbourhood history.

Bradley Museum

Conservation/Preservation:

Artefacts

Artefacts are from the period 1830-40 and are generally domestic items that would be found in a household of this time period, such as kitchen items, tools, pottery and china. The Bradley House is arranged to reflect what a home would have looked like during this time period.

Public Programming:

Tours

Guided tours are offered to the general public and group tours can also be arranged. Tour guides and historic interpreters are in costume reflecting 19th century dress.

Other

Some of the programs offered to the public include cooking over an open hearth, spinning, weaving and historic crafts.

Benares Historic House

Conservation/Preservation:

Artefacts

  • Rich original artefact collection, letters, photographs the Harris family ofBenares.
  • Artefacts  are from the WWI era (1916-1918) and are generally domestic items that  would be found in a household of this time period, such as kitchen items, tools, pottery and china. There are also items donated by the Harris family dating as far back as the 1830’s.

Public Programming

Exhibitions

Changing and permanent exhibits are offered.

Tours

Guided tours are offered to the general public and group tours can also be arranged. Tour guides and historic interpreters are in costume reflecting 19th century dress.

Other

Some of the programs offered to the public include cooking over a wood stove from the time period.

Royal Ontario Museum

Conservation / Preservation:

Artefacts:

This museum houses more than 6 million artefacts and other objects documenting natural and human history from prehistoric times to the present.

Public Programming:

Exhibitions

The ROM offers a variety of changing and permanent exhibits. Explore an array of themed galleries throughout the museum, spanning the themes of world cultures, medieval history, Aboriginal history, natural history, Canadian history, science and technology, archaeology, and military history.

Tours

This museum offers many tours catering to a variety of age groups and educational level.

Digital

Online Virtual Exhibits including The Burgess Shale and Tuugaaq – Ivory.

Education

Lectures, courses, Trips/walks, traveling educational kits, online activities, family programming, school visits.

Queen’s York Rangers Museum and Archives

Conservation / Preservation:

Archives / Library

The archives contain documents as lists of personnel dating back to 1777, written military orders (including those of the 12th Battalion, the York Rangers, the 12th York Rangers, the 20th Battalion, the 127th Battalion and the 220th Battalion), training manuals, diaries, maps and photographs, scrapbooks, and ephemera.

Artefacts

Uniforms, medals, badges, weapons, equipment

Public Programming:

Exhibitions

Displays of uniforms, medals, badges, weapons, and equipment tell the story of this regiment and those that preceded it.

Tours: Yes, by special request

Re-enactments / Theatre: Annual Regimental Events:

  • Last  Weekend of May – Ranger Weekend  to commemorate founder Major Robert Rogers.
  • First Weekend of August – Simcoe Day.