THE STORY OF LITTLE HALL LAVENHAM, ENGLAND

GUEST SPEAKERS MIRANDA ELLISON COOK

Thursday, October 23 at 7:30pm

Join us for an Illustrated presentation to explore Little Hall's fascinating history.

Don't forget to wear your fascinator!

$10 donation welcome.  This is a zero waste event.

Little hall is a 14th century timber framed merchant's hall in Lavenham, one of England's best-preserved medieval towns.

Spanning Medieval, Tudor and Victorian eras, it showcases rich architectural and social history.  Now a museum run by passionate volunteers, it offers a glimpse into the past.

For more information, contact Valerie Burke at Valerie12Burke@gmail.com

Sunday, September 21st from 11am-2pm at the J.E.H. MacDonald House at 121 Centre Street, Thornhill,  for the official unveiling of the Moments of Algoma Group of Seven in Thornhill easel and Group of Seven Commemorative Plaques.  

This special event is co-hosted by the Thornhill Historical Society, City of Vaughan, City of Markham, the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) Sustainable Neighbourhood Action Program (SNAP) and Moments of Algoma.

Following the ceremony, guests are welcome to participate in guided walking tours through the village of Thornhill, visiting the former homes of five Group of Seven members. The day will also feature a Plein Air art show, a performance by the Markham Concert Band, family art events and community booths. 

The new easel installation commemorates the Group of Seven’s artistic and cultural legacy and their connection to Thornhill. As part of the broader Moments of Algoma Group of Seven Touring Route, this interpretive panel places Thornhill on the map as a significant stop in the story of Canada’s artistic identity. 

The Group of Seven Commemorative Plaques, installed in honour of the Thornhill Historical Society’s 50th anniversary in 2024, mark the homes (one in Vaughan, four in Markham) once occupied by the five members of the Group of Seven who called Thornhill home. 

Both projects were the result of vision, dedication, and collaboration—led by the Thornhill Historical Society and supported by the City of Vaughan, City of Markham, TRCA’s Sustainable Neighbourhood Action Program (SNAP), Moments of Algoma, and our generous donor and benefactor, Lorna Rogers. Her contribution has brought this project to life, celebrating the power of community, the importance of art, and the value of preserving local history.

Thornhill Historical Society Presents our Annual Bus Trip

Join us for a day trip to Grey County.

Tour guide: Dave Rawcliffe

Saturday, June 21st 8am-6pm

Join us for a day trip to the scenic countryside of Dufferin & Grey Counties, where we will visit a historical & cultural site.

Lunch break in Owen Sound.

Scenic drive back through Simcoe & Dufferin Counties.

$85 per person or $75 per person for 2 or more tickets.

Price includes travel by highway coach & entrance fees.  Lunch not included. Payment must be made at time of reservation.  Reserve before June 7th.

Reserve your seat here!

Contact us at president@thornhillhistoric.org

Saturday, May 3rd, 10 am to 3 pm

Exploring the life and impact of a 19th century village doctor led by Dave Rawcliffe

Morning tour: 10:30 am to noon

Afternoon tour: 1 pm to 2:30 pm

The walk start and finish at the Robert West House at 7780 Yonge Street (entrance at Old Yonge Street next to the Thornhill Pub)

This Jane's Walk will take participants through the historic village of Thornhill, exploring the life and impact of a 19th Century Village Doctor.

As a special feature, attendees will receive free admision inside the Robert West Heritage House.

Saturday, May 4th, 10 am to 3 pm

Jane's Walk: Robert West arrives 1843 led by Dave Rawcliffe

What was Thornhill like in 1843 when Robert West arrived?

Morning tour: 10:30 am to noon

Afternoon tour: 1 pm to 2:30 pm

The walk start and finish at the Robert West House at 7780 Yonge Street (entrance at Old Yonge Street next to the Thornhill Pub)

Organized by the Markham Cycling and Pedestrian Advisory Committee.

Drop by the Robert West House at 7780 Yonge Street and visit Thornhill's West Side Stories Exhibition with artifacts from 1843.  Presented by the Thornhill Heritage Foundation.

Join the Thornhill Historical Society at their Meet & Greet event at the Armstrong House, 42 Old Yonge Street and see exhibits on the Thornhill Archives, advocacy work and education. 

Sunday, June 12th from 11am-4pm

Did you know five members of the Group of Seven live in Thornhill?

Join us for a guided walking tour on June 12, 2022 and learn where they lived. 

Thursday, May 16th at 7pm

The History of Ladies’ Golf Club of Toronto

by Joan Elliott

I will be speaking about the history of Ladies’ Golf Club of Toronto, a Club founded by women, for women, to play a lifelong game, at their own private club.

It was founded by Ada Mackenzie.   Ada was a determined young woman from Havergal College, who was frustrated by her inability to be able to practice golf, especially on the weekends, when mostly only men were allowed to play.   She was a talented athlete and talked some of her wealthy friends (or the wives of wealthy husbands) into buying a property in Thornhill.

From November 1924 when the property was transferred to Ladies’ Golf and Tennis Club of Toronto, to 2024, the one hundredth anniversary of its purchase, Ladies’ has undergone, and is still undergoing, many changes.   Most recently, a major renovation to the over one hundred year old Clubhouse is underway.

Saturday, June 22nd from 8am to 6pm

The Thornhill Historical Society invites you to join us for a day trip to Prince Edward County.

Hop on the bus and join your fellow heritage enthusiasts as we leave to explore Prince Edward County.  Our visit will include a countryside drive, a County museum visit, a stop at a winery or cider farm.  The lunch stop will be in the charming small town of Picton, where you can also explore the local stores.

Tour direction & bus guide, David Rawcliffe.

This tour is made possible by the Thornhill Historical Society with a generous sponsorship form the Thornhill Heritage Foundation.

Join the Thornhill SNAP and the Thornhill Historical Society for a community event at the JEH MacDonald House on Sunday, May 28, 2023, from 10 AM – 2:30 PM. 

The MacDonald House was home to J.E.H MacDonald, one of the core members of the Canadian group of landscape artists known as the Group of Seven. It was here that MacDonald created his famous "The Tangled Garden" painting, which now resides in Ottawa’s National Gallery. 

This community event will consist of tree and shrub planting, guided walking tours, and an art exhibit/installation. Participants are welcome and encouraged to participate in any or all activities taking place. Water and light refreshments for those partaking in planting will be provided. Activities and their start/end times are as follows:

Community Planting (10 AM – 12 PM)

Help the Thornhill SNAP plant a total of 150 trees and shrubs to increase biodiversity and enhance the local urban canopy cover. 

Historical Walking Tour (11 AM -12:30 PM)

Explore Thornhill’s history through a guided walking tour hosted by the Thornhill Historical Society. 

Group of 7 Walking Tour (12:30 PM – 2 PM)

Learn about where members of the Group of Seven lived through a guided walking tour hosted by the Thornhill Historical Society. 

Artist Exhibit (10 AM – 2:30 PM)

Visit an art exhibit hosted by local artists. 

An Introduction to the History of the Royal Botanical Gardens

Thursday, April 13 at 7pm

Royal Botanical Gardens is both Canada’s largest botanical garden and a group of important natural areas totalling over 1,000 ha. Its origins are a complex and fascinating story with roots in plans to beautify Hamilton during the First World War. Thomas Baker McQuesten, a Hamilton politician and lawyer, developed the concept for a botanical garden of national significance in Hamilton after visiting RBG Kew and RBG Edinburgh in 1924. With others on the city’s Board of Park Management he worked to promote the idea, acquiring the first land in 1927. By 1934 Hamilton had more land in parks than any other city in Canada; much of it would later become RBG. Following completion of the first gardens in 1932 and incorporation in 1941, new gardens were built, new programs added, and additional natural areas protected. As a not-for-profit organization RBG promotes education, culture, science, and the protection and appreciation of plants and nature. We will stroll through the last century as we look at RBG’s antecedents in Canada, the formation of RBG itself, and the trends and personalities that brought the gardens into bloom.