It was a cold day on Saturday, January 19th, but at least it was not snowing, and it certainly did not deter a good turnout from attending the Annual General Meeting of the Goulbourn Township Historical Society (GTHS). The meeting was preceded by a delicious dinner prepared by the ladies and gentlemen of St. Andrews Presbyterian Church on Stittsville Main Street where the meeting took place.
There were displays of Archival material as well as a pictorial record of the Historical Society’s participation in Richmond’s 200th anniversary celebrations held last year. Hardbound copies of cemetery records, newly acquired by the GTHS, from various local churches were on display. Photos of the Historical Society’s costumed interpreters were much admired.
The Annual General Meeting of the Society is important, not only because elections for new Board members take place, but also because it is a chance to recount the activities that the Society has undertaken in the past year. The meeting also allows attendees to bring forth new ideas to suggest in what direction the Society will progress in the coming years regarding our local history.
A special guest this year was Councillor Glen Gower, who is the new Chair of the City of Ottawa’s Built Heritage Sub-Committee. Glen talked about the importance of built heritage in Goulbourn and in the rest of the city. He suggested that the Goulbourn Historical Society might be able to provide valuable information to the city’s registry of buildings of historical interest that Ottawa is currently undertaking.
During the meeting, President Bob Halberstadt thanked Lesley McKay who has edited the Society’s newsletter for the last 6 years as well as being on the Board of Directors for 3 years, but who is stepping down to take on other responsibilities locally. He also introduced the new editor Cathrine Wanczycki.
Elections took place for the new Board of Directors with two present members, Bob Halberstadt and Lee Boltwood, running for re-election and three new people nominated for positions on the Board. They are Roger Young, who grew up in Hazeldean, and whose father had Young’s Groceteria on Hazeldean Road where today you will find Henry’s Camera store plaza; John Bottriell who created the Society’s web page in 2011, still maintaining it, and also manages the digital Photo Archives; and Patricia Barlosky who processes the Society’s Archives and responds to family history research questions. All were elected to the new 2019 Board.
(2019 Board of Directors for the Goulbourn Township Historical Society are back row l-r: Judith Richardson, Roger Young, Bob Halberstadt, Sue Clark-Dow and front l-r: Lee Boltwood, John Bottriell, Patricia Barlosky. Missing from the photo is Vice-President, Shaun Peppy.)
Joining them will be Judith Richardson, a 22-year resident of Stittsville and local library volunteer, appointed to a one year position. Shaun Peppy and Susan Clark-Dow still have one or two years remaining in their terms on the Board and so they will complete the 8 positions. The post of Past-President will remain vacant this year as Barbara Bottriell has stepped aside from that position. A presentation was made to her with thanks for her 20 years on the Board of Directors, including 6 years as President. Barry McGinnis, who was the Society’s Treasurer and is moving out of the area, was also thanked for his contributions.
President Bob Halberstadt invited everyone to come to the Society’s family-friendly Heritage Day celebrations on Saturday, February 16th, from 1:30 to 4 p.m. at the Stittsville Library. It will be an open house featuring old time cook books and cooking elements with old time food to taste. The general public is invited and he encouraged anyone who has some older kitchen equipment to bring it along – as well as recipes to exchange. As usual, there will be some nice goodies to taste.