The Georgina Historical Society, as a not-for-profit organization, collects, preserves, promotes and interprets the rich history and heritage of all communities now known as the Town of Georgina.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I donate to the Archive or Artifact Collection?

The collection is shared by the Georgina Historical Society and the Town of Georgina. The collection is housed at the Georgina Pioneer Village and off-site for storage. If you have an item or items you would like to donate, please contact the curator at the Georgina Pioneer Village & Archives. The Georgina Historical Society cannot accept donations on behalf of the Georgina Pioneer Village and Archives, according to our Collections Management Policy. Please call the curator at (905) 476-4305 ext. 2284 or e-mail curator@georgina.ca

What type of information is included in the archives?

Family histories, early municipal meeting minutes, early newspapers and clippings, journals, diaries, photographs, legal documents, early maps, etc.

Where is the archive collection located?

The collection is located in the office of the Georgina Pioneer Village on Civic Centre Rd. in Georgina. The office is open weekdays from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. The Archives are available BY APPOINTMENT ONLY.

How can I access the archives?

Contact the Georgina Pioneer Village museum curator at (905) 476-4301 and ask for Melissa Matt. Although some of the archive collection can be accessed, much of it is protected against damage to preserve its integrity.

What does my membership include?

As a member of the GHS you will be able to vote at the Annual General Meeting on issues relevant to the success of the organization and attend regular general meetings where speakers and discussions of historical interest are presented. Members will also receive an e-mail copy of the Georgina Historical Society newsletter and are invited free of charge to attend regular general meetings for a discussion of local historical interest. Members who wish to provide volunteer support at the Georgina Pioneer Village and Georgina Historical Society events are most welcome.

How much does membership cost?

The annual membership fee to belong to the Georgina Historical Society is only $20.00.

How can I become a member of the GHS?

Please download our membership application here: Membership Form.  Upon completion, please mail it with the required membership dues to: The Georgina Historical Society at 26557 Civic Centre Rd., Keswick, Ontario L4P 3G1

What kinds of activities and events are available to members of the GHS?

The Georgina Historical Society hosts and participates in a wide variety of activities and events. Bake Sales, garage sales, the Sutton Fair, our regular meetings, and our Annual General Meeting and dinner are among our regular annual activities. As partners in the Georgina Pioneer village, we participate actively in many of the activities and events there. Every September we host Harvestfest, a fall festival at the Georgina Pioneer Village celebrating the arrival of autumn with displays of vintage farm equipment, old cars, plenty of food, children’s crafts, music, apple cider and historical demonstrations. On July 1 st our volunteers for Canada Day at the Pioneer Village celebrate in true 19th-century style. Kicking off the holiday season we step back in time at the Old Fashioned Christmas in November when the Village comes alive with the sights, sounds and smells of an early settler Christmas.

We have occasionally met at historic sites within Georgina and are willing to arrange excursions for our membership to events and places outside Georgina significant to our heritage and history.  Through our various committees, members participate in our advocacy for local history. One of our current projects
is the restoration of the caboose in the Pioneer Village. Help will be needed in fund raising for this work and in refurbishing its interior for displays.

News

On May 16th Allan Morton Will Be Our Guest Speaker

 Gavin Morton will be the subject of this talk about the origins of the Georgina Pioneer Village. Gavin Morton worked with Nena Marsden and others in the early 1970’s to bring some historic structures – destined for demolition – to the Civic Centre in order to...

Volunteers Wanted!!!

Volunteers are needed to come out to the Georgina Pioneer Village as a work crew, probably Tuesday mornings, to rehab the gardens and refinish the Quilters Cabin for use as the GHS office. Give any one of the board members a call if you are interested in getting...

Cemetary Solutions?

Our President, Paul Brady, has reached out to other historical societies to learn how they have dealt with the issue of neglected early cemeteries in their municipalities, an issue we have raised in the past.  We have received a response from Janine Harris-Wheatley,...

Newsletters

Newsletter #5, Volume 6, May 2023

President’s Message They say that April showers bring May flowers, but the showers won’t go away. Oh well, we’ll be complaining soon that it’s too hot and sunny, so let’s make the best of this wet stuff and get on with our lives. As the gardens are starting to wake...

Newsletter #4, Volume 6, April 2023 

President's WelcomeApril is flying by, the ice is slowly going away on Lake Simcoe, and we’ll soon be complaining that it’s too hot! It’s been a strange winter for the ice on the lake, with the ice coming in late after an exceptionally warm fall, then hanging on...

Newsletter #3, Volume 6, March 2023 

President's WelcomeAnother month is past and we’re well into March. The sun has a little more warmth every day, and it won’t be long before we’re complaining that it it’s too hot! With the warm weather comes the flowers and shrubs, and the Georgina Historical Society...

Harvestfest 2023!

Join us for Harvestfest at the Georgina Pioneer Village on Saturday, September 16!
Admission is by donation (cash only)