October is for finding history in the Eastern Townships
Townships history groups gather for the 3rd annual Heritage Fair
Submitted by Quebec Anglophone Heritage Network
What better way is there to discover the Eastern Townships than to drop by the Quebec Anglophone Heritage Network’s 2019 Heritage Fair at the Colby Curtis Museum?
Information about historic collections, exhibitions, genealogy and stories will be on display as museums and historical societies from across the region gather in Stanstead, Quebec.
The event, sponsored by Quebec Anglophone Heritage Network (QAHN), takes place on Sunday, October 6, from 10 to 4 p.m. at the Colby-curtis Museum, 535, rue Dufferin in Stanstead.
The theme is “Diversity and Achievement” to reflect QAHN’S new travelling exhibit “Diversity and Achievement in Anglophone Quebec” says fair co-organizer Heather Darch.
Darch and her fair co-organizer Rod Macleod and colleagues from across the Townships will join members of a dozen or so history and cultural societies to meet anyone with an interest in Townships heritage. “The Fair is a creative way to discover the rich diversity of the communities across the region and learn about the achievements and contributions people and organizations have made to the Townships and to Quebec’s history.”
A morning presentation by Metis elder (Anishnabe and Huron-wendat) Paul-conrad Carignan emphasises the theme of diversity and achievement as he talks about the historic suppression of indigenous sacred ceremonies and the cultural and spiritual revival in indigenous communities today.
The Colby-curtis Museum will host the Fair and the “Diversity and Achievement” exhibit throughout the historic building and its lovely gardens and will also provide guided tours and a workshop on looking at historic photographs. Feel free to bring along some of your own family images. Toe-tapping music for the day will be provided by “The Douglastown Project” headed by renowned fiddler Glenn Patterson. Traditional woodworking demonstrations will be given by John Rhicard and family on the grounds of the museum.
Look for tables from the Townshippers’ Association featuring its “Expressions” table of wonderful books written by Townships’ authors; Brome County Historical Society Museum; Bury Historical Society; Colby Curtis Museum; Copp’s Ferry Museum; Cowansville Historical Society; Eastern Townships Resource Centre; Georgeville Historical Society; Lennoxville and Ascot Historical and Museum Society; Missisquoi County Museum; Richmond County Historical Society Museum; the Sir John Johnson United Empire Loyalists Association of Canada, and of course QAHN.
Admission is free and everyone is welcome. For more information, please contact QAHN at 819-564-9595/Toll free 1-877-964-0409 and at home@qahn.org and www.qahn.org