10,000 Years of Toronto History
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Several of these events were sponsored, in part, by The Scarboro Heights Record Dedicated To Promoting Please send stories of life in the community,
Newsflash! The James McCowan Memorial Social History Initiative
Discuss the impact of the agricultural revolution in Lowland Scotland on the development of rural Scottish communities in pre-Confederation Canada. Learning Objectives -- Building A Country
Now Available from The McCowan Initiative... "The Lowland Clearances": The Book, by Peter Aitchison and Andrew Cassell -- more of the data that was gathered for the acclaimed three-part BBC Radio Scotland Series -- Including interviews with descendants of Scarborough's Scottish families (Tuckwell Press) $29.00. Order a copy... This publication is a followup to the BBC-Radio Scotland series this past spring. The McCowan Initiative was pleased to help with this exciting investigation into a little-known socio-economic disruption in Scotland.
World History Context An Introductory Student Workshop will be held at Cedarbrae Library, Cruikshank Room 545 Markham Road on Monday March 1 2004, 1:30-3:00. 416-447-4895 (Bruce McCowan) Everyone is invited to this Workshop
The James McCowan 10,000 Years of Toronto History 545 Markham Road Scarborough 416-396-8850 Featuring The McCowan Collection Including the earliest known evidence
of An Upper Canada medical history treasure -- A student workshop will be held at 416-447-4895 (Bruce McCowan)
Note: See also below, in connection with our earlier exhibition at Toronto Reference Library. The Scarboro Heights Record V11 #10 Scarboro Heights What: The Pioneers' Kingston Road Historic Walk. Following the old route blazed by the Annis brothers over 200 years ago and finishing up at Washington United Church, 3739 Kingston Rd. for a Corn Roast / BBQ (modest extra cost). The historic walk is the fourth led by Bruce and Bea McCowan. We'll pass close by the earliest known site of human occupation in Toronto -- 10,000 years ago! When: Sept. 20 2003, 2:00 pm (Rain date is the following day, 2 pm) Where: For starting location and other details, call 416-447-4895 or send an email to the above address. Why: Fundraiser for Scarborough's oldest public art -- to help restore damaged gravestones at Washington United Church. 2003 is the 200th Anniversary of Washington United Church. This walk is a joint project of the Scarboro Heights Record and the Bi-Centennial Committee.
The James McCowan Toronto -- A Place of
Meeting May 17 - August 2, 2003 Toronto Reference Library, TD Canada Trust Gallery
The Robert Ashbridge McCowan and William Harold McCowan Collections of aboriginal artifacts include the earliest known evidence of human occupation in Toronto, approximately 8,000 BC. The sub-title of the exhibition, 10,000 years of Toronto History, was so chosen because of two of these relics found by Ashley and Harold McCowan. For many years, a partial skull was also in the attic of the Harold McCowan home -- and the associated family story relates to the "wigwam that must have been down by the bush". James McCowans letter of August 20 1834 was written from Springbank, Scarborough, 8 days before his death of cholera. This letter is an Upper Canada medical history treasure, not just for its references to the cholera deaths in the neighbourhood but, in particular, for McCowans first-person description of the early symptoms of cholera. Springbank was on Lot 20 Concession B less than 1/2 mile east of the location of the aboriginal artifact finds. Notes regarding this medical history treasure. You can also take the Virtual Tour at The Scarboro Heights Record V11 #6 Note: Please refer also to our Pre-History page. If you missed this talk, "10,000 Years of Toronto History", at North York Central Library, we will be holding it again, as part of... Scarborough's May 31 2003, 1:30 PM
Cost: Free. McCowan local history publications will be available for sale. 35% of sales will be donated to the Scarborough Arts Council. Need More Info? -- Call 416-447-4895 or send an email to the above addressThe Scarboro Heights Record V11 #5 Toronto: One Family's Story Where: North York Central Library, 5120 Yonge St., Toronto,
Meeting Room 1 McCowan local history publications will be available for sale Bruce McCowan of the James McCowan Memorial Social History Initiative will speak about the archival and artifact collections of the McCowan family of Scarborough. From the oldest known evidence of human occupation in Toronto -- 10,000 year-old aboriginal spear points -- to oral histories gathered very recently for the latest McCowan Initiative publication, Bruce will survey a broad range of leases, wills, personal letters, bankruptcy papers, coins, furniture and architectural and agricultural relics, all weaving the story of an ordinary Scottish Canadian farm family into the wider context of their community. This Heritage Month event , also billed by the Toronto Public Library as "Toronto: One Family's Story", is in connection with the "10,000 Years of Toronto History" exhibition at the North York Central Library, Canadiana Department, where several McCowan artifacts are on display from October 2002 until April 2003.Bruce McCowan is Senior Technical Writer, Genesis Microchip, in Markham, managing editor of www.scarboroughrecord.com and author of numerous papers, booklets and books on socio-economic history. His latest book, Neigh the Front -- Exploring Scarboro Heights, has been nominated by a third party for a Heritage Toronto award. Bruce may be reached at the email address at the top of this page . Contact: B. McCowan, 416-447-4895 www.scarboroughrecord.com www.mccowan.org Late breaking news... "Toronto: One Family's Story" will soon be followed by the BBC Radio Scotland program "The Lowland Clearances: One Family's Story". The experiences of the McCowan family of Cumnock, Lesmahagow and Scarborough will be the key material in one segment of the series. If you would like to assist with Canadian promotion of this important series on a little- understood phenomena in Scottish History, please contact Bruce McCowan, 416-447-4895. The programs will be broadcast in late May and early June -- days and time to be confirmed. If your organization wishes to partner with the McCowan Initiative on related heritage projects (see www.beamccowan.com/place.htm) and meet briefly with the BBC-Scotland Producer on location in Scarborough, please contact Bruce McCowan, 416-447-4895, immediately. Currently On Display at the North York Central Library Canadiana Department are: Related McCowan Publication: "Neigh The Front -- Exploring Scarboro Heights" is an educational resource which uses local history as a catalyst. Reviews are at www.beamccowan.com/reviews.htm. (142 pages, 20 photos, 3 maps). Proceeds go to the Janet McCowan Fincham Memorial Scarborough Community Studies Program. How to Order "Neigh the Front": Send $17.00 cheque to the James McCowan Memorial Social History Initiative, c/o 19 Monarchwood Crescent, Don Mills, Ont., M3A 1H3, 416-447-4895 (Includes postage). An order form is on http://www.beamccowan.com/publicat.htm.
The James McCowan Toronto -- A Place of
Meeting Toronto Reference Library, Canada Trust Gallery
The Robert Ashbridge McCowan and William Harold McCowan Collections of aboriginal artifacts include the earliest known evidence of human occupation in Toronto, approximately 8,000 BC. The sub-title of the exhibition, 10,000 years of Toronto History, was so chosen because of two of these relics found by Ashley and Harold McCowan. For many years, a partial skull was also in the attic of the Harold McCowan home and the associated family story relates to the "wigwam that must have been down by the bush". James McCowans letter of August 20 1834 was written from Springbank, Scarborough, 8 days before his death of cholera. This letter is an Upper Canada medical history treasure, not just for its references to the cholera deaths in the neighbourhood but, in particular, for McCowans first-person description of the early symptoms of cholera. Springbank was on Lot 20 Concession B less than 1/2 mile east of the location of the aboriginal artifact finds. Notes Relating to the Letter of 1834
Further information is in Neigh the Front Neigh the Front -- Exploring Scarboro Heights. Please refer also to our detailed James McCowan Bibliography. The Scarboro Heights Record V10 #7 Visitors Since October 8 2006
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