May 8, 2020 marks the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day, the unconditional surrender of Germany to the Allied Forces in 1945 ending World War II in Europe. VE Day marked a major milestone for the Allies but did not end the war. On this day 75 years ago, an exhausted war nation expressed elation and relief at the news and celebrated with joyful street parties. On the other hand, WWII in Asia did not end until September 2, 1945.
The Netherlands was liberated a few days before Europe, on May 5, 1945. Watch this Heritage Minutes video that commemorates the 75th anniversary of this event. Do you know why we have tulips in Ottawa? Tulip bulbs are gifts from the Netherlands for Canada's role in both liberating the Netherlands and hosting members of the Dutch royal family during the Second World War. After the war, the Netherlands began presenting Canada with tulip bulbs in gratitude, a tradition that continues to this day. Tulips are planted in Ottawa and blooms every May. This year's Tulip Festival will be celebrated online instead from May 8 to 18.
Indigenous Relations at Parks Canada: Métis Identity and Voice in Canada's National Parks and Historic Sites. Five videos, each video in this series is connected to a Parks Canada place and gives a voice to today's Métis communities to share their own stories of Metis history and culture.
Canoe Museum: View examples from the Canoe Museum collection
A mural representing the First Meeting at Holland River. Learn all about it here.
Discover Historic Main Street Newmarket
2019 Sacred Canoe on the journey of Truth and Reconciliation, courtesy of Newmarket Today.
The Honourable Lincoln Alexander (1922-2012): Leading figure in the fight for racial equity in Canada, he was active in provincial, federal, public and private roles and consistently advocated for the equal treatment of black Canadians.
Uncle Tom's Cabin Historic Site: This museum is located near the town of Dresden which stands on the site of the Black settlement that Rev. Josiah Henson helped found in 1841. Henson was born into slavery in the U.S. and eventually escaped through the Underground Railroad to freedom in Upper Canada.
The Birth of Medicare in Canada by Myseum.
Women of the Ward Digital Walking Tour: explores Toronto's "first immigrant neighbourhoods", breathing life into lesser-known chapters in our past.
A Brief History of Newmarket
Heritage Minutes: Kensington Market
The Story of Viola Desmond: in 1946, Viola Desmond was thrust into the public spotlight after refusing to leave the "whites-only" section of a movie theatre in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia. This is the story of how a single act of defiance would change the course of her life and inspire a movement for racial equality across the country. https://youtu.be/szSqfmbXx0Y
Historic Places and sites in Newmarket
Flashback of local heritage: Winterfest 2020 presented by Scotiabank. With the heatwave we are having, it's hard to imagine we had snow just a few weeks ago. Relive these memories from a few months ago when we had our last large-size gathering.
16 Amazing Things Invented by Canadians: from recent history to the past, here are some Canadian inventions to be proud of.
Newmarket Pandemic Time Capsule: make your contribution towards this community-based initiative, part of our COVID-19 Lockdown collective memory.
Riches to Rags to Riches: the story of the Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre. The complex was the Canadian flagship of Marcus Loew's legendary theatre chain on Yonge Street.
Why do we celebrate Victoria Day?
Online Tulip Festival in Ottawa, 2020: every year Canada receives 1 million tulip bulbs from the Netherlands for our role in liberating them from the Nazi invasion in WWII.
The Legacy Series: this original documentary film series – created by Canadian film students and the Canada Aviation and Space Museum – showcases powerful, personal accounts of the Second World War through the lens of aviation. Explore all six episodes.
Canada's War in the Far East: Aside of Canada's contribution to ending WWII in Europe, Canadians also fought in the Far East against the Japanese during WWII.
War of 1812: One War, Four Perspectives: experience the War of 1812 on-line from the perspective of each of its major participants—Americans, the British, Canadians (including Canadian First Peoples), and Native Americans.
*Lucy Maud Montgomery: Canadian Author Lucy Maud Montgomery battled depression, rejection, and sexism to become known around the world for Anne of Green Gables and 19 other novels. This Heritage Minute tells her story in her own words, as drawn from her journals.
CBC: The Secret Life of Canada - The Secret Life of Canada highlights the people, places and stories that probably didn't make it into your high school textbook. Join hosts Leah and Falen as they explore the unauthorized history of a complicated country. Also available on Podcast.
Newmarket History; Trading Tree – learn about a focal point of our community in the past.
Newmarket History: A page from our past, literally, about historical Main Street.
12 Amazing Canadian Women you should know from our past and present.
Rick Mercer at the Canadian Museum of History: Rick delves into the collection at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, QC.
The Reindeer People | Spending years in the field, photographer Erika Larsen has gained unprecedented access to the lives, work, and culture of Scandinavia's fascinating Sami people.
Syrup: A family of Attikamek First Nations shows a French Canadian family how to harvest the syrup of the sugar maple (1710) courtesy of Heritage Minutes.
Never stepped foot in the Ontario Legislative Building? Take a virtual tour here.
Visit the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa via photos and videos.
6 Writers of Black Heritage to Watch in 2020.
Virtual Museum Canada: The largest digital source of stories and experiences shared by Canada's Museums and Heritage organizations. Check out these stories about Newmarket, Ontario.
Newmarket Historical Society
Newmarket has a long tradition of Celebrating Canada Day (formerly Dominion Day). The Old Town Hall officially opened on July 1, 1883.
Yours to Discover! Colouring and Activity Book - learn about some of Canada's incredible technological innovations and its social impact through this online colouring and activity book. Try to decode the hidden messages! Creator: Canada Science and Technology Museum
