Gilles Chartrand and his C-R Museum featured in Parenting Times
C-R Museum celebrates its first anniversary
The Inuit exhibit initiates the C-R Museum tribute
to First nations
History: Who was Dr. Arthur Desrosiers?
Gilles Chartrand: Heritage is in his blood
Gilles Chartrand: Honouring the pioneers of Clarence-Rockland
"Today In History" - Cairine Wilson, Canada's first
female senator, lived in Rockland
Our treasures are found in our museum and other places
Website offers Canadian History and Heritage
Gilles Chartrand: Gives a talk on Pioneer Families
of Clarence-Rockland at the Vanier Museopark
Some early history and the founding
of Rockland
Well-known and historical figures
from Clarence-Rockland |
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| Gilles Chartrand and his C-R Museum featured in Parenting
Times |
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(Rockland, Sunday, December 29, 2013) If you pick up the current copy of Parenting TImes, winter 2012/2014 issue, you will find
a neat feature on our local Clarence-Rockland
Museum, on pages 86 and 87. I found a copy in one of our local grocery stores. Look for
it in the lobby of Food Basics, and Your Independent Grocers.
(Click on pic to enlarge.)
You can also read the story online. Click here.
(Note: The online version takes some time to download.)
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| C-R Museum celebrates its first anniversary |
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 (Rockland, Sunday, April 29, 2012)
A very proud Gilles Chartrand, Clarence-Rockland Museum curator, welcomed many guests during the one year anniversary
celebration of the museum's opening. When asked what the highlight of the day was for him, he replied "Seeing
all of the people who came to visit."
La Nouvelle newspaper recently reported that in anticipation of its first anniversary, the Clarence-Rockland Museum
is proud of what it has become in so short a time.
It is Gilles Chartrand's passion. He gives more than 40 hours each week to the institution, making it possible
to show exhibits on topics as varied as local history, memorabelia, broomball, hockey and more recently on First
Nations (see below).
(We will offer more photos of the event, shortly. -Ed.)
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| "The Inuit"
exhibit initiates the C-R Museum tribute to First nations |
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Thanks to the many years that Lynne Rollin and Nadine Lamoureux spent in the Arviat area of Nunavut,
and because of the many photographs and artifacts that they collected, "The Inuit" exhibit at the Clarence-Rockland
museum filled the room to overflowing, not only from the many items on display, but also by the large turnout of
people who attended the opening night.
Museum curator Gille Chartrand opens "The Inuti" exhibit by introducing guests
Lynne Rollin and Nadine Lamoureux. (Photos - Patrick Meikle)
Nadine Lamoureux, Gilles Chartrand and Lynne Rollin with just a very few of the many photos, books and artifacts
that make up "The Inuit" exhibit. It will be on display at the museum, 687 Laurier Street in Rockland
for approximately one month. (More to follow.)
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| History: Who was Dr. Arthur Desrosiers? |
Here's a little gem that we discovered on the Internet, thanks to the Google "Alert" option:
From
True Knowledge - Arthur Desrosiers was born in Clarence-Rockland, Ontario on March 10th
1884. He worked as a mayor. He died in July 1951 at the age of 67 years and 4 months old.
From Wikipedia - Arthur Desrosiers (March 10, 1884-July 7, 1951) was a doctor and mayor of Eastview, Ontario, later
known as Vanier. He also represented Russell in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as a Liberal from 1934-1937
(See reference).
He was born in Clarence Creek in 1884, the son of Dr. Alexis Napoleon Desrosiers and Ernestine Dionne who was the
daughter of Amable Dionne. He attended Collège Bourget in Rigaud, Quebec and then studied medicine at the
Université Laval. He was mayor of Eastview in 1918-1919, 1922 and 1924 to 1927. During his time as mayor,
he favoured annexation of Eastview by the nearby city of Ottawa. At the time of his death, Dr. DesRosiers was survived
by his two daughters, Pauline and Lucette Dr. Desrosiers drowned in 1951 while boating in the Rideau River.
If anyone has any more information to add to this story, please contact me:
(Click here to see more
people from Clarence-Rockland.) |
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Gilles Chartrand - Le Droit Personality
of the Week:
Heritage is in his blood |
Rockland Museum curator, Gilles Chartrand has two passions: broomball, and heritage. His 15 year
involvement with the sport plus his passion for past events in Eastern Ontario are highlighted in Le Droit newspaper in a section called Personality of
the Week.
 About three weeks ago Gilles opened a Chinese fortune cookie to find not one, but three fortunes,
all the same; "You will be honoured." But the predictions were wrong. Rockland's unofficial archivist
will be honoured three times in the coming weeks.
"It's getting a little embarrassing," he says humbly.
On February 25, when he turns 67, Gilles will be awarded the Ontario Lieutenant Governor's prize in Toronto, for
his achievements in heritage conservation. And then on March 26, he will be admitted to the Ordre de la Francophonie
at the Prescott and Russell Francophonie Banquet, again for his contributions as an amateur Franco-Ontarian historian.
He is well known in the Rockland area, even in eastern Ontario, for his love of things heritage. Born into a family
of 10 children and raised on a farm in Clarence Creek, the founder of the Clarence-Rockland Museum accumulates
newspaper clippings - and other items from bygone days - and the 40 years' worth now stuff over 830 filing boxes.
"I easily have one million magazine articles. I often tell people that the more knowledgeable I become, the
less I know," he says with the utmost seriousness. "I realize there are plenty of things I don't know,
and a day that you have not learned something, is a day wasted."
(This feature comes courtesy of Jean-François
Dugas, Le
Droit, and you can read
more. It is written in the French language. However you CAN get a rough translation using
the Google "Translate" feature - Editor.) |
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Gilles Chartrand:
Honouring the pioneers of Clarence-Rockland |
Edwards, Gendron, Guindon, Lalonde, Lavigne, Renault, Desrocher, Potvin, Lavoie, Duquette, Pagé,
Rochon, Fox, Shirreff, Tucker: Many pioneer families have settled in villages that now form the greater City of
Clarence-Rockland and a man passionate about local history is leading the charge to honor these ancestors. Gilles
Chartrand is a veritable encyclopedia.
(This feature comes courtesy of
Jean-François Dugas, Le Droit, and is written in the French language. However you CAN get a rough translation using the Google "Translate"
feature - Editor.) |
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Carine Wilson:
Canada's first female senator lived for a time in Rockland |
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By Patrick Meikle
Canaan Connexion |
(Rockland - Friday, February 4, 2011) It was serendipity. I don't always check the "Today In History" link on our 'News" page,
but today I did, and I came across this item:
1885
And in Today's Canadian Birthdays...
Cairine Ray Wilson 1885-1962
Canada's first woman senator, was born on this day in 1885 at Montreal Quebec, the daughter of Senator Robert Mackay
and Jane Baptist; dies in Ottawa March 3, 1962. Wilson was appointed in 1930 by Mackenzie King. She was President
of the National Federation of Liberal Women 1938-48, the League of Nations Society 1938-42, and was Canada's first
delegate to the United Nations in 1949. |
I have been living in the area for over 18 years, and I learned some years ago that Cairine Wilson
evidently lived in what is now known as Cumberland
Village, in the old stone house on the main drag, Old Montreal Road. (Research showed
that this was incorrect.)
 Thinking this "date'
has a local connection and would make a good story for the front page, I did a little Internet research to find
a few details. The first thing I found was a reference to her biography, a book written by a colleague, Valerie Knowles.
I then found a reference to Cairine on Wikipedia.
The Wikipedia reference in part says: "In 1909, she married Norman Wilson, the Liberal Member
of Parliament for Russell and they moved to Cumberland, Ontario to begin a family." However in talking to
Valerie, she told me that Cairine never lived in Cumberland, but actually lived in Rockland, where her husband
Norman managed the W.C. (William Cameron ) Edwards and Company sawmill.
It was Cairine's husband Norman Frank Wilson, who had lived in Cumberland, where he was born on the family
farm. I confirmed this information with Norman and Cairine's son and daughter-in-law, Angus and AliceWilson who
are still living in Cumberland Village. (Angus was featured in a story that Fred Sherwin wrote in Orleans Online
back in 2006, when Angus returned to Italy, where he had served during the war, with Royal Westminster Regiment.
Click here.)
I also confirmed the information on the Heroines.ca website: "In 1909 Cairine married Liberal
MP Norman Wilson and settled in Rockland, Ontario and eventually Ottawa."
Yet another reference, from section15.ca - Rebels without a Clause, (this site "draws
inspiration from section 15 of Canada’s charter of rights and freedoms") I found:
"He and Cairine were married in February 1909. They set up house in Rockland, a small town
outside Ottawa. She spent the next ten years as chatelaine of a large home. When Cairine decided her future lay
beyond the confines of domesticity, Norman acquiesced. For this positive attitude he deserves recognition, for
it was almost unheard-of in their circle at that time. Her pursuits, though, began with volunteer work, not in
a paid career."
Ottawa writer Valerie Knowles wrote Cairine Wilson's biography and included in it several facinating
passages outlining some of Rockland's early history(Ps.49-52). If you can't find the book at your local library
you can order the book through Valerie, and read an excerpt by clicking on the book cover.
Other references:
Norman Frank Wilson.
If anyone has any more information to add to this story, please contact me:
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Our treasures are found in our museum and other places
Can you help? |
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By Patrick Meikle
Canaan Connexion |
The City of Clarence-Rockland opened its museum in 2010(?).
They put out the following notice then:
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Looking for articles for the new
Heritage, Archives and Sports Museum
687 Laurier Street Rockland
The City of Clarence-Rockland is looking for used sports articles to display at the Sports Museum:
Baseball ball, soft ball, tennis, soccer ball, basketball, volleyball, football and others, plus baseball bat,
hockey stick etc.
- We would also accept articles for Lacrosse, fishing, skiing, snowshoes, etc.
- Books on rules and regulations for tournaments and championship of various sports are also welcome.
- Trophies and plaques would also be accepted: even clothing of various sports.
- Also check with Gilles Chartrand if you have any other articles that might a a place in the
museum
The public is invited to give or lend these articles to the Sports Museum.
Information:
C/OMr. Gilles Chartrand
687 Laurier, Street
Rockland, ON K4K
613-446-7319 or 613-446-5086
tigilles206@hotmail.com
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Website offers Canadian history and heritage
Canadiana Discovery Portal |
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 The collections of dozens
of Canadian libraries, museums and archives are now accessible online. The Canadiana Discovery Portal brings together all sorts of
material of interest to any student of Canadian history and culture.
You can Search online collections:
* Early Canadiana Online
* Canadiana Discovery Portal
Read their News:
* Register your email to receive information about new collections and features
Radio Canada International (a part of the CBC radio, spoke to Ron Walker, the executive director of Canadiana.org. You can listen to that interview by clicking on this link.
Here is what the site has to offer:
Canada's libraries, museums, archives, and government agencies possess numerous rich digital
collections containing our nation’s documentary heritage. These collections are continually expanding and include
many different types of content including books, journals, newspapers, government documents, photographs, maps,
post cards, sheet music, audio and video broadcasts.
Canadiana.org (also referred to simply as Canadiana) works together with partners to strengthen our collective
ability to present Canada's documentary heritage content online. The organization acts as a coordinator, facilitator
and advocate for digitization initiatives, along with providing access services and preservation infrastructures.
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Gilles Chartrand: Gives a talk onPioneer
Families
of Clarence-Rockland at the Vanier Museopark |
 Clarence-Rockland Museum curator Gilles Chartrand
gave a talk to The Muséoparc Vanier Museopark, a non-profit, community museum named for its location in the Richelieu Park in Vanier
Click on the picture to see the information and photos.
More... |
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| Some early history and the founding of Rockland |
The villages of Rockland, Clarence Creek, Bourget, St-Pascal-Baylon, and Hammond, are all in the
same township and deserve mentioning as part of the Rockland community.
Rockland is a small, bilingual city located about 25 kilometres east of Ottawa, on the Ottawa River. It sits within
the United Counties of Prescott and Russell, immediately east of the National Capital Region.
Rockland the Clarence region began growing in 1840 with the development of the road to l'Orignal-Bytown. Before
then, farmers and settlers relentlessly cleared wooded space enabling them to cultivate land, which then was their
only means of survival.
In 1868, a young entrepreneur, William Cameron Edwards built a sawmill at the McCaul point in the Rockland area
on the Ottawa River, followed by a link to the Grand Trunk Railway in 1888. Edwards, who held timber rights in
the area also became the first postmaster, who named the area Rockland for the rocky nature of its landscape. The
opening of the railroad followed in 1888 to allow wood and merchandise to be transported from Rockland.
When the Grand Trunk Railway followed in 1888, ensuring Edwards’ success and the prosperity of the town, it was
named for the rocky nature of its landscape. Rockland is approximately 75 per cent francophone, and has bylaws
passed to ensure proper signage and support for both the English and French population.
In total, Rockland is home to approximately 13,000 people (2010). It is home to the Rockland Nats Midget hockey
team, a beloved group that brings the community together with its rave following. Plenty of park space and several
recreational facilities are located in Rockland.
Although Rockland maintains its rural roots, it is rapidly becoming a commuter town, and has experienced recent
development booms for those who are looking for a quiet, family friendly community outside the city. Read
more...
Read
another profile on Rockland |
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| Profile: Alfred and Plantagenet |
Alfred and Plantagenet is a township located at the meeting of the Ottawa River and the South Nation
River, within the United Counties of Prescott and Russell, in Ontario.
With a population density of 21.9 persons per square km, the population of almost 8,600 is centered in the small
community of Plantagenet, whose population is almost 1,200.
Formed in 1997, today’s Corporation of the Township of Alfred and Plantagenet was formed by the amalgamation of
the Township of Alfred, the Village of Alfred, the Township of North Plantagenet and the Village of Plantagenet.
The Town Hall in Plantagenet and the Alfred office are the main centres for Administration, Taxes and Public Works,
as well as Law Enforcements. Three fire stations are spread about the township, as are six community centres, five
libraries, and several parks to provide leisure and cultural resources. With its proximity to the Ottawa and South
Nation Rivers, there are many boat launch areas, recreational canoe routes, and the Jessup’s Falls Conservation
area, a 5.25 Hectare park featuring majestic forest, well equipped picnic areas, parking, floating docks, and boat
launch. |
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| Profile: Sarsfield |
Sarsfield (Beaverbrook), Ontario is a small, rural town in the east portion of the City of Ottawa
in the former township of Cumberland. The first residents of Sarsfield were mostly French-Canadians from Lower
Canada. In 1854, families began to establish in the Sarsfield region, such as the the Potvin's, the St-Denis',
the D'Aoust's, the Lafrance's and the Éthier's. One of these colonizers, Sévère D'Aoust, bought
land from the Crown and later gave part of this land for the construction of a Roman Catholic church. The construction
of this church had such an impact on the village that it was known as Daoust's Corner.
The village was renamed Sarsfield in 1874 when an Irishman opened a Post-office and gave it the name of an Irish
hero: Patrick Sarsfield.
In 2000, the Township of Cumberland was amalgamated to the City of Ottawa.
List of places in Sarsfield:
* Roman Cahtolic church, St-Hugues
* Gauthier's corner store
* Home Hardware Building Centre
* Community center
* Caisse Populaire financial institution, part of the Desjardins Group.
* Tractor dealership, Massey-Fergusson
* Outdoor rink, tennis court and play structure |
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| Profile: Wendover |
| Wendover, Ontario is a small community on the Ottawa River in Prescott and Russell, Canada. There
are approximately 1000 people in the predominantly French town. There is a large church, and many scenic views
of the river. During the winter months, ice fishing is a common activity. Nearby, there is a small zoo, called
the Papanack Park Zoo, and a provincial conservation area. Wendover is approximately 40 minutes from downtown Ottawa
in good traffic along the Highway 17. |
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| Well-known and historical people
from Clarence-Rockland |
 We have found two sources for well-know or historical figures
who have come from Clarence-Rockland.
The first is Wikipedia. The second, comes from an independent company called: Full Wiki, and seems to carry the same information? You can read
about them here.
The Wikipedia website carries more names, and they are listed below on the
left
(the Full Wiki names, if any, are listed to the right of each name)
(You will have to visit the two websites if you want to view the background information on the names): |
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B
C
- Mathew Camm
- Jean-Nicolas Carrière - Jean-Nicolas Carrière
D
- Arthur Desrosiers - Arthur Desrosiers
E
- William Cameron Edwards - William Cameron Edwards
- Emjay - Emjay
F
- Charles Fortier - Charles Fortier
G
- Camille Gladu - Camille Gladu
- Sammy Godin - Sammy Godin
- Alfred Goulet - Alfred Goulet
- Onésime Guibord - Onésime Guibord
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L
- Huguette Labelle - Huguette Labelle
- Jean-Marc Lalonde
M
- Joe Matte (ice hockey b. 1909) - Joe Matte (ice hockey
b. 1909)
- Jacques Martin (ice hockey) - Jacques Martin (ice hockey)
P
- Evariste Payer - Evariste Payer
- Serge Payer
R
- Paul-Émile Rochon - Paul-Émile Rochon
Y
- Stéphane Yelle - Stéphane Yelle
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If anyone has any more names that you think should be added, please contact me:
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Museum Hours
687 Laurier Street,
Rockland, Ontario
Monday to Friday:
9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
(Closed during noon hour)
Normally closed on weekends
but if you call the museum
and Gilles Chartrand answers
he will no doubt open
the doors for you!
613-446-7319
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Larose Forest
Exploring an 80-year-old forest
Larose Forest proves we can make a difference
Read more...
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Ottawa Museum Network
The Ottawa Museum Network promotes and advances the interests of ten member museums.
Read more...
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Keep up with what is happening
in Clarence-Rockland and
the municipality:
City Council: Councillors,
meetings, agendas, etc.
Click here
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 Well-known people
from
Clarence-Rockland.
More...
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and 
