The Community Waterfront Heritage Centre is pleased to share a part of the planned exhibit for 2020: 1920 — Owen Sound: Celebrating a Century. Although the museum was closed for the 2020 season due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Community Waterfront Heritage Centre wishes to honour the visionaries who saw a bright future for the little city on Georgian Bay.
Although Owen Sound officially became a City on June 1, 1920, the official celebrations were moved to July 1. In 1920, news of Owen Sound becoming a city was reported in newspapers outside the Grey-Bruce area. The Ottawa Citizen carried a brief article on July 2 entitled “Owen Sound Celebrates”. It was also referred to as “the baby city” in the Montreal Gazette in the article: “Owen Sound, the Baby City has a Very Long History,” Montreal Gazette, July 12, 1920, p. 9.
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Richard Thomas of Richard Thomas Communications has created for the Community Waterfront Heritage Centre, a series of eight short videos that tell the story of Owen Sound becoming a City in 1920.
1920 — Owen Sound: Celebrating a Century
You may watch the videos on the Community Waterfront Heritage Centre Channel on YouTube for the series or access them individually from the links below.
- Celebrating a Century: Chapter 1 – Humble Beginnings
- Celebrating a Century: Chapter 2 – The Railway
- Celebrating a Century: Chapter 3 – The “Good Roads” to Independence
- Celebrating a Century: Chapter 4 – A City is Born
- Celebrating a Century: Chapter 5 – Bishop Delivers
- Celebrating a Century: Chapter 6 – What’s in a Name?
- Celebrating a Century: Chapter 7 – Open for Business
- Celebrating a Century: Chapter 8 – The Next 100
Celebrating a Century Exhibit is proudly sponsored by All Things T
The exhibit panels are viewable in the Carnegie Wing of the Owen Sound & North Grey Union Public Library beginning November 17, 2020.