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.

1. Celebrating a Century: Chapter 1 – Humble Beginnings
2. Celebrating a Century: Chapter 2 – The Railway
3. Celebrating a Century: Chapter 3 – The “Good Roads” to Independence
4. Celebrating a Century: Chapter 4 – A City is Born
5. Celebrating a Century: Chapter 5 – Bishop Delivers
6. Celebrating a Century: Chapter 6 – What’s in a Name?
7. Celebrating a Century: Chapter 7 – Open for Business
8. 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.