Where is Goulbourn Township?

Goulbourn Township was formed in 1818 in the County of Carleton in Upper Canada. The township existed until 2001 when the Government of Ontario amalgamated it with the City of Ottawa. Although the Township no longer exists it is well represented by its original settlements of Stittsville, Richmond, Munster Hamlet, Ashton, Hazeldean and Glen Cairn and the former settlements of Mansfield, Stanley Corners, Stapledon and Dwyer Hill and extensive rural farming communities.

What does the Goulbourn Township Historical Society do?

We are an all-volunteer not-for-profit community organization dedicated to the collection, preservation and presentation of our local history. We maintain a permanent collection of family and social histories and images associated with the former township of Goulbourn.  We also host a year-long lecture series, mount image exhibits, provide special programs and support to local organizations and schools and publish books relevant to our history.

Where are we located?

As a volunteer organization we have no physical location. Our collections are held at the Ottawa Public Library branches in Stittsville and Richmond with public access during library hours. We have a mailing address at The Goulbourn Township Historical Society, P.O. Box 621, Stittsville, Ontario, K2S 1A7.

How do I learn more about upcoming Society events?

By becoming a member of the Society you will receive quarterly newsletters identifying our programs. We also publicize our events on our website and Facebook pages to the general public. All our programs are free and open to the public.

How can I support the Goulbourn Township Historical Society?

One of the easiest is to make a tax-deductible donation or become a member (please see our membership application). Annual membership of $15 (individual) and $20 (Family) cover the period February to January. These fees cover your newsletter and help maintain our archive and presentation activities.

I want to suggest a program or project to the Historical Society. How do I do that?

We welcome ideas and input from the general public. If there is a program or project that you would like to see the GTHS take on, please let us know. You can contact us via e-mail at info@goulbournhistoricalsociety.org.

How can I research my family ties with the former Goulbourn Township?

Our permanent collection is available during library hours. We ask that you register your access with the Librarian in either the Stittsville or Richmond Branches. Material cannot be removed but photocopy facilities are available in the Library.

What if I live too far away to access these files?

Please see our website for access to our volunteer researcher.

Where can I see historical photographs of Goulbourn Township?

We invite you to view our digital photo collection on our dedicated computer at the Ottawa Public Library, Stittsville Branch. Visitors can search our collection by keyword text and view matching factfiles. Digital copies may be requested by contacting info@goulbournhistoricalsociety.org.  Credit to the Goulbourn Township Historical Society Archives is required for all publication use whether in  print, exhibit, or web format. Commercial or for profit usage in any format will necessitate a fee for usage.  Please indicate intended usage when making a request for any copies

How can I donate documents or old photographs to the Society?

We welcome donations of historical documents and photographs related to the former Goulbourn Township to enhance our historical collection. Our archivists can determine what we accession into our collection to meet our collections policy. Some basic paperwork is required to allow us to incorporate and use the donated items.