Conflict and Confrontation: The Shiners War and Violence in Early Bytown

by Grant Vogl
at the Royal Canadian Legion – Stittsville Branch
on Saturday Nov. 16, 2019, 1:30pm

“A greater set of ruffians than the whole population of Bytown would be hard to find…”
Founded in 1826 as a canal worksite, Bytown (now Ottawa) quickly gained a reputation as one of the most violent towns in all of British North America. Conflict was everywhere.
 When work on the Rideau Canal was completed in 1832 the burgeoning lumber industry became one of the few means of employment. Many canal workers, who had little experience felling trees or sawing timber, sought to open up employment opportunities through intimidation of the existing and largely French-Canadian workforce. In 1835 the conflict became organized under leaders like Peter Aylen, the self-styled “King of the Shiners.”
This presentation will explore the conditions that created conflict in Bytown from the early days of the Rideau Canal through the period known as the “Shiner’s War” and to the town’s re-branding as Ottawa in 1855.

Grant Vogl is the Collections and Exhibitions Manager of the Bytown Museum in Ottawa, Ontario. Grant manages the Museum’s historic artefact collection, permanent, temporary, and community galleries, and has curated numerous special exhibitions highlighting the events, people and stories that have made Ottawa history.

This  free event is open to everyone. It is being held in the Stittsville Legion on Saturday November 16, 2019 at 1:30pm. Parking and refreshments are free. Please tell a neighbour and bring a friend.

Politics in Carleton District: An Historical Presentation

Presented by Shaun Peppy

Saturday, October 19, 2019

At the Richmond Legion starting at 1:30pm

Shaun Peppy as his alter-ego Colonel George Thew Burke

Join history buff Shaun Peppy for his presentation focusing on the political history of Carleton County and some of its more interesting candidates, representatives and elections over the years. Shaun Peppy has degrees in Political Science and has worked much of his career in parliamentary affairs. As well as Vice-President of the Goulbourn Township Historical Society, Shaun is often found at local events in authentic costume as his alter-ego Colonel George Thew Burke (Carleton County’s 2^nd elected representative from 1821-1828).

Carleton County

Carleton County is bounded on the north by the Ottawa River, north-east by the county of Russell, south-east by the county of Dundas and the Rideau River, and on the south-west by the County of Lanark.

The electoral district of Carleton has played a fascinating and important part in the political history of Canada for over 200 years. Carleton County has had its own seat in the elected legislatures of Canada since 1820, following the establishment of the first settlements in the area.  Carleton was host to many colourful candidates, several of whom are very important and well known in Canadian history. Like any federal election, there have been times when the issues debated were of a very local nature and others when Carleton was swept up in the national issues of the day

Join Shaun Peppy for this presentation on Saturday, October 19, at 1:30, at the Richmond Legion, 6430 Ottawa Street West, Richmond, ON, K0A 2Z0. This event is free and open to everyone. There is plenty of parking and free refreshments.

British Home Children – The Clark Boys From Quarrier’s to Eastern Ontario
Presented by Gloria Tubman

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Auditorium at Hazeldean Gardens Retirement Residence
6130 Hazeldean Road, Stittsville ON K2S 2M2

Join researcher and genealogist Gloria Tubman for her presentation on British Home Children and the techniques and resources used to unravel the life of Scottish home children, including brothers Archibald and George Clark.

On April 14, 1908, 14-year old George Clark and his 11-year-old brother Archibald, both from Orphan Homes of Scotland, founded by William Quarrier, located in Bridge of Weir, Renfrewshire, Scotland, arrived in Canada.  They then travelled to Brockville (Fairknowne House – also owned by Quarrier) on April 16, 1908 but were shortly separated by being placed in different farms to work in Ontario. A few years later, both would go to fight in WWI.  One brother came back to Canada . . . one did not.

Gloria Tubman, a descendant of a British Home Child, has spent the past 20 years researching family histories and British Home Children. An interest in genealogy and local history led to authoring “Genealogy Gleanings” in The Equity, Shawville’s weekly newspaper. She volunteers at the Ottawa Family History Centre and is a member of BIFHSGO, the Ontario Genealogy Society, the Irish Research Group, and the Ontario East British Home Child Family. She was the co-chair of the 2013 and 2014 BIFHSGO conferences.

We are pleased to have Gloria Tubman on this date as September 28th is commemorated provincially as British Home Child Day in Ontario. Come and hear this interesting topic at a new location, The Auditorium at Hazeldean Gardens Retirement Residence, 6130 Hazeldean Road, Stittsville ON K2S 2M2, Saturday September 28, 2019 starting at 1:30 PM. As usual this presentation is free to the public. Join us for an enlightening afternoon.

Presented by the Goulbourn Museum, 2064 Huntley Road

May 25 2019 – 1:30PM

Come and join us for the Historical Society’s May 2019 event – reminiscences of the village general store – once the lifeblood of smaller communities. As well as purveyor of foods, various dry goods, clothing and hardware, it was often also the post office and a local meeting place for good advice. Goulbourn township was once dotted with these community focal points.

This event is held at the Goulbourn Museum, 2064 Huntley Road. The museum is handicap accessible. Come along and bring a friend or neighbour. Parking and refreshments are free.

April 13^th 2019 – The Story of Hazeldean

Presented by Roger Young

Ottawa Public Library – Stittsville Branch – 1:30 pm

Did you miss this event? – We have experimented with an on-line prepared video of Roger Young’s presentation. Run-time is one hour. Check out this link >

Story of Hazeldean from John Bottriell on Vimeo.

The village of Hazeldean, formerly part of Goulbourn Township, then within the boundaries of the city of Kanata is situated south of Maplegrove/Kakulu Road and west of Eagleson Roads. The original settlement of Hazeldean in 1818 was by group of “Loyal Protestants” and their families (15) who arrived mid-November after an arduous 45 day journey departing from Cork on June 11 1818.  The Hazeldean settlers were part of a group numbering 183 under leader Richard Talbot, mostly immigrants from in or near Cloghjordan, in Modreeny parish, County Tipperary.

You are invited to join Roger Young for a very interesting presentation on the human stories behind the voyage and settlement of Hazeldean that started over 200 years ago. Roger Young is our newest historical society director and has a lifetime and ancestral connection to the community of Hazeldean.

Young Residence – Mr. William R. Young holding horse + children Frank & Etta in the buggy – 1900’s (early).

This  free event is open to everyone. It is being held in the Ottawa Public Library – Stittsville Branch on Saturday April 13 2019 at 1:30pm. Parking and refreshments are free. Please tell a neighbour and bring a friend.