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TIMES
Vol. 1, No.6
the voice of North Grenville
A YEAR OF ANNIVERSARIES
The Bank of Ottawa building on Prescott St., home of the Bank of Nova Scotia from 1913 David Shanahan he Municipality of North Grenville is celebrating its fifteenth birthday this month. Yes, although it is hard to believe, it is fully fifteen years since the old entities of Oxford-on-Rideau, South Gower and the Town of Kemptville were amalgamated into our new community. In that short time, we have seen growth, change (both good and bad), and a slowly developing sense of common identity. We have had four Mayors (or three Mayors and a King, if you like), and
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many individuals serving on Council, as they felt their way through new systems, new structures, and even new buildings. We’ve had controversies over municipal buildings, municipal initiatives, and municipal staff. Fifteen years: so much has been squeezed into that time, and we are still only getting started. But this year of 2013 is not just an anniversary for North Grenville. Quite a surprising number of events and institutions celebrate milestones this year. St. James Anglican Church on Clothier
Street in Kemptville is 135 years old this year. The cornerstone was laid in May, 1878 as it replaced an earlier wood frame building that was built 185 years ago. In January, 1888, Kemptville got its first plant for producing electric lighting in the village, just in time to welcome the street meetings and parades of the Salvation Army. They arrived the same month and are celebrating 125 years serving this community in 2013. A number of events are being planned to mark that important anniversary in the community, as the
Army deal with disturbing figures showing that demand for their social services are increasing dramatically in our straitened economic times. Yet another institution celebrating 125 years in 2013 is the High School. As they get used to their new building, we can note with some pride that the first dedicated High School building in this area was erected on the site of the old school on Prescott Street in 1888. That is another long history of service to the community that we can honour this year. More commercial op-
erations can also mark an anniversary this year. Scotiabank first arrived in Kemptville one hundred years ago, in 1913. The Bank of Nova Scotia bought out the Bank of Ottawa and took over their building on Prescott Street, now occupied by the Book Mart. One of the older recreational facilities in North Grenville is also celebrating this year. Rideau Glen Golf Club had an official opening of their club house as the facility marked its establishment in July 1933, eighty years ago. In May, 1998, a respected institution changed forever, as the old Kemptville Police force was absorbed into the Ontario Provincial Police. After generations of policing by locals, the O.P.P. began their contract to police North Grenville, just a few months after the Municipality came into being. And so we return to that primary anniversary. North Grenville took some time to get its name decided on, and some would say that the old divisions within the Municipality still remain to be overcome. Over the coming year, the North Grenville Times will be publishing articles dealing with the history behind these anniversaries. Perhaps it can be that, knowing our own story, we will be able to come together more and more as time goes by and we write our common story.
January 9, 2013
Third Annual Bride and Groom Show W.B. George Centre, University of Guelph, Kemptville Campus
Saturday, January 19, 2013, 11 am - 3 pm
For more information contact 613.258.8336 ext. 61234 or events@kemptvillecampus.ca
Admission Free
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