Parading the Streets

Have you ever wondered about the true meaning of Victoria Day? It’s a holiday that’s been around for ages, but its significance has kinda faded over time. Nowadays, it’s more like the unofficial start of summer, with all the festivities and celebrations. This blog post started as a bit of a nostalgic trip down memory lane. I wanted to share my childhood experiences growing up in Bronte during this special weekend. But as I wrote, I realized that this wasn’t just about remembering the “good old days.” It was about understanding how things have changed and how social media has impacted our lives. Growing up, the lead-up to Victoria Day was filled with excitement. It was a long weekend, an extra day off school, which was rare compared to today. We only had a week off at Christmas and four days at Easter, and summer vacation was still months away. Just like today, it was the unofficial start of summer. The weather would warm up, and we’d bring out our bikes, shorts, and organize games of s...

Erchless Estate is historically significant as the home to six generations of the Chisholm family, and from the 1830s to 1910 was the site of Oakville's Customs House. Col. William Chisholm (1788-1842), a prominent Burlington merchant and shipbuilder, purchased the property as part of a 388.5-hectare tract from the Crown in 1827 to establish a port, shipyard and town. In 1977, the Town of Oakville made a significant acquisition by purchasing the house and land situated at the entrance to the Harbour. Since then, these properties have been transformed into the Oakville Museum and public lands, which are now freely accessible to all residents of Oakville. Of utmost importance is the building’s location, which serves as a direct link to the Town’s rich past and extensive history. It embodies an integral part of Oakville’s cultural heritage and identity. Similar to Oakville, Bronte’s history is intrinsically linked to the Lake, 12 Mile Creek, fishing, lumbering, stone hooking, and agri...