Heritage Fair: Wakefield 29 September

The following is a press release from the Quebec Anglophone Heritage Network

5 September 2019

Spotlight on regional history: community groups gather in Wakefield

A dozen historical societies and cultural organizations from across the Outaouais are set to gather in Wakefield, La Pêche on September 29th for the first-ever West Quebec Heritage Fair. The event is sponsored by the Quebec Anglophone Heritage Network (QAHN) and hosted by Fairbairn House Heritage Centre.

Part celebration, part exhibition, the Fair will showcase the wide range of knowledge, activities, and learning opportunities that volunteer-based heritage organizations offer in the region. The gathering is expected to bring together people from across West Quebec who are curious about the history of the places where they live. 

Groups with displays onsite include the Gatineau Valley Historical Society, Pontiac Archives, the Aylmer Heritage Association and Cantley 1889, as well as the Symmes Inn Museum, the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg Cultural Centre, the Réseau du Patrimoine de Gatineau et de l’Outaouais and Société Pièce sur pièce.

The program for the day features two guest presentations in English. In the morning, Lionel Whiteduck will survey the history of Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation and ongoing initiatives to preserve and promote the Algonquin language among community members. In the afternoon, Michael McBane, author of a recent biography of 19th century lumber baron John Egan, will speak about Egan’s legacy helping to break down ethnic, linguistic and religious barriers in pre-Confederation Canada, notably among Irish Protestants and Catholics. 

Doors will open between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Community members are encouraged to come out and meet some of the many volunteers dedicated to preserving and sharing Outaouais’s history and culture. Visitors can learn how to get involved in heritage activities where they live, find out about upcoming exhibits, or get advice starting a research project of their own.

Admission is free of charge, and visitors can round out their trip with a guided tour of the Fairbairn House and grounds, situated at 45, Wakefield Heights Road.

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SOURCE: Dwane Wilkin, QAHN
(819) 564-9595