Remembrance: Military Museums and Military History
Each year on November 11 Canadians are called upon to
pause and think about our veterans Remembrance Day Commemoration. The list below offers up significant locations around the Province north,
north east and northwest of Toronto where one might visit and reflect on Canada’s Military contribution to our country.
Veterans’ Week Canada
Each year, Canada marks Veterans’ Week from November 5 to 11 to honour and remember those who served our country, and recognize
those who serve today. National Defence offers a National Speaker Program to connect currently serving Canadian Forces members with Canadians
during Veterans’ Week. Presentations last fifteen minutes and are typically followed by a question period. See National
Defence and the Canadian Forces
Remembrance Day November 11
Most
towns and communities will be honouring their local heros at cenotaphs and cemetaries throughout Canada. A number of special Remembrance day
Commemorations for 2009 can be found at Veterans’
Affairs Canada
The Peacekeepers' Way Highway
The Peacekeepers Way (Highway 90) runs from Barrie to Angus and Base
Borden, approximately 10-kilometre drive from Barrie. This is a reminder to think about our fore bearers and what they fought for during
the two major wars, the Korean War and now Afghanistan. Visitors may attend the Borden Military Museum during operating hours.
The Highway of Heroes
The Highway of
Heroes is a 170-kilometre stretch of Highway 401 between the eastern Ontario airbase in Trenton where the flag-drapped coffins of fallen soldiers
arrive and the forensics centre in Toronto that receives them. A stop in Trenton to visit the National
Air Force Museum of Canada is recommended.
Base Borden Military Museum
CFB Borden
The military museum collection at Canadian Forces Base Borden provides an overview of Canadian military history from the perspective of Camp
Borden. Exhibits cover Canadian and enemy armoured and non-armoured vehicle development, logistics, medical and dental services, military police
and intelligence, food services and other topics. Special events are held on annual Canadian regimental and corps birthdays. Educational tours
focus on Canadian land and air military history from 1900 to the present and general tours are arranged for Canadian military history.
Mailing Address: CFB Borden, 18 Waterloo Road East, P.O. Box 1000 Station Main , Borden ON, L0M 1C0
Telephone:1-705-423-3531
Fax:1-705-423-3623
Website: http://www.borden.forces.gc.ca/998/89/46/53-eng.asp
Hours of operation: Weekdays: 0900 – 1200 hrs and 1300 – 1500 hrs Weekends & Holidays: 1300 – 1600 hrs.
Closed: The day following a long weekend, Christmas week and Easter weekend.
Guided tours by appointment only.
McCrae House
108 Water Street
Contact: Val Harrison, Coordinator of Public Programs
Telephone: 519-836-1221
E-mail: museum@guelph.ca
Website: http://guelph.ca/museum
National Air Force Museum of Canada
Mailing Address: 8 Wing Trenton
PO Box 1000, Stn Forces , Astra ON, K0K 3W0
Telephone:1-613-965-2140
Fax:1-613-965-7352
Website: http://airforcemuseum.ca/
Hours of operation: Summer 1 May - 30 Sep: Mon to Sun 1000 - 1700 hrs.
Winter 1 Oct - 30 Apr: Wed to Sun 1000 - 1700 hrs.
Mon and Tue Closed.
Bunker Military Museum
Cobalt, Ontario
Military memorabilia from the Boer War to Desert Storm are on display at this converted railway station. Exhibits include magazines, newspapers,
paperbacks, videos and hundreds of displays. Costumed tours can be arranged in advance.
Mailing Address: cobalt CNR Station, P.O. Box 384, Cobalt, ON P0J 1C0
Telephone:705 679-5220
Website: http://www.cobalt.ca/museums.html
Hours of Operation: May to Sept., daily 10am-4pm; other times by appointment
Thunder Bay Military Museum
Thunder Bay, Ontario
The military history of Northwestern Ontario from 1885 to the present is explored at this site. Involvement in battles overseas and at home,
as well as items relating to prisoners-of-war and the indigenous people's military commitment are exhibited. The site also houses the collections
of local military units. Costumed interpretive tours are given. Workshops on local unit history, outreach and grade-level specific educational
programs are offered
Mailing Address: 317 Park Avenue, Thunder Bay, ON, P7B 1C7
Telephone: 807 343-5175
Hours of Operation: Mon. to Fri. 10am-4pm, Tues. evenings 8-10pm; other times by appointment
Petawawa Military Museum & Canadian Airborne Forces Museum
CFB Petawawa
Mailing Address: P-51 Base Museum CFB Petawawa, Petawawa, ON, K8H 2X3
Telephone: 613 588-6238
Princess of Wales' Own Regiment Military Museum
Kingston, Ontario
This military museum is dedicated to the Princess of Wales' Own Regiment (pwor) and its antecedents, from 1863. The museum focuses on three
organizations of militias and on the citizen soldiers that have served Canada. Archival materials record the units and local military history
and are available to all pwor personnel. The site offers a limited outreach program. Groups of up to twenty are welcome.
Mailing Address: The Armoury, Kingston, ON , K7K 3E8
Telephone: 613 541-5010
Hours of Operation: Mon. & Thurs. 7-10pm; other times by appointment
Military Communications and Electronics Museum
Kingston, Ontario
This museum deals with military communications from 1867 to the present, focusing on the troops and the times as well as on the technology employed.
The collection includes three original sculptures by by Walter S. Alward for his Vimy Ridge memorial and a working German Enigma machine. Tours
are by request and educational programming is offered. A working amateur radio station is available to licensed operators and a conference facility
is located on-site.
Mailing Address: 95 Craftsman Road, P.O. Box 1700, Station Forces, Kingston, ON K7G 1W7
Telephone: 613 541-5395
Website: http://www.c-and-e-museum.org
Hours of Operation: Daily 8am-4pm; Summer, Sat., Sun. & holidays 11am-5pm
Royal Military College Museum
Kingston, Ontario
Housed in the 1846 Fort Frederick Martello Tower, this museum features displays relating to the military history of the site, which was a naval
dockyard and garrison between 1789 and 1870. The site also tells the story of the Royal Military College and its graduates from 1876 to the
present.
Mailing Address: Royal Military College of Canada, P.O. Box 17000 Station Forces
Kingston, ON, K7K 7B4
Telephone: 613 541-6000
Hours of Operation: Late June to Labour Day, daily 10am-5pm
Historic Military Establishment of Upper Canada (Discovery Harbour)
Penetanguishene, Ontario
One of Ontario’s most picturesque historic sites, Discovery Harbour recalls the days of the 19th-century British navy and military that safeguarded
the defence of Upper Canada. In 1820 the thriving naval dockyard boasted residences and workshops, large and small vessels, and a community
of officers, artisans, sailors, and soldiers. The base was eventually operated by the British military from 1834 to 1856, constructing an impressive
stone Officers’ Quarters that still stands today.
Now Discovery Harbour tells the story of the original 19th-century outpost and demonstrates a slice of life from this fascinating chapter
in Canadian history. Summer features include daily guided tours of historic properties and costumed staff sharing the story of this historic
naval and military community. Enjoy on-deck activities aboard the magnificent replica ships H.M.S. Bee and Tecumseth. See great shows at the
on-location King’s Wharf Theatre and enjoy waterside dining at Captain Roberts’ Table restaurant. A beautiful nautical gift shop completes your
visit.
Mailing Address: 93 Jury Drive, Penetanguishene, Ontario, L9M 1G1
Telephone: (705) 549-8064
Website: www.discoveryharbour.on.ca
Hours of Operation: Late June to Labour Day, daily 10am-5pm
