Welcome to the Gatineau Valley Historical Society

We're pleased to welcome you to our website. Bookmark this home page and return regularly to check out our continually expanding site. Members and others can read the Society's current or past newsletters, or view photos of recent Society events on our linked Flickr account. Researchers or family historians can learn more about the Society's archival holdings, its Image Bank and publications, or directly access an extensive list of digital resources. See event archive for past events.

GVHS Upcoming Events - see more in the latest GVHS Newsletter

New to the GVHS

New Logo
The GVHS has a new logo for our 50th anniversary celebrations. This logo has been incorporated into the GVHS web site resulting in a new look for the web site.

The Low Down Articles can now be searched.
A search function has been added to the Low Down Articles. These articles consists of The Way We Were, Valley Lives, Houses of the Gatineau Hills, Spirit of Place, In the Hills, Artist Profiles, Other Articles and Echoes from the Past.

Online Image Bank
The online Image Bank now has more than 1000 images for you to search and look at. These images have been selected from the over 7000 images in the GVHS Image Bank. See Image Bank for more information. As well, you can access the Newsletter archive with issues dating back to the founding of the GVHS.

History of the GVHS
With our celebrations of our 50th anniversary, you can explore the history of the Gatineau Valley Historical Society, including the Executive over the years, speakers and events, awards presented and more.

Text Bank
Scanned and key word searchable clippings from local newspapers including many area births, marriages and deaths, and events. Also includes some scanned documents including poems penned by local residents.

Up the Gatineau!
View the complete list of all Up the Gatineau! issues along with all the authors and a complete index to all articles. A number of these articles are also available online.

Archives Open House & Annual General Meeting
Monday February 20, 2012 at 7:30 pm
Highlights - Remembering Pat Evans
- Exhibition of Historic Photos
- Cantley 1889
Chelsea Library
100 Old Chelsea Road,
Chelsea, Quebec

The Great River Project with Ottawa Riverkeeper Meredith Brown
Monday March 19, 2012 at 7:30 pm - see poster
Wakefield Community Centre, Great Hall
38 Valley Drive,
Wakefield, Quebec

Other Upcoming Events

Heritage Ottawa's Seventh Annual Bob and Mary Anne Phillips Memorial Lecture: Full Circle: Conservation and "Adaptive Use" in Restoring the Jeanne d'Arc Institute on Sussex Drive
Location: Ottawa Public Library Auditorium, 120 Metcalfe St., corner of Laurier Ave. W.,Ottawa.
Date: Thursday, February 16, 2012, Time: 7:00 pm
Designer/developer Ian Johns and author Sarah Jennings recount their adventures in bringing new life to five historic Sussex Drive buildings through a private, subsidy-free development agreement with the National Capital Commission. This first leasehold project of its kind in Canada's capital has taken buildings dating from Bytown's earliest days and the more recent Jeanne d'Arc Institute, between Clarence and York Streets, to form a commercial/residential development that provides a lively and thriving full city block on Ottawa's "Mile of History".
This lecture will be in English.

Pioneering Spirits of Cantley - Cantley 1889 - Vernissage
Exhibit of historic photos at Cantley Townhall - see poster
Thursday February 23, 7:30pm
Mairie, 8 ch River, Cantley, Quebec
After a brief annual meeting, Cantley 1889 will present historic photos and answer questions. All welcome!
Info: info.cantley1889@gmail.com 819-827-1969

Ottawa Ski Club Newsletter archive
Check out a new link called the Ottawa Ski Club Newsletter archive. It's found on the Guide Gatineau website, created and run by Gatineau Park enthusiast, Charles Hodgson. In addition to updates on current Gatineau Park goings on, Guide Gatineau has just added scanned copies of original newsletters from 1921 to 1942. As well you can read Hodgson's version of the history of the Ottawa Ski Club. Great reading!

Quebec Anglophone Heritage Network Events
For a list of heritage association events in Quebec, see Heritage Line available on the Quebec Anglophone Heritage Network site.

Recent Events

50th Anniversary Celebration Kick-Off

An enthusiastic group of about 75 GVHS members and friends gathered at the historic Wakefield Mill on January 16 to kick off 2012 - the 50th anniversary year for the Gatineau Valley Historical Society. MC Michael Cooper, co-president of the Fairbairn House Heritage Centre, welcomed all and encouraged bidding on the silent auction, a fund-raiser for Fairbairn's renovation. GVHS President, Marc Cockburn also spoke, revealing a special anniversary pin to be presented to those who have contributed to the success of the GVHS over the years. The first three recipients of the pins were Anita Rutledge, Norma Geggie, and Michael Cooper. Musician Gail Gavan and her band entertained the crowd with traditional and country songs from the Ottawa Valley. See photos of the event on flickr.

Browse images from Gatineau Valley Historical Society events

Want to contribute? Become a member? Contact us at info@gvhs.ca or any member of the GVHS Executive.