John Graves Simcoe
John Graves Simcoe

Upcoming Loyalist Events

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Upcoming events will be posted here once they have been organized.

Recent Loyalist Events

Saturday, Aug. 24
Annual bus trip

Our annual bus trip this year centred around Dundas Ontario, but included visits to Westfield Village, Don Zver Pottery, Dundurn castle, the Dundas Histporical Muesum and a guided bus tour of Dundas.


Monday, Aug. 4
Simcoe Day

This event was cancelled due to a strike by City Workers

As we help celebrate Simcoe Day in Toronto, join us and visit our display at Fort York where you can also catch a whole day's worth of activities and events, including a visit from Gov. Simcoe.


Tuesday, July 1
Canada Day at Fort York

This event was cancelled due to a strike by City Workers

Take some time and celebrate our heritage on Canada Day at Fort York. Gov. Simcoe Branch will be there with a display and we look forward to meeting you there. The Fort staff and others offer an all-day program.


Thursday, June 19
Loyalist Day

Join Gov. Simcoe Branch as we celebrate Loyalist Day in Ontario by raising our Loyalist Flag at Queen's Park - more details to come.

2008 Loyalist Events

Saturday, Aug. 23
Annual bus trip

Our annual bus trip to St. Catharines area.

2007 Loyalist Events

Saturday, Aug. 18
Annual bus trip to Prince Edward County and Adolphustown

Gov. Simcoe Branch's 2008 annual bus trip visits one of the early areas settled by the Loyalist refugees just after the end of the American Revolution. Rich in history, the area is also very scenic. Among other things, Prince Edward was a centre for early nineteenth century shipbuilding and sailing commerce. We will visit Mariners Park Museum for morning coffee, a short presentation and time to explore the many hundreds of nautical artifacts. Crossing southeastern Prince Edward, we head to Picton where the Legion will serve lunch and allow us to explore their museum. A walking/bus tour will take us by some of the old architecture of Picton before we sail to Adolphustown aboard the Glenora Ferry.

The Bay of Quinte Branch UELAC operates the Loyalist Cultural Centre and campground where there are many Loyalist Memorials. A walking tour will take us to the 1784 landing site where some 250 Loyalists from Major Peter Van Alstine's group became the first settlers of Adolphustown Township. We will see the 1784 Burial Ground and the Encampment site, hear about the plans for the restoration of Casey House, an early Loyalist's house, and then enjoy afternoon tea.

We will finish with a bus tour of local Loyalist sites including the 1884 St. Alban the Martyr UEL Memorial Anglican Church and the 1884 Adolphustown UEL Memorial United Church, 1792 Old Hay Bay Church National Historic Site, the grave site of Alexander Fisher UE, Magistrate of the District, and more.

Via Napanee, we will board a sandwich dinner and homeward.

The trip takes place Saturday August 18, Kipling (7:00 am to 9:00 pm) and Don Mills pickups and returns. Guests, visitors welcome. Fee $80/person includes bus, admission fees, lunch and sandwich dinner, drinks, snacks etc.

A two-page brochure (PDF) provides more description.

More information on the bus trip and to register, Daryl Currie 416-469-0851, or Doug Grant 416-921-7756, doug.grant@insurance-canada.ca


Saturday, Dec. 8
Christmas Lunch at Black Creek

Toronto Branch UELAC have extended a special invitation to members of Gov. Simcoe Branch to join them for a Christmas Luncheon at:

Black Creek Pioneer Village
The Halfway House
1000 Murray Ross Parkway, Downsview
Saturday December 8
Arrival: 12:30 pm; Lunch: 12:30 pm
Cost $30/person

Enjoy a delightful traditional Christmas dinner and stroll through the village which will be decked out for the Christmas Season.

To order tickets, send a note to arrive before Nov 15 to:

Toronto Branch UELAC
Suite 300, 40 Scollard St.
Toronto ON M5R 3S1

Enclose your cheque to "Toronto Branch UELAC", indicate number of tickets and indicate if you have any special diet or are a vegetarian.

At last year's luncheon, Santa Claus made a surprise visit to the group.


Monday, Aug. 6
Simcoe Day

As we help celebrate Simcoe Day in Toronto, join us and visit our display at Fort York where you can also catch a whole day's worth of activities and events, including a visit from Gov. Simcoe.


Sunday, July 1
Canada Day at Fort York

Take some time and celebrate our heritage on Canada Day at Fort York. Gov. Simcoe Branch will be there with a display and we look forward to meeting you there. The Fort staff and others offer an all-day program.


Tuesday, June 19
Queen's Park, Toronto
11:30 am

June 19 in Ontario and Saskatchewan is designated Loyalist Day. Many UELAC branches in those provinces organize a ceremony and celebration to honour our Loyalist ancestors. In Toronto, we will join Toronto Branch at Queen's Park at 11:30 for a ceremony, flag raising and a tour of some of the grounds, in particular to note some of the statues. Please join us.


Friday, April 20
Heritage Display

When we belatedly explored another heritage week display at Toronto City Hall, the rotunda was already booked. Gov. Simcoe Branch is a member of the Toronto Historical Association (THA), which for many years organized the events, in the good old days when shopping malls saw such events as a benefit.

THA's members decided that even a belated heritage display was important in Toronto, so we helped book the facilities. The event will be Friday April 20 at Toronto City Hall, probably ending about 4:30 or 5:00 when most people will already be on their way for the weekend. Gov. Simcoe Branch will have a display there, along with 14 others – all display spaces have now been booked.

Please offer your services to Daryl Currie as a participant – spend a couple of hours at our display and then take the opportunity to view what so many other organizations also involved in our history are doing. Or, at least come visit and see everyone. Book your calendar today.

2006 Loyalist Events

Monday, Aug. 7
Simcoe Day

As we help celebrate Simcoe Day in Toronto, join us and visit our display at Fort York where you can also catch a whole day's worth of activities and events, including a visit from Gov. Simcoe.


Thursday, July 1
Canada Day at Fort York

Take some time and celebrate our heritage on Canada Day at Fort York. Gov. Simcoe Branch will be there with a display and we look forward to meeting you there. The Fort staff and others offer an all-day program.


Monday, June 19
Loyalist Day

Join Gov. Simcoe Branch as we celebrate Loyalist Day in Ontario by raising our Loyalist Flag at Toronto City Hall.
Update: Both activities for Loyalist Day as planned by the branch have been cancelled.


Mon. & Tues., Feb. 20-21
Heritage Week displays

Gov. Simcoe Branch will have a display in the rotunda at Toronto's City Hall for two days as part of the celebrations of Ontario's heritage Week.


Friday, Feb. 17
Heritage Week displays

Gov. Simcoe Branch will have a display at the Toronto Historical Association's Heritage displays at York Gate Mall. Although THA will be there from Friday to Sunday, Gov. Simcoe Branch will participate one day only on Friday, as our own Heritage Day celebrations are on Saturday February 18.

2005 Loyalist Events

Saturday, Sept. 10
Cabbagetown Parade

For the last several years some of the Gov. Simcoe Branch members have walked in the Cabbagetown parade in the heart of historic Toronto. Join us for the parade and then enjoy the Cabbagetown Festival activities. Contact Colin Heath if you are interested in attending.


Monday, Aug. 1
Simcoe Day

Celebrate Simcoe Day with Gov. Simcoe Branch at Fort York where events will be held to recognize John Graves Simcoe, our first Lieutenant-Governor and celebrate his contributions to Ontario.


Saturday, Aug. 20
UELAC Bus Trip

The Governor Simcoe Branch UELAC annual bus trip is visiting Port Hope and Peterborough this year. We will tour Port Hope with historian Peter Bolton, who is also a teacher and a genealogist. We will visit Kawartha Branch at the Heritage Museum and have time to tour the liftlock and visitor centre. Other stops include the Canadian Canoe Museum, Hutchinson House, and Christ Church at Lakefield. For more information, see the online brochure.


Friday, Jul. 1
Canada Day

Celebrate Canada Day with Gov. Simcoe Branch at Fort York where events will be held to recognize our pre-Confederation history.


Sunday, Jun. 19
Loyalist Day Service

Weston Presbyterian Church, 10:30am, luncheon after
11 Cross St., Weston Ontario

On Loyalist day each year, Gov. Simcoe Branch participates in a Church Service. This year it will be held on Loyalist day, Sunday June 19, at the home Church of the Heath Family in Weston. You are invited to attend, and to remain afterwards for a light luncheon.

Directions: Cross Street is off Church Street which is off Weston Road. If you are coming from the highway, take 401 to Weston Road. Go south to Church Street. Turn left. (Church street starts at Weston Road and runs to Jane Street.) From Weston Road, Cross Street is first street on left. (If you reach the railway tracks, you've gone too far.) On Cross Street you will see the church first (on right). A bit further down (three houses) is the driveway to the church parking lot.


Thursday, May 5
Simcoe Day

Celebrate Simcoe Day with our namesake Gov. Simcoe at Fort York with an emphasis on the military times at and following the founding of York and construction of Fort York in 1793 and years following through the War of 1812.


Feb. 25-27
Heritage Week

The Toronto Historical Association will be participating in Ontario's Heritage Week. As an active member of THA, Gov. Simcoe Branch will join the group to celebrate many aspects of our heritage with a display at York Gate Mall, 1 York Gate Blvd., NW corner of Finch and Jane.

2004 Loyalist Events

Saturday, Nov. 20
30th Anniversary Luncheon

Although the Gov. Simcoe Branch was initially organized in 1933, the first meeting was not held until 1934. Thus we are celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Branch in 2004. As the Loyalists as an identifiable group sprang from a military conflict, it was deemed appropriate to celebrate in a military place. Join us at the Royal Canadian Military Institute at noon for the 12:30 luncheon, featuring guest speaker Trevor Hamilton and a tour of the RCMI. Tickets are $50/person, and can be ordered from Daryl Currie at 416-469-0851. Please contact us for more information.


Monday, Aug. 2
Simcoe Day

This day-long celebration features interpreters, tours, displays, and other historical events at Fort York. There will be a display in honour of the Loyalists and Governor Simcoe. Please contact us for more information.


Saturday, Aug. 14
UEL Bus Trip

This year the primary destination of the bus trip is the Long Point Loyalist settlement on the north shore of Lake Erie. The trip includes admission to a number of historic sites, guided tours, lunch, tea, and drinks and snacks. (Cost: $75/person) Please contact us for more information.


Sunday, Sept. 11
Cabbagetown Parade

Cabbagetown's annual festival includes a parade which makes its way through the festivities starting around 11:00. Governor Simcoe Branch will march in the parade. Please contact us for more information.


Oct. 1-4
Hudson Valley Trip

This bus tour traverses the Hudson Valley, and this year will visit Fort Montgomery National Historic Park for a guided tour. Please see UELAC's projects page for more information, or contact Doug Grant.