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Corporate body

The Township of Williamsburgh, County of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, Ontario, was incorporated effective January 1, 1850 under the terms of the Baldwin Act, Chapter 81, Canada Statutes, 1849.

Corporate body

The Williamsford Women's Institute was organized in 1906 and disbanded in 1990, after 84 years of service. At that time, the Institute formed part of the Grey Centre District. This branch served the area of the village of Williamsford and surrounding areas. Williamsford is located in Grey County, in the former Township of Sullivan (now the southern part of the Municipality of Chatsworth, following amalgamation in 2000), on Highway 6 at County Road 24 between Chatsworth and Dornoch. Members included residents with rural addresses in the areas of Williamsford, Chatsworth and Desboro. The Williamsford Women's Institute was very active in the community. During their last twenty years, they purchased a flag to be flown at the Williamsford Post Office, started bank accounts for new babies, support families who lost belongings in house fires, visited shut-ins and those in the hospital and donated quilts to the Participation Lodge. They also made annual donations to the Museum, Women's Centre, King's Daughters and other local and international organizations. The branch hosted many meetings and social gatherings for members featuring special speakers, demonstrations and lectures. Branch members participated in Adult Training Courses, bus trips and annual trips to local industries and businesses. Members also attended County Rallies and District Conventions. Some members travelled to Australia, Kenya and Germany to conferences for the Associated Country Women of the World.

Willow Run Women's Institute
Corporate body

The Willow Run Women's Institute in Grey County was organized in 1948, with Mrs. Elmer Munro elected as the first President, and Mrs. Seymour Londary, elected as the first Secretary-Treasurer. The branch disbanded in March 1974. The branch formed part of the Grey Centre District Women's Institute and served communities surrounding the Village of Dundalk, situated on County Road 9, east of Highway 10, in the former Township of Proton (now the Township of Southgate, following amalgamation in 2001). Most members of Willow Run Women's Institute resided at R.R. 1 or R.R. 2, Dundalk or at R.R. 4, Corbetton in Dufferin County. Willow Run Women's Institute members attended monthly meetings during which interesting programs, demonstrations and discussions were held. Branch members planned and led programs for the Junior Institute as well. Fundraising efforts included family nights, euchre tournaments, quilting bees and bazaars. The funds raised were donated to a variety of local and national organizations.

Corporate body · 1925-

Willowdale United Church, located at 379 Kenneth Avenue, was established in 1925. It began as a Methodist Episcopal Circuit in the 1840s, with the first church building erected in 1856 at Yonge and Church streets in Willowdale. In 1951 the building was closed and, following services in a local theatre for a period of three years, the present church was opened in 1954. It is still an active congregation of the United Church of Canada.

Corporate body · [183-]-1968

Wilmot Centre Evangelical United Brethren Church was formed in the 1830s as an Evangelical Church. In 1938 the church joined with Roseville Evangelical Church (later known as Grace United) as a two-point charge until general union with the Evangelical United Brethren in 1968.

Corporate body

Wilton Presbyterian Church was established as a mission station of the Canada Presbyterian Church during the 1870s and was linked with Glenvale and Harrowsmith until 1919, when Harrowsmith was dissolved and with Glenvale alone until 1925. In 1925 Wilton and Glenvale were linked with Ernestown and Camden East in a four-point charge. Between 1936 and 1941 there were several re-alignments of congregations in the area. In 1936 Deseronto, Camden East, Wilton Glenvale, Ernestown and Sunbury were linked as one pastoral charges. In 1937 Deseronto and Sunbury were set up as a two-point charge and the other four were designated mission stations with student supply. In 1938 Deseronto, Camden East and Ernestown were lined as a three-point charge, while Wilton, Glenvale and Sunbury were linked in a three-point charge. In 1940, Sunbury, Glenvale and Wilton were placed as student mission fields under Deseronto and in 1941 Wilton was dissolved.

Wilton Women’s Institute
Corporate body

The Wilton Women’s Institute was founded by Mrs. K. N. Storms of Wilton who, upon hearing the good work other W.I. groups were doing, invited the Lennox District Officers to Wilton to organize a branch on June 16, 1925. There were 18 women who received membership cards at this inaugural meeting. The Wilton W.I. were very keen on having their members educated in the proper techniques of housekeeping and all that it entails and hosted classes on the following topics throughout the years: science classes, first aid classes, sewing classes, millinery classes, cooking classes, made and donated layettes, home care for the sick. The group also held bazaars, field days, picnics, lawn socials, and events on St. Patrick’s Day, Valentine’s Day, and Halloween festivities to raise money, as well as offering a social outlet to the oft times scattered families in the community. Over the years, the Wilton W.I. has been very active in raising money for a multitude of events and activities including: relief to needy families, sponsored a travelling library, donated ‘Wilton’ signs to be posted at each entrance of the town, gave First Aid kits to all five local schools, bank accounts for babies, 4-H Club, Girl’s Club, fire victims, Angada and Sick Children’s Hospital, Salvation Army, Santa Claus Fund, British War Victims, War Service Fund, honey and jam for overseas, C.N.I.B., Disaster Relief, Save the Children Fund, Milk for Korea, Ceylon Fund, Tractor for Greece, Adelaide Hoodless Fund, Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular Dystrophy, March of Dimes, European Flood Relief, Mental Health, Annie G. Haggerty Scholarship, Pennies for Friendship, UNESCO, Christmas baskets to shut-ins, and an Armistice Day wreath. In the 1970’s, it also donated money towards the Adelaide Hoodless and Erland Lee Homes project. During World War II, Wilton area women made 525 quilts, as well as hundreds of gloves, mittens and other sewn and knit items which were sent overseas to needy families as well as the troops. They also provided all returning service personnel with signet rings and sponsored 2 children in Hong Kong. Initial Institute meetings were held in the various members homes. After a time, the meetings were moved to the Grange Hall, but in 1941 a decision was made to return to offering the meetings at individual member’s homes, most likely as a result of a tight budget and to offer a more welcoming and cozy atmosphere. However, after the closing of Wilton United Church in 1968, the W.I. took over the church building and it is now known as the W.I. Hall. The group renovated it, equipped the hall with chairs, dishes, and silverware, added a kitchen and now holds all meetings there, as well as bazaars, elections, wedding receptions, showers and other meetings. The Wilton W.I. hosted the District Annual meetings in 1926, 1950 and 1971. As of 2009, the Wilton Women’s Institute is still active.

Some of the past Women’s Institute Presidents of Wilton W.I. were: Mrs. (Catherine) Walter C. Snider (1925-1944); Mrs. (Gertrude) B. M. Davey (1944-1954); Marion Huff (1954); Mrs. (Helen) Arthur Burt (1954-1956); Mrs. (Florence) Harold Babcock (1956-1959); Mrs. (Mona) Tom Hare (1959-1965); Mrs. (Corrine Simmons) Russell Simmons (1965-1967); Mrs. (Blanche) C. Peters (1969-1971); Mona Hare (1971-1976); Edith Scouten (1976-1980); Barbara Cookman (1981); Maria Berghout (1981-1990); Lucille M. Burt (1990-1997); Maria Berghout ( 1997-2002); Nina Reece (2002-).

Wilton W.I. disbanded on July 31, 2013. It ran from 1925 to 2013. The group owned Wilton Hall from 1969 until 2013 when they sold it for a $1 to Loyalist Township. This transaction was registered on July 10th, 2013.

Corporate body

The Windsor Centennial Music Festival (W.C.M.F.) is pre-dated by the Windsor Music Festival, first held in 1947 and co-sponsored by the Kiwanis Club and the Essex Branch of the Ontario Registered Music Teachers Association (O.R.M.T.A.). The Secretary of this first festival was Miss Greeta French, who would remain active in both O.R.M.T.A. and Windsor's music festivals for over forty years. The annual Festival ran until 1964, when it was discontinued due to declining interest. In 1966, the Essex Branch of O.R.M.T.A., then headed by Ms. French, decided to host the Windsor Centennial Piano Competition in 1967 to celebrate Canada's centennial. By the second competition in 1968, the festival attracted over five hundred entries from piano students throughout Essex, Kent and Lambton counties. In 1969, the festival decided additional categories should be added, which led to a string category added to the competition and a change in the festival's name to the Windsor Centennial Music Competition in 1971. Between 1973 and 1976 other additions included organ, accordion and vocal categories. The growth in non-competitive classes led to another name change, the Windsor Centennial Music Festival. During the late-1970s and early-1980s, the Festival continued to grow under the leadership of Allen and Muriel Loney. Continuing financial and administrative problems, particularly in the vacuum left by Allen Loney's death in 1986, undermined many of the Festival's achievements. There were a number of attempts to renew the prior association between Kiwanis Club and O.R.M.T.A., which were not successful until 1989. Kiwanis assumed the festival's assets and created the Kiwanis Music Festival of Windsor-Essex County.

Windsor Medical Services
Corporate body

Events of the Great Depression gave rise to Windsor Medical Services Incorporated. Medical relief became increasingly problematic during the early 1930s and, as a result the Ontario Medical Association set up a system in 1935 for doctors to provide certain medical services for all Ontario people on relief. The system relied on a per capita grant from the provincial government. A 1936 report of the Essex County Medical Society stressed elements of medical relief and health insurance were basically the same. About the same time, community interest was growing for a voluntary health insurance programme. A grant from the Rockefeller Foundation in 1937 allowed for extensive medical research in the Windsor, Ontario area, which led to the formation of the Windsor Medical Services Incorporated. However, once the plan was presented to businesses, participation was slow in coming. In was not until 1939 that the first group contract was signed. After news of the benefits spread, the plan became extremely popular throughout Essex, Kent and Lambton Counties. Windsor Medical Services Incorporated ceased operations in October of 1970 when the province of Ontario introduced medicare.

Windsor (Ont.)
Corporate body

Before 1935, Windsor was the largest of a group of municipalities known as the Border Cities. These included Ojibway, Sandwich, Walkerville, Ford City (which became East Windsor in 1929), Riverside, Tecumseh and Windsor. Due to various economic pressures caused by the Great Depression, and after a Royal Commission Inquiry and a public vote, Sandwich, Walkerville and East Windsor were united with Windsor 1 July, 1935. The next major expansion of the city occurred on 1 January, 1966 when Ojibway, Riverside and portions of Sandwich East, West and South Townships were annexed by the City of Windsor. Again, economic pressures was a factor in amalgamation, but so was Windsor’s desire to achieve controlled urban and county development.

Corporate body

The Building Department was established as a separate department within the City of Windsor in 1953, under the auspices of the Inspector of Buildings. In 1955 the title of the department head was changed to Building Commissioner. The department is responsible for the issuance of building permits and the review of construction projects- including residential, commercial, industrial, governmental and institutional- within the City of Windsor for compliance with various municipal by-laws and provincial regulations, such as the Ontario Building Code Act and the Rental Housing Protection Act. The department also responds to complaints regarding property maintenance standards, and performs the necessary field inspections related to the upgrading of property utilizing grants available from senior levels of government. The Building Department also employs the municipality’s property standards by-law and dirty yard by-law to maintain a high quality of life for all citizens. Windsor’s Inspector of Buildings and Building Commissioner’s include: Charles Morgan (1953-1957), Patrick Maguire (1957-1968), Derek Barlow (1968-1976), Magnus Mitchell (1976-1987) and Edward J. Link (1987- ).

Corporate body

Although the city of Windsor had the power to appoint a City Manager is 1929, it did not do so until 1958. The roots of this office can be found in the Board of Control. Established in 1937, the Board was an elected body of four controllers who were responsible for the operation of the municipality. By 1958, this Board was replaced by the City Manager form of government, and E. Royden Coulter was appointed to this position. John Steel replaced Coulter in 1969 and continued as City Manager until 1976. In that year, the title was changed to City Administrator and Hilary Payne, who had been acting City Manager, succeeded Steel and held this position until 1994. C.W. (Chuck) Wills replaced Payne in December of that year and the title was changed to Chief Administrative Officer, a position Wills holds to the present.

Corporate body

The Department of Finance dates back to the incorporation of Windsor as a Village in 1854. Originally known as the Treasurer’s Office, the department consisted of the Treasurer and a clerk. The functions of the Treasurer’s Office were augmented by the integration of the positions of Tax Collector, Assessment/Assessor Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner and Director of Budget and Administration. Currently, the four divisions of the office are Facility Management, Financial Services, Audit and Consulting Services and Technology Services. Duties of the Treasurer include monitoring the financial well being of the Corporation of the City of Windsor, the overall financial management of the city’s resources - such as financial planning and budgeting services and making recommendations to Council on financial policies and procedures for the city. The department is also responsible for the levying and collecting of municipal and school taxes, the collection of grants and other revenues, financial reporting and analysis, payroll and accounts payable, and treasury and debt management. In addition, the department provides centralized information and computing services, purchasing services, internal audit and consulting services and risk management services. The Commissioner is the Treasurer of the following entities: the City of Windsor Housing Company Ltd., the Windsor Non-Profit Housing Corporation, Roseland Golf and Curling Club Ltd., and the Windsor Tunnel Commission. Treasurers for 1854-1858 and 1860-1861 are not identified in the city by-laws. Treasurers for the City of Windsor have been Thomas E. Trew (1859), Patrick Conway (1862-1866), Clement D. Grasite (1866-1872), Charles F. Ireland (1872-1878), David B. Odette (1878-1887), Charles Barillier (1887-1890), Simon Gignac (1890-1892), W.M. Boomer (1892-1893), James C. Guillot (1893-1904), J.R. Thomson (1904-1930), Martha A. Dickinson (1930), P.A. Cleminson (1930-1935), A.E. Cock (1935-1951), Eugene L. Langlois (1951-1970), Edward A. Agnew (1970-1991), C.W. (Chuck) Wills (1991-1994), and G.S. Pinsonneault (1994- ).

Corporate body

From the time of its separation from the Township of Sandwich by its incorporation as a village in 1854, Windsor has had a Clerk reporting to and administering the affairs of Council. The title of the office changed according to the differences in Windsor’s municipal status- Village Clerk, 1854-1856; Town Clerk, 1857-1891; City Clerk, 1892 to the present. In addition to serving City Council directly, the City Clerk and members of the department are responsible for maintaining records, with a priority for minutes of council and related boards, commissions and committees. Other duties include acting as Deputy Registrar for provincial vital statistics, overseeing municipal elections and acting as Licensing Commissioner. Additionally, the Clerk’s responsibilities include acting a signing officer, keeper of deeds and agreements and keeper of assessment rolls and Court of Revision minutes. Windsor’s Village, Town and City Clerk’s have been John Stuart (1854-1857), Alexander Bartlet (1858-1879), Charles Scadding (1879-1880), Stephen Lusted (1880-1914), Martha A. Dickinson (1914-1935), Cecil V. Waters (1935-1955), Jonathon B. Adamac (1955-1984), Thomas W. Lynd (1986-2000) and John Skorobohacz (2001- ).

Corporate body

In 1944 the Windsor Planning Commission formed in anticipation of legislation pending in the Ontario Legislature. The commission’s duties included seeking solutions to local planning problems, fulfilling the planning needs of the community, and to act as the planning authority for the area. In 1946 the Ontario Minister of Planning and Development designated Windsor’s urban zone as the “Windsor Planning Area,” and devolved on Windsor City Council the responsibility of appointing a Planning Board to oversee the area’s urban development. Appointed by Windsor City Council in 1946, the Windsor Planning Area Board assumed responsibility for surveying and investigating the physical, social and economic condition of the planning area in relation to its development. The 1947 Windsor Planning Area Board Annual Report (RG10 CVIII/2) further outlined the duties of the Board: to prepare maps, drawings, texts, statistical information, and any other material necessary for the study, explanation and solution of problems or matters affecting the development of the planning area; to conduct public meetings and to publish information for the purpose of obtaining the participation and cooperation of the inhabitants of the planning area in order to solve any problems which may affect the development of the planning area; to consult with any local board having jurisdiction within the planning area; to prepare a plan for the planning area and recommend it to City Council for adoption; and to recommend to Council the implementation of any feature of the plan. By 1978, the Department of Planning and Urban Renewal consisted of three divisions: Long Range Planning, Current Operations and a Special Projects Division. Despite the name changes, the nature of the department’s activities remained virtually unchanged since the inception of the Windsor Planning Area Board in 1946.