The Bristol Quebec Historical Society threw open the doors of the Jack Graham Community Centre Wednesday to celebrate 30 years of collecting and documenting first the history of Norway Bay and surrounds, before expanding their efforts and name in 2024 and focusing on the municipality as a whole.
The invitation was broad and the response, resounding. Society president Nancy Crain beamed at the turnout.
“We are thrilled with the success of the event,” she said. “We made a concerted effort to advertise the 30th anniversary party as much as possible, and we were hoping for a large group. However, we had no idea how many would be coming. So, to have approximately 125 people join us, we are over the moon!”
The community centre was filled from wall to wall, with every chair occupied and overflow attendees standing on its fringe.
On both sides of the room were displays showcasing a small fraction of the society’s collection, offering opportunity to both inform attendees on the society’s efforts as well as to invite others to join in contributing to the growing story being crafted.
“To be able to have our guests view a selection of our 300-plus historical binders, alongside local antique quilts and bible from the Bristol Community Association was wonderful,” Crain said.
The event had a celebratory feel from the get-go with well-known local musician Gail Gavan on stage acting as both entertainment and emcee. Gavan was accompanied by friend and musician Sherry Fitzpatrick, and together, their effusive energy and joy brought attendees to their feet in makeshift dance floors all over the room.
On hand to recognize the accomplishment were MRC Pontiac warden Jane Toller and Bristol Mayor Brent Orr. Both were integral to the celebrations.
Beginning in 1995 with the efforts of Mary Gamble Calvert and her vision to collect and commemorate the history of Norway Bay, the Norway Bay Historical Society took flight. Since that time, the society has evolved and expanded, weathered attrition brought on by challenges with the pandemic and now stands somewhat newly minted as the Bristol Quebec Historical Society focusing on the entire municipality from Moffat Lake in the North to the Ottawa River in the South.
The historical society has aspirations to not only continue the work they have been doing, but to expand their efforts in collaboration with other societies and to empower community members in sharing their own stories.
“We welcome all in the Bristol community to create a binder or add to an existing one. These binders reflect the history and current events related to the homes, cottages, farms and families in the municipality,” Crain said. “Collectively, they represent our story.”
Beyond families and addresses, and beginning several decades ago, volunteers began sourcing, collecting, and filing information including photos, stories, newspaper clippings and more offering a panoply of community.
These tidbits of information are now largely stored in the historical binders Crain referenced and there are ambitions to digitize the collection making it more accessible across a wider audience.
The celebration was complemented with a broad array of nibbles and refreshments provided for by members of the society, making the event feel very much like an extended family barbecue which, in the most romantic of notions, is likely what sharing a history means: we are together in this.
