Georgina Military Museum, Keswick

Georgina Military Museum, Keswick

Attractions

By: Rebecca Reid

The Georgina Military Museum, with a motto of “honouring our past, educating our future”, is a wonderful place to commemorate the veterans who sacrificed their young lives so that future generations of Canadians could experience freedom.

For local residents Phil Craig and veteran Sam Doggart, the dream of a museum recounting Canada’s military history began in 2001 with a single display case in the Sutton Railway Station at the Georgina Pioneer Village. As artifacts grew, the museum relocated to its current home on Woodbine Avenue in Keswick, opening to the public in July, 2007.

The museum is filled with an extensive collection of memorabilia from conflicts in which Canadians have had military involvement dating back to 1866. Visitors learn about the Fenian raids from the United States which led to the creation of militia groups such as the Queen’s York Rangers, the Boer War and the first concentration camps, the First World War including Canada’s victory at Vimy Ridge and how that battle helped to shape the country’s identity, the Second World War with the infamous invasion of Juno Beach, as well as our role in the Korean War and present day peacekeeping missions.  

A variety of exhibits depict stories of battle as well as daily life in the trenches with such items as helmets, gas masks, uniforms, kit bags, rifles, bayonets, battle maps, medals, newspapers, pictures, cigarettes and matches, cooking utensils, letters, dog tags, Bibles and diaries.

Each artifact was generously donated by the families of soldiers in order to preserve their loved ones' tales of courage and sacrifice. On-camera interviews of veterans for permanent archive are also currently underway.

The Georgina Military Museum, located at 26061 Woodbine Avenue, is open to the public Saturday, Sunday and holiday Mondays from 10 am - 4 pm and can also be reserved for school field trips and other group tours. Admission is $5. Call 905-476-5254 for more information or visit www.georginamilitarymuseum.ca

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