BHS Committees & Roles

Administrative

Keeping the society in order is managed by the volunteer board of directors. Setting budgets, scheduling meetings and developing a strategic direction. The committee meets periodically to develop strategies that are recommended to the board of directors for consideration.

Coordinator/Spokespersons – Jennifer
Budget – $1,500.00
Zoom (available for all committees to set up meetings)
Member Dues
Donations (financial)
Community donations (wreath)
Whitby Archives, photocopies
Digital storage (available to all committees)
Grants – Town of Whitby, HODG
Insurance

Events

Connecting with the community is important to foster growth in locals preserving our past. Some events provide for interaction of our long-time residents, display of collected artifacts, and just plan fun events to engage our youth and adults. Meeting with the public broadens our reach and attracts more members.

Committee Coordinator/Spokespersons – Gord and Maureen
Budget – $500.00
Chris, Annmarie, Betty-Jean, Jennifer, Dianne, Pat (when available)
Boo Fest,
Harvest Festival
Reunion, painting, parade float
Speakers Series, presentations
Caps/t’shirts/other

Artifacts

Some items specific to Brooklin have been found, showing the history in printed materials, products and hand crafted artifacts. These are carefully archived and stored for future display. The committee always looking for more artifacts that can be preserved to reflect the heritage of our community. Donations are also welcome.

Committee Coordinator/Spokespersons – Chris and Gary
Budget – $500.00
Marion, Marilyn, Sandra, Susan
Storage ( packing, boxes, etc), Donor forms
Artifact purchases
Photocopies
Three Master lists, one for Administration, one each for Chris and Gary
Legion storage, key at bar, sign in book

Social Media

The team strives to share the stories of Brooklin and area with a wide social network, with articles, photos and newspaper clippings from days gone by. Various platforms are used to reach as wide an audience as possible since demographics can dictate where people spend time or research for information.

Committee Coordinator/Spokesperson – Tom
Budget – $250.00
Claudio, Bradley, Brian, Jennifer
Website, – Brian
Twitter, – Tom
Instagram, – Tom
BTC Articles, – Jennifer
Facebook, – Jennifer

Elder’s Interviews – Our Recorded History

The committee seeks opportunities to video record live interviews with elders in the community with the intent to save the first-hand accounts of what they remember from their years living in the Brooklin community. These are transcribed and saved.

Committee Coordinator/Spokesperson – Roy
Budget – $250.00
Jennifer, Marion, Sandra
Interviews, Appointments,
Recordings, Transcription,
Heritage Portal,
Gifts, (bags)

Constitution /By-laws

As a new organization, the mission and goals continue to be defined. These often lead to a need to update or review the operating policies and procedures. An active committee is task to review and recommend changes to the membership at the annual general meeting.

Committee Coordinator/Spokesperson – Dianne
Budget – $0.
Claudio, Roy
Consultant – Rob Leverty, OHS

BHS on Facebook

At a recent coffee get-together, a few senior Brooklinites reminisced about Roy Ormiston, renowned Holstein breeder, and his farm that once stood on the east side of Baldwin Street where Tel-star Way and Chelmsford Drive are now located. The discussion ended with a question: “Whatever happened to Roy’s two giant cow paintings”?Harry Lade, a local artist who once owned Brooklin’s only sign gallery, painted the 10’ x 7’ cow portraits in 1953 on sheets of tin purchased from tinsmith Roy Delong who had a shop at 150 Baldwin Street, N.. Harry worked out of his converted barn studio on his Simcoe Street property. These iconic paintings hung on the exterior of Roybrook Farms’ barn year after year, greeting out of town travellers, and welcoming home residents. When Roy passed away in 2015, the paintings were sold to an unknown buyer at the Ormiston disbursement sale, never to be seen by Brooklinites again. Or so it was thought. Until the day in 2019 some locals excitedly discovered their whereabouts through a blog written by one of the owners of Our Lucky Stars Cafe in Warkworth, Ontario.Blog searchIn September 2013, Elizabeth Aikenhead, owner of Our Lucky Stars Cafe and Coffee Roaster at 16 Main Street in Warkworth, posted the blog looking for information on the cows and the name of the artist. Last year, the Brooklin Heritage Society was happy to provide them with the name. Trevor Spot, co-owner, had discovered the paintings outside Pot of Gold Antiques on Old Wooler Road. The antique shop’s proprietor, Mary Postar, didn’t know much about the paintings except that they had come from a barn somewhere around Oshawa. The original intent for Lucky Stars was to have a rotating art exhibition on its walls. But when they saw the wonderful cow paintings, they knew this is what they wanted. The cafe has never regretted the decision to buy them as they’ve become a huge part of the Cafe’s culture and are very popular with customers.Return to Brooklin?Since this came to light, several Brooklinites who recognized the paintings have driven to Warkworth just to look at them. The owners would like to have brass plaques mounted on the frames and welcome any information about the subjects. The cafe is currently for sale and the Brooklin Heritage Society has asked that if the new owners are willing to part with them, the Society would like to bring them home to Brooklin. Add your voice to the BHS request by contacting the cafe.A lingering question about one painting remains: In it, a bull on the right has horns, but so does the cow on the left. Cafe customers are asking if this is correct.You can let them know: info@ourluckystars.caThank you to Marilyn Hill for bringing this fabulous find to our attention! ☺️ ... See MoreSee Less

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Christmas is coming! Order your house portrait now and bring a smile to a loved ones face! ... See MoreSee Less

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TRVIA TUESDAYWhose barn did this cow once hang on? ... See MoreSee Less

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