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
Zoom (available for all committees to set up meetings)
Member Dues – Brian
Donations (financial) – Brian
Community donations (wreath) – Jennifer
Whitby Archives, photocopies – Jennifer
Digital storage (available to all committees)
Grants – Town of Whitby, HODG – Brian
Insurance (Directors) – Jennifer

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
Chris, Betty-Jean, Jennifer, Dianne, Pat, Rijn, Gary, Erlyne
Boo Fest,
Harvest Festival
Reunion, painting, parade float
Speakers Series, presentations
Caps/t’shirts/other

Brooklin Remembered book

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
Gary, Marion, Dianne, Susan
Storage ( packing, boxes, etc), Donor forms
Artifact purchases
Photocopies
Master list.

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 – Claudio
Rijn, Brian, Jennifer
Website, – Brian
Twitter, – Jennifer
Instagram, – Claudio
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 – Jennifer
Marion, Dianne
Interviews, Appointments,
Recordings, Transcription,
Heritage Portal

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

Effective May 31, 2022

BHS on Facebook

Brooklin's history includes this little-known fact: The village has had three fire stations in the past century. Tiny Roebuck Street was once a bustling local business hub, what with the Globe Hotel on the Grass park site and various shops lining the north side. The first fire station was built around 1910 at 4 Roebuck, which was later changed by the Town of Whitby to 2 Roebuck. Despite its small size it served the community well. Because the station did not have a siren, it was up to local telephone operators to contact firemen whenever they received a report of a fire.Volunteer firefighters Due to an 1857 Whitby Township by-law, fire brigades were made up of volunteer firefighters, who, in the beginning, did not have much in the way of leadership. George Vick, a Brooklin insurance salesman, organized the Whitby Township fire department in 1924 and assumed the role of fire chief. Volunteer firemen from Brooklin, Myrtle, Myrtle Station and Ashburn bravely took time away from their paid jobs to fight fires with little more than a one-handed pumper cart and buckets.Eventually a GMC double pumper cart was purchased to replace the one-handed cart. Years later Whitby Township purchased a GMC King Pumper truck to replace the double cart. But the station was too small to accommodate it so the floor had to be dug out to make room.New site By 1964 it became evident that the station no longer met the needs of the growing community and so fire station #1 was built at 6 Vipond Road. The two-story building provided space for 2 trucks and a siren that would set the local dogs howling whenever it went off. Whitby Township amalgamated with the Town of Whitby in July 1967, merging the fire department with Whitby Fire and Emergency services. It was around this time that the old by-law was changed and firemen were hired full-time.The Vipond Road station was replaced in 2006 by Brooklin's third station at 6745 Baldwin Street, N., though it wasn't demolished until 2009. Residents Jeff Dinsmore and Harry Agar saved the siren which is displayed at the third station in recognition of Brooklin's volunteer fire department.Meanwhile, the Roebuck station sat empty for a few years until a Boy Scouts troop temporarily utilized the space to store newspapers, apples and Christmas trees for their drives. The building was purchased by First City Developments and slated for demolition in the early 1980's, however, the company could not get permission to build on the property.Renovated building Brooklin businessman Gary Young bought the building and renovated it, hiring local boys Glenn and Steve Hobbs, Bob Fraser and Stan Hollinshead to remove the rotting lumber. Young installed a new roof and display windows to transform it into a commercial building that he has rented to various businesses over the years. Today, Tip Top Creamery leases the building. Although 2 Roebuck has not been designated a heritage site, one of Brooklin's historical landmarks was repurposed and is still being used today. ... See MoreSee Less

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