Pin Quest Ontario

Simcoe County is the location of the earliest French exploration and settlement in Ontario. Historical sites in the area mark some of the earliest contacts between the French settlers and the Huron Wendat people. For example, the Ossossané National Historic Site of Canada marks the former location of the primary village of the Bear Clan of the Huron-Wendat dating at least as far back as 1632.

The community Rosemont in Adjala-Tosorontio has a general store that has been in operation since 1945, but the building the store is located in was originally built in 1861. Although renovations have been made to bring the structure up to code, it is still maintains its original appearance. 

An older lapel pin for the Township of Adjala-Tosorontio

Barrie is a community where modern development had to grow out of the ashes of its historical centre. Between 1870 and 1890, the city experienced a series of fires that destroyed entire blocks of old wood buildings and local landmarks leading to it being referred to as “among the best burning towns in Canada”. Following these two decades of destruction, the city engaged in a massive rebuilding process, creating modern structures and urban layouts some of which are still present today.

An older lapel pin for the City of Barrie.

An older lapel pin for the City of Barrie.

Bradford West Gwillumbury is home to most of the Holland Marsh, a 21,000 acre wetland and agricultural area. Agricultural production in the area have historically been led by immigrants and therefore has changed over the years to reflect the needs of newcomers. Early plots were divided into family farms. In the 1920s crops reflected European tastes such as root vegetables, ontions, and lettuce. In the 50s, the production shifted to see an influx of Italian greens such as escarole and endive. Finally, in the 90s, crops catering to Asian palates such as bok choy began to influence the area. 

The earliest residents of the area around Clearview were the Petun people whose population waned as a result of disease epidemics and raids by the Iroquois Confederacy during the Beaver Wars. European settlement centred in the community of Stayner during the 1850s, and which became an agriculture and forestry hub.

An older lapel pin for Clearview.

Collingwood has had several other names over the years, perhaps the most whimsical of which is “Hens-and-Chickens Harbour” after the five islands in the bay one of which is large and the other four are small. Collingwood would grow into a critical harbour for early great lakes trade, and a shipyard, initially to support this trade, and later for more diverse needs including building corvettes for the Royal Canadian Navy during WWII. 

An alternative pin featuring a coat of arms.

If you’re looking for Utopia, it’s in Essa. The hamlet is said to be named after Thomas Moore’s book. Visitors to the 100 acre Utopia Conservation Area can hike the trails to see wetlands, endangered butternut trees, and the 140 year old heritage grist mill.

The Ontario Stockyards is one of the province’s largest and oldest livestock markets; dating as far back as 1900. Originally located in Toronto, the Stockyards moved to Innisfil in 1993 and continues serving most of southern Ontario’s cattle, sheep, lamb and goat markets.

An older lapel pin for the Town of Innisfil.

Midland’s early settlement was led by the Midland Railway Company who sold off lots in the area they had selected as the railway’s terminus in order to finance the construction of the early village which was centred around lumber and grain trade. Nowadays the community is much livelier and hosts a delicious-sounding Butter Tart Festival every year.

Orillia lives up to its nickname as “the sunshine city”. It was the first North American community to adopt daylight saving time and was used by Stephen Leacock as the basis for his book Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town. 

Severn seems to take its name from its surroundings. In 1850, a sawmill was built at the mouth of the Severn River and a community grew around it, The residents named it Severn Mills. As the village and lumber industry grew, a small port emerged to transport lumber and the residents renamed the community Port Severn. In 1994 during municipal restructuring, the community amalgamated with others to form a township and was renamed the Township of Severn.

Wasaga Beach is situated on the world's longest freshwater beach.

Over two million visitors travel to the community every summer and participate in the many sports depicted on the town's logo.

An alternative lapel pin for the Town of Wasaga Beach.

An alternative lapel pin for the Town of Wasaga Beach.

The Township of Adjala was merged with The Township of Tosorontio in 1994 to form Adjala-Tosorontio.

The Town of Bradford merged with other municipalities to form the Township of Bradford West Gwillumbury in 1991.

The Township of Tosorontio was merged with The Township of Adjala in 1994 to form Adjala-Tosorontio.

The Adjala-Tosorontio Volunteer Pin was previously handed out by municipal council to residents who had performed notable volunteer service to the community.