Sheila Thomson celebrates 100

Longtime local historian Sheila Thomson celebrates her centennial birthday in January 2023.

Sheila was a dogged researcher who wrote an extensive history of the early Chelsea settlers, based on numerous interviews of old-timers. This 1965 paper is available for reference in the GVHS's Pat Evans Archives.

Sheila was profiled by Wayne Anderson in Volume 44 of Up the Gatineau!, in his article called "One Woman’s Fight to Preserve the History and Wilderness of Gatineau Park." She and her husband were featured on the cover of that volume, which also included an article by her called "Letter to Harry: My 1949 Canoe Trip in the Upper Gatineau." Please take the time to appreciate the talents of this remarkable individual by reading or re-reading this volume.

The GVHS congratulates Sheila on her 100th birthday, which the Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club has also recognized with the attached article by Daniel Brunton in their most recent Trail & Landscape publication.

See tribute by Daniel F. Brunton.

New GVHS Exhibit at Chelsea Town Hall

Love Letters from the Cedar Chest

Drop by the municipal offices at 100 chemin Old Chelsea to see the new exhibit in the reception area on our “History Wall”. The exhibit tells the story of the former century-old Cascades train station, now landlocked off Old Chelsea Road close to Hwy 5, and awaiting its final destination somewhere along La Voie Verte Chelsea.

Louise Schwartz showing the new History Wall.

Official Release of the 2022 Volume of Up the Gatineau!

The newest volume of its local history journal, Volume 48 has been published. A complimentary copy will be distributed to members in June, and copies will be available for purchase in many local Gatineau Valley retail establishments.

Please read this update from its editor, and check out the volume’s table of contents.