'Incredible history': Heritage plaques coming to Flamborough this fall

If you've ever wanted to learn more history about some of the older parts of Flamborough, you'll get the chance soon enough.

In the next year, 12 heritage plaques will be set up around local communities and will feature historical information about the sites.

I wanted to do something for the community that would really speak to our heritage and the legacies within the Flamborough community, in Waterdown," Ward 15 Coun. Judi Partridge said of the inspiration behind the plaques.

The undertaking began last fall and a committee of local and city experts came together to build the concept, research and design the plaques. In addition to Partridge, the committee includes Legion member and veteran Bob Thomas, WDHS teacher and historian Nathan Tidridge, Partridge's administrative assistant Christine DiGiantomasso, the City of Hamilton's Alissa Golden and Christopher Redford, the Flamborough Archives' Lyn Lunsted and Waterdown BIA executive director Susan Pennie.

Two of the 12 plaques are almost ready and will be unveiled some time in the fall.

We're going to do an installation and there will be a bit of a groundbreaking," Partridge said, noting the first two will be installed at Waterdown Memorial Hall and Waterdown Memorial Park.

The other four planned for this year include Sealey Park, the Waterdown Heights subdivision, the 2020 Black Lives Matter Solidarity March and the Great Fire of 1922 - though the latter may be held until next year to coincide with the 100th anniversary.

Redford, the city's Heritage Presentation, Hamilton and Scourge National Historic Site Tourism & Culture Division co-ordinator, said the plaques will have a standard pumpkin-colour background with blue border, as well as the city crest, a blurb of the site and photos. While the first six topics were chosen this past January, the following six will be decided on next January.

We didn't want to come up with all the topics immediately because then you lose the opportunity to have other things come to you," Redford said.

Meanwhile, Partridge noted that with Flamborough's growth, it was time to share the incredible history" with the new residents.

I just think it's really super important that people get to understand and know what the background is of the community that they live in," she said.

Eventually the plan will be to have a heritage walk, something Redford sees as a way to get back to normal after the COVID-19 pandemic.

"To put things in real space ... and encourage people to saunter about town this time next year and have a look at all of them," he said.

The installation has yet to be scheduled but is expected some time this fall.