Last year this municipality celebrated the 150th anniversary of the establishment of the former Town of Meaford, and next year marks the 25th anniversary of the amalgamation of the former Townships of Sydenham and St. Vincent with the former Town of Meaford, creating what is known today as the Municipality of Meaford.
During Monday’s council meeting, $56,000 was earmarked with a pre-budget approval for a number of events that will celebrate a quarter-century of the amalgamated municipality next year.
A 12-page report presented to council during their November 17 meeting outlines a number of events and activities to take place between December of this year and October of 2026, and those events will be held in all corners of the municipality.
In 2001 under the direction of the provincial government, the Townships of St. Vincent and Sydenham were merged with the former Town of Meaford to form a new municipality which was originally named Georgian Highlands. That name was short-lived, however, as there were concerns that the name would be confused with two other newly minted municipalities, also formed through amalgamation, Grey Highlands and Georgian Bluffs. The new council of the new municipality quickly changed the name to the Municipality of Meaford, a controversial move at the time, and one that still is cause for frustration for some.
I have lived in Meaford since 2005, arriving here four years after the amalgamation had taken place. For me, ‘Meaford’ has always been the full 587.6 square kilometres that is today’s municipality (though when I moved here in 2005, and for a number of years after, Google Maps still showed this municipality as Georgian Highlands). I have always enjoyed the mix of rural and urban areas, the rolling hills and farmland, the various waterfront areas, and our downtown.
I quickly learned however that, like many other amalgamations that were thrust upon communities in 2001, not everything was smooth, and not everyone was happy. I found myself quite surprised as a new resident to this municipality as I began to learn some of the history and some of the frustrations that folks, particularly in the rural areas, had with the forced amalgamation.
So, there has of course been some friction along the way, and though great strides have been made to unite the three communities, some still fume over the forced amalgamation.
Successive terms of council have worked to bring all residents of the municipality together as one community while also honouring the past, and working to ensure that the many hamlets that are part of this municipality retain their identities and history.
In 2016, a new coat of arms was developed for the municipality which incorporates symbols that represent each of the former municipalities. In addition to the new coat of arms, a new municipal flag was created, and the mayor’s chain of office was revamped to include references to the many hamlets that make up the Municipality of Meaford.
Despite the efforts to create unity among all areas of the municipality, we still today see some division, which perhaps is natural and is to be expected; the merger of rural communities with a more urban community is bound to create friction. I will say though, that over the past 20 years that I have lived in this municipality, that friction is significantly less today than it was then, and over time I think it will continue to improve.
As I was reading through the report to council I was impressed with many of the planned events and programming planned for next year’s 25-year celebration, which include a special exhibit at Meaford Hall featured from December 16 of this year through February 1 of next year entitled Our Communities, Our Stories that will highlight the 30 hamlets and villages that make up this municipality.
There will be events and exhibits at the Meaford Museum as well as the Meaford Public Library, and we will also see events in Bognor during the Spring Craft Show, and in Leith during the Sweetwater Music Festival in September, and everywhere in between. Next year’s celebratory events will be for residents in all areas of the municipality, and the events will be held throughout the municipality as they should be.
There are also plans for a commemorative tree planting program that will involve “planting trees in locations that represent the former townships and hamlets, acknowledging both the history of amalgamation and the continued growth of the community.”
According to the report to council, the potential tree planting sites include “Leith Park, the Annan Ball Diamond, Bognor, and St. Vincent Park, with additional locations to be reviewed as planning progresses. Each tree planted would include a small plaque noting the 25th Anniversary of Amalgamation, creating a visible and enduring reminder of this milestone.”
As the 25th anniversary plans become finalized, they will be of course promoted heavily, and I hope that residents throughout the municipality jump in and have some fun with it, as 25 years is certainly worth celebrating. I also hope that the extensive events planned for a wide range of locations will remind us all that, in spite of the past, in spite of grievances old and new, we are forging ahead into the future as one amalgamated municipality that consists of dozens of communities with rich histories and identities that should be respected and honoured.
I look forward to the many opportunities we will have next year to celebrate this municipality’s 25th anniversary, as we march into the future as one municipality made up of two former townships, and one former town, and many fabulous hamlets, villages, and communities.
