Heritage Week

Heritage Week Banner

Each February, Ontarians are invited to participate in Heritage Week, an annual celebration of diverse traditions, cultural expressions, and heritage in all its forms (cultural and natural, architectural, archaeological and collections).

This year, the Town of Essex will celebrate Heritage Week from February 16-20, 2026.

This year marks an important milestone as we recognize '10 Years of Celebrating our Story', looking back at the past 10 years of Heritage Week.

For a full list of online activities planned for Heritage week, please see below. We look forward to celebrating these milestones in our local history with you!

Heritage Week Itinerary

On Saturday February 14 from 9am to 5pm and Tuesday February 17 from Noon to 5pm, the Essex and Community Historical Research Society (ECHRS) (18 Gordon Avenue, Essex, ON) will have displays on the historic 1980 explosion that shook Essex Centre 46 years ago.
On Monday February 16 (Family Day), the Canadian Transportation Museum and Heritage Village (CTMHV) (6155 Arner Townline) will be hosting free admissions and activities including crafts, balloon animals, and face painting. Throughout heritage week (February 17-20), admission is by donation only. They are also offering a Rail Expo throughout February which will include: A Public Expo from 9am to 2pm on February 1, 14, 15, 21 and 22, and a Train Show from 9am to 3pm on February 7 and February 8. There will also be a Paint and Sip Fundraiser on February 27 and 28 from 7pm to 10pm in support of the museum’s education department.
On Monday February 16 (Family Day) from 10:30 am to 2:30 pm, the Essex County Steam and Gas Engine Museum (11081 Concession Road 11, McGregor, ON) will be offering tours, a light luncheon menu, and games for the kids. Weather dependent, they will also be offering people mover rides around the Museum grounds.
On Tuesday February 17 at 6pm, Town of Essex Council will congratulate winners of the 2026 Youth and Community Heritage Awards at their regular Council meeting at 6pm. Each year, during Heritage Week, the Town recognizes community members and organizations who demonstrate excellence in preserving and promoting the cultural heritage of the Town of Essex.
On Wednesday February 18 at 9:30am to Noon, the Town of Essex will be hosting a meeting with the Heritage Network – members of the local heritage organizations –to discuss heritage related updates. This meeting is by invite only. If you are a Heritage Organization who is interested in attending, please contact heritage@essex.ca to reserve your spot.
On Wednesday February 18 from 6pm to 8pm at the Essex Railway Station (87 Station Street, Essex), the Station will be hosting a special screening of a Heritage Essex Inc. video production produced and edited by Robert Newman and Nicole Ritchie. Memorabilia will also be on display and tea and coffee will be available. Come enjoy an evening of local history, storytelling, and community heritage.
CANCELLED - The Storytelling workshop has been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances and will be rescheduled.
On Saturday, February 21 Heritage Colchester will present, “Once upon a time in Colchester,” a free Family Drop-in Heritage event inviting the Community to step into Colchester’s past. The event will take place at Christ Church in Colchester, 190 Bagot Street, Harrow from 2:00 p.m.– 4:00 p.m. The public is invited to enjoy short stories told by costumed characters from different periods of the Village’s history. Come and go at your own leisure.
Throughout Heritage Week, several Heritage-themed posts will also be shared on the Town’s Facebook page. Watch out for these posts to test your local historical knowledge with the Heritage Week 2026 Quiz and enter to win a prize!
On Thursday, February 26, at 1:30 p.m. Harrow Arena Community Room (243 McAffee Street, Harrow, ON) HEIRS presents, "The Stories We Tell: From Africa to Canada." with Milo Johnson. Through poetry, spoken word, and storytelling, from his book “The Color of Freedom,” Milo Johnson reflects on the resilience, struggles, and triumphs experienced by the African diaspora during their journeys to freedom. The presentation includes visual art by Myriam Wilson. No registration is required.

Youth and Community Heritage Awards

An important component of Heritage Week is the recognition of individuals and organizations who help to preserve and promote our local history through the Community Heritage Preservation Award.

If you wish to nominate an individual or organization for this Award, send an email to heritage@essex.ca with a brief explanation why.

Past Heritage Preservation Award Winners

2018
Community Heritage Preservation Award Laurie Kowtiuk - Initiating the heritage designation of 78 Fox Street, a residence associated with Essex’s Rail History. Andreas Wirag - Initiating the heritage designation of 1215 Iler Road, remnant of Iler Settlement.
2019
Community Heritage Preservation Award Essex and Community Historical Research Society (ECHRS) - For their dedication to projects and activities concerning our local and family history. Harrow Early Immigrant Research Society (HEIRS) - For their dedication to projects and activities concerning our local and family history. Youth Community Heritage Preservation Award Erik Wolgen - For his submission, “The Tomato Farmer’s Mural.” Brian Neufeld - For his submission, “The Wheels Stopped.” Josh Birch - For his submission, “My Final Abnormal Checkup.”
2020
Community Heritage Preservation Award David Brian - For his work on the “Lost Cemeteries Project”, a collaboration to research, survey and publish an interactive map and database of settlers of African Descent in Essex County. The Friends of the John R. Park Homestead - For their continued efforts to preserve and support the historic John R. Park Homestead Conservation Area. Stephen Punga - For his work on the “Lost Cemeteries Project”, a collaboration to research, survey and publish an interactive map and database of settlers of African Descent in Essex County. Youth Community Heritage Preservation Award Abby Caldwell - For her poem entitled “And It Came to Pass” Kara Almasi - For her short story entitled “Out with the Old, in With the New”
2021
Community Heritage Preservation Award Bill Gay - For his endless efforts to save and fundraise for the Essex Train Station and for sharing his wealth of historical knowledge with the residents of the Town of Essex. Chris Carter - For his many books detailing the history of Villages and Hamlets past that without his work, would be lost. Elise Harding-Davis - For her dedication to the preservation and promotion of African Canadian History. Perry Basden - For the formation of Heritage Colchester, a group dedicated to the protection of the historic aspects of the Village of Colchester.
2022
Community Heritage Preservation Award Tony Boudreau - For his preservation work on the former Langford’s Dairy Bar Building at 71 King Street West in the Harrow Centre.
2023
Community Heritage Preservation Award Laurie Brett - For chronicling the early history of Essex, Ontario in her book, The Rising Village. Pauline Baldwin - For over 23 years of dedicated service with the Harrow Early Immigrant Research Society (HEIRS) Rena Rabberu - For the redevelopment of historic 15 King Street West in Harrow, Ontario. Sebastien Schmoranz - For the redevelopment of historic 15 King Street West in Harrow, Ontario.
2024
Community Heritage Preservation Award Canadian Transportation Museum and Heritage Village - For their dedication to the preservation of historic artifacts and education of the greater Windsor. Essex County Steam and Gas Engine Museum - For their dedication to the promotion and education of late 19th and early 20th century gas and steam powered engines and antique tractors. Fred Johnson - For his book, ‘Story of Gabriel Timberlake, Escaped Slave’.
2025
Community Heritage Preservation Award Gerald Pouget - For his dedication to the promotion and education of local history in his community and for the students of Harrow Highschool. Heritage Colchester - For their dedication to the preservation and restoration of the Colchester Schoolhouse and their promotion of the history of Colchester. Heritage Essex - For their dedication to the preservation and promotion of the history of the Essex Railway Station and heritage sites, articles and artifacts throughout the Town of Essex. Milo Johnson - For his dedication to the promotion and preservation of local Black history and genealogy.

Town of Essex Heritage Bursary

The Town of Essex and the Essex Municipal Heritage Committee are committed to the pursuit of a higher education around local history and heritage. As a result, a $500 bursary shall be awarded annually to a Town of Essex resident pursuing studies in heritage courses at a post-secondary institution in Ontario. The bursary will help finance both undergraduates and post-graduates in the following fields: History, Archaeology, Archives and Records Management and Heritage Resources Management and courses that contribute to the preservation and promotion of local heritage.

The completed Application Form and relevant evidence must be completed by March 31, 2026 at 4:30p.m. Please complete the form and provide all supporting documents to Town Hall, 33 Talbot Street South Essex or email heritage@essex.ca.

Heritage Bursary Application

Heritage Colouring Books

Add some colour to our history with your child or class by downloading a free copy of our local History colouring books. View our catalogue of colouring books below:

2022 Colouring Book Image

Heritage Talks

Learn more about our History by watching heritage talks presented by our local historians.

Heritage Activities for all Ages

OpenGuessr

OpenGuessr is an online geography game where you use visual context clues to figure out where you are in the world. The Town of Essex has created a map featuring historically significant locations from across the municipality. Each location is important to our Town's cultural heritage and character! Click the link below to play with the Heritage in Essex map!

Play OpenGuessr

How to Play

When you start a game, OpenGuessr will place you in a random location in the Town of Essex using Google Street View. It's up to you to use context clues guess where you are.
Look for visual that can help you identify your location.
Once you have explored the area and gathered enough clues, click on the map and try to place a pin where you think you are.
The closer you place your pin to the correct location, the more points you'll score

Tips to Improve Guessing

Examine the surrounding buildings, street signs, natural heritage features, and landmarks to narrow down your location within the Town of Essex.
To learn more about the history of the Town of Essex and each featured location, please use the resources provided on our website, such as the Essex Heritage Register webpage, Heritage Farm Program webpage, Barn Quilt Driving Tour Interactive Map, and the Colchester 225 booklet.

Barn Quilt Driving Tour

A Barn Quilt is a form of rural art that features one large decorative mural with quilt block pattern that is painted on a board and proudly displayed on farm buildings such as barns. During Heritage Week, enjoy a driving tour to view the many barn quilts within the Town of Essex. Click the link below to view the interactive Barn Quilt Driving Tour Map!

Barn Quilt Driving Tour Map

Heritage Bingo Card

Download and complete the bingo card by completing the activities in the squares.

Download Bingo Card

Heritage Resources for Heritage Property Owners and the General Public

With so much to discover, residents of all ages can learn about the rich history that the Town of Essex has to offer.

Take a Virtual Tour of some of the Town's most interesting heritage buildings and properties:
- Check out two rooms in the award-winning John R. Park Homestead.
- Visit the interior of one of the spiritual pillars of Mc Gregor with a tour of St Clement Church.
- Drop into Essex Centre's historic and beautiful Essex United Church.
Enjoy an historic driving tour to visit some of the Town's "lost settlements."
Discover the Heritage Farm program which recognizes the long-term stewardship of agricultural lands within the Town of Essex. To commemorate these heritage properties, eligible farm owners can request a sign to proudly display their designation as a heritage farm in the Town of Essex. Local farm operators that have been active for over fifty (50) years are invited to submit an application for designation through the Town of Essex Heritage Farm program.

Learn more about our local history and the organizations that support it.

Learn more about the merits of heritage designation.

Discover our full inventory of listed and designated properties.

Read interesting facts about the hamlet of Colchester by downloading a free copy of Colchester 225: 150 Interesting Facts.

Explore how the Town of Essex can assist you financially with essential repairs and renovations by reviewing our Heritage Grant Program or Community Improvement Plan Program.

Discover how the Town can assist in getting the unique history of your property in print by reviewing our Heritage Plaque Program.