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The Town of Orangeville has a rich heritage, beginning long before the Town officially received its status in 1874. This year, between February 19 to 25, Heritage Orangeville invites the community to learn more about the Town’s history as part of Heritage Week. 

Heritage Week is recognized nationally each February. Heritage Orangeville’s theme for 2024 celebrates the places and ways Orangeville lives, works and plays. 

“Although Orangeville has changed in many ways, the streets, buildings, and other cultural remnants of Orangeville’s past serve as lessons on community living from those who came before us,” said Councillor Debbie Sherwood, chair of Heritage Orangeville. “We can find inspiration to deal with the challenges of our times as citizens of Orangeville as we remember the ways past residents built their sense of community.” 

Heritage Orangeville also notes the importance of recognizing the roots on which Orangeville was built, offering a Land Acknowledgement to honour the Indigenous history and previous stewards of this land. 

“We would like to acknowledge that Orangeville occupies the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe people including the Ojibway, the Potawatomi, and the Odawa of the Three Fires Confederacy,” said Sherwood. “This Heritage Week, we ask everyone to reflect on the legacy of all past residents and the ways they interacted in their living and working spaces, how they relaxed, and how they were entertained.” 

As part of Heritage Week, displays will be available at the Mill Street and Alder Libraries, providing graphics and information about parts of Orangeville’s heritage in relation to this year’s theme. A local history section and access to the Museum of Dufferin (MoD) archives are also available through the Orangeville Public Library. The Orangeville Visitor Information Centre will also feature a MoD Pop-up Heritage Gallery.                    

For more information about Heritage Orangeville, visit orangeville.ca/ourheritage.