By Ewa Chwojko-Srawley
Community members of all ages turned out in great numbers for Military Day at the Georgina Military Museum on June 21, to learn about history.
Eighteen years ago, this was just a small local gathering; now, it’s one of York Region’s most anticipated annual events, attracting visitors from far and wide.
Jeff Leggett, President of the Museum, says, “There’s a massive display of exhibitors and a variety of vendors. We also feature staged battles, with dozens of reenactors. Visitors can even fire replica weapons!”
Reenactors travel from across Ontario, camping overnight on the museum grounds. This year, they staged skirmishes based on the Battle of Normandy. “It’s not choreographed,” explains Leggett. “We don’t know who wins!”
Sarah was there, along with her daughters Corlyn and Evelen. “We came to see the reenactments and to learn about the veterans who fought for our freedom. We learned more than we ever could from books!”
The museum has an extensive display of military artifacts, ranging from World War I to more recent missions. One particularly moving exhibit is dedicated to Georgina’s own fallen Canadian officer, Robert Wilson, who was killed in Afghanistan in 2008.
Several military vehicles are on display, with this year’s highlight being a rare radar trailer from 1953—one of only two known to exist, soon to be restored by the museum.
Young Samuel Van Leeuwen examined the military artifacts displayed by Stan, a passionate collector.
Samuel asked question after question. “I want to be a soldier one day,” he said. “Everything here is fascinating. I’m really interested in military hardware.”
Stan was happy to share his knowledge. “This is just a small part of my 3,000-piece collection. My father was a Canadian veteran, so collecting military artifacts has always been personal.”
He adds, “I’m here to support the museum because what they do matters—especially for young people. Teaching them history is crucial. Without it, we risk repeating the same mistakes.”
Samuel Van Leeuwen with his parents Mike and Esther and siblings Timothy and Polly
Helen and her children:Ryan, Mia, and Julian, a cadet
Many visitors echoed Stan’s thoughts. Helen from Stouffville, came with her children—Ryan, Mia, and Julian, a cadet. “It’s important that our children learn about history,” she says. “We need to remember the past, so that war doesn’t repeat itself.”
Volunteers Roger, Phil, Steve, and Darcy donned Canadian militia uniforms from 1866. “We’re here to honour all our veterans and every person who helped secure the freedom we enjoy today,” they say.
Jeff Leggett agrees. “Our museum and events are meant to serve as reminders of the atrocities of war,” he said. “We want to educate, to preserve memory, and to promote peace, so that future generations won’t have to live through the same conflicts.”
The museum is open from April through to Remembrance Day. No appointment is needed. For more information, visit: https://georginamilitarymuseum.ca/
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