Huron’s men and women answered the call; theme of Doors Open event

DOORS OPEN HURON ~ DEFENDING A NATION shares their stories

David R Hill, Preliminary Flying School, Centralia, 1957

Embracing the provincial Doors Open theme for 2012 “Defending a Nation”, Huron County

acknowledges the men and women who responded to the call and supported worldwide

military efforts. Doors Open Huron - Defending a Nation features 24 heritage buildings

 and unique cultural sites across Huron County open to the public - free of charge - on

October 13th and 14th from 10:00 A.M. until 4:00 P.M. daily.

Along with the number and variety of sites open, the event

also features many other programs and activities during the weekend.

Doors Open participants will discover the stories of locals who served and

defended the country and learn about heroic war efforts from the past 200 years.

This county’s diverse range of defense-related sites include four British

Commonwealth Air Training Plan bases that sprung up during World War II. And,

although these sites are no longer in active operation, veterans, historians,

memorabilia, displays and documentaries highlight memories and tell the

compelling stories of duty and commitment as well as sacrifice.

Cenotaphs of Huron - a unique self-guided map and driving tour generously

sponsored by the Maple Leaf IODE will be launched during Doors Open Huron.

Included in the historical sites, memorabilia, and tributes in Huron County this year

are: the Huron County Museum which houses the McGee exhibit about No. 31 Air

Navigation School at Port Albert, Sky Harbour Gallery in Goderich home of

Elementary Flying School No. 12, the South Huron Town Hall and Legacy Garden

as well as the Library which shares the Centralia story re Flight Training School

#9, the Royal Canadian Legion R.E. Pooley Branch 167 in Exeter, and the story

about radar from RCAF Clinton will be presented at the Regional Equine and

Agricultural Centre Huron (REACH) (note shortened hours for this site).

Special programming for the weekend includes war plane shows at Centralia’s

James T Memorial Airport (CYCE) and Goderich Airport (CYGD), a pipes and

drums salute, a Secrets of Radar Museum exhibit and presentation in Clinton

celebrate yesterday, today and tomorrow documentary films in South Huron and

Goderich, a rededication ceremony, and special church services in Blyth and in Exeter.

Huron County Museum will host Glasfax, a heritage glass company who’ll hold a

Canadian Glass Identification Clinic and share their presentation on Canadian Glass

Factories. People who want to know more about their own glass treasures are

encouraged to bring these glass items during this presentation to find out details of the

age and background of their valued items.

There are a number of remarkable cenotaphs created by appreciative communities

throughout Huron County. A new and unique self-guided map and driving tour will

be launched and available to the residents and the visitors of our area. This special

brochure has been generously supported by the Maple Leaf I.O.D.E. and the

research and design was completed by Rhea Hamilton-Seeger. Over the years

many communities paid their respects to those who fought and those we lost

defending our nation with these cenotaphs placed to honour all who’ve served

Canada’s military campaigns.

And, Huron County also features three trail hikes during Doors Open Huron,

October 13-14. For six years now, Trails Open Ontario has been promoting trail use

and education, natural heritage conservation and stewardship, as well as physical

activity and a healthy lifestyle. Modelled after the successful Doors Open Ontario

program, Trails Open Ontario provides an opportunity for all Ontarians to access

and celebrate the remarkable trail systems that exist throughout the province. In

Huron, the Maitland Trail Association offers a 3 km guided hike each day - Saturday

October 13 and Sunday October 14 and the Bayfield River Valley Trail Association

offers the Sawmill Trail hike on Sunday, October 14th.

Doors Open Huron - Defending a Nation is sponsored and co-ordinated by

Huron Arts & Heritage Network and is generously supported by the federal

Canadian Heritage programme, Building Communities Through Arts &

Heritage, the Ontario Trillium Foundation, and the Townships of Ashfield-

Colborne-Wawanosh, Morris-Turnberry, North Huron, and South Huron.

Full details are available at www.doorsopenhuron.wordpress.com or call

519.523.4328

– 30 –

Contact:

Karen Stewart, Event Programmer

Huron Arts & Heritage Network

519-523-4328

kstewart@ezlink.ca