Stroll down memory lane and go on an adventure scavenger hunt as you try to locate twelve historical landmarks located throughout Haliburton County. Many of these buildings are still standing today!

Submit your answers to info@myhaliburtonhighlands.com for a chance to win a great prize!

Photo contest sheets can be found at various locations throughout the Haliburton Highlands or by downloading it here. Good luck!

Historical scenes can be found on banners located in downtown Haliburton Village and Minden Hills. Made to commemorate the sesquicentennial, the banners feature images such as the old train, Sterling Bank, the County of Haliburton office and Reid house.

We encourage you to check the banners out next time you’re strolling through the downtown.

There are many ways to celebrate the history and heritage of the County, not just this year but every year.

Take a guided historical boat cruise that explores the long lost lodges of Kashagawigamog lake. For more information about the Haliburton Museum, or to book a spot on the Lost Haliburton Boat tours, visit: Book Now

If art is more your thing, you can enjoy a self-guided art tour of Andre Lapine’s works which are located throughout the village of Minden. More information can be found here: Lapine’s Minden Tour

We respectfully acknowledge that the County of Haliburton is located on Treaty 20 Michi Saagiig territory, and in the traditional territory of the Michi Saagiig and Chippewa Nations, collectively known as the Williams Treaties First Nations. We acknowledge a shared presence of Indigenous nations throughout the area and recognize its original inhabitants as the stewards of its lands and waters since time immemorial.

The Haliburton County Public Library is ready to celebrate the County’s 150^th with you! Staff have been working hard to help you brush up on your regional history and learn about the sesquicentennial of the County of Haliburton. Some exciting ways you can celebrate the 150 at the library are:

• • Enjoy a listing of local history books in the online catalogue, compiled by the HCPL Circulation Coordinator. This will debut on the HCPL’s homepage on Aug. 1. You will find it here: https://www.haliburtonlibrary.ca/
  • Test your history knowledge! Starting in August, the county libraries will host a County of Haliburton 150th Anniversary quiz using Kahoot. The link will be active starting August 1st.
  • To commemorate the 150th Anniversary, all of the eight branches will showcase a book display featuring local history books.

Don’t go out of style with a special commemorative 150 shirt. A signature sweatshirt will be making an appearance this summer and one could be yours!

Stay tuned for more information about special historical hikes taking place this year during Hike Haliburton, an award winning festival that takes place in September. Learn More  

INFORMATION ON HALIBURTON COUNTY COAT OF ARMS

On-line research shows there are elements taken from an existing coat of arms, in particular, the stag and the motto “Watch Weell”.

At right is a scan of the cover of Donald N. Haliburton’s book, Watch Weell/Haliburtons of New Zealand and Their Scottish Forebears. According to the Royal Heraldry Society of Canada: “the crest and motto are taken from the arms of Haliburton of Newmains, which were granted to the Lord Lyon King of Arms of Scotland in the early 1670’s. The motto, Watch Weell, is Scots for “watch well”.

The Haliburton County coat of arms (below) shows a stag at gaze “statant guardant” (with the body positioned sideways but with the head turned to face the viewer). The stag is standing directly on a terrace of grass, where one would normally expect to find a “torse”, a twisted wreath of two colours that hid the join where the crest was mounted on a knight’s helmet. The second shield behind the first one is something that would never be seen in a grant of arms.

The red maple leaves are also on the coat of arms for the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, the Haliburton Highlands O.P.P. and Canada, together with 5 pine trees. The gold chevron (chevron or) represents the roof-tree of a house, derived from the French word “chevron” meaning rafter. The chevron was traditionally granted to those who had participated in some noble enterprise, had built churches or fortresses, or had accomplished some work requiring faithful service.

Normally, a yellow chevron would not be shown against a white background, as it does not show up well. The hatching in the gold chevron is a mistake. When a coat of arms is rendered in black and white, standardized hatching designs indicate what the colour should be when rendered in colour; the hatching shown here indicates the colour version would be gold. Once the coat of arms is rendered in colour, the hatching is redundant.

The Royal Heraldry Society of Canada felt that the Haliburton County Coat of Arms was likely designed in the mid- to late-20^th Century. This Coat of Arms has not been granted or registered anywhere.

Provided by the Haliburton Highlands Genealogy Group. We thank them for their keen interest and expertise in this area!