What is Heritage week in Ontario?

Windsorites are starting to learn about Heritage Week, the history of Windsor and how it affects them.

Sophia Hinch, the Education & Public Programs Coordinator with the Art Gallery of Windsor, said we think of the well-known things around here, but some things could have been missed.

“When it comes to Windsor, we may think of Hiram Walker, Ford, Chrysler, or even the Rum Runners.” said Hinch “The trademark histories that stand out when we talk about Windsor. But many histories that construct the fabric of our region have been actively excluded when it comes to swapping stories of Windsor’s past.”

The Art Gallery of Windsor hosted a Zoom event last week about the hidden histories of Windsor with Walter T. Cassidy, Dennis K. Smith and D.A. Lockheart. They all shared the hidden histories of Windsor.

Walter Cassidy, a sponsor of the Gender & Sexuality Alliance in Windsor spoke on LGBTQAI+ in the city’s history.

“When looking into queer and trans history, you have to look at derogatory words,” said Cassidy. “You have to look a people getting arrested, you have to look at people’s lives being destroyed and unfortunately that’s what is recorded.”

Windsor has a very rich Black history.

Dennis K. Smith, a Windsor artist, said we can go back to slavery.

“The slaves worked in the fields and invented or created tools that would age in the work,” said Smith. “Or invented things but anything that was invented was the property of the owner, so they get all the credit. The slaves didn’t get anything,” said Smith.

Besides the hidden histories surrounding Windsor, the three panelists have said they all would like to see more come out of the media when it comes to Black, Indigenous and LGTBQIA+ history.

“Black Trans and Queer individuals also have to be celebrated,” said Cassidy. “Indigenous, two spirited, Indig Queer, LGBTQ have to be a part of that, and I think that intersexualnality is important and that’s the key otherwise that becomes a gay man story.”

Smith has said he would like to see more study of local Black history directed toward younger generations.

“Windsor has a rich Black history,” said Smith. There continuously needs to be more that we need to learn and teach our youth.”

Lockheart said before adding monuments of people, we need to consider how much they played in a role and how much they affected Windsor.

“One major thing I found was the Tecumseh statue,” said Lockheart. “Tecumseh never lived in the city. He was murdered in the war of 1812 by a man named Nag who was friends with him.”

Lockheart said Soloman White, the first mayor of Windsor, should have a statue because he pushed for Windsor to become a city.

“I’m surprised the city hasn’t done this yet,” said Lockheart. “He was the son of Joseph White who was first nation and he meant so much to this community but that should be history put in a statue but not political history.”

To know more about Heritage week in Ontario visit https://www.heritagetrust.on.ca/en/. 

Side Bar: In 1985, the Ontario Government made the third week of February the Ontario Heritage Week.