Written By Krista Taylor, Middlesex Centre Archives
The Middlesex Centre Archives (MCA) will be hosting its annual Heritage Fair on Saturday, April 11th, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Delaware Community Centre, 2652 Gideon Drive, Delaware. The Fair is held in April to correspond with the provincial Archives Awareness Week which will be celebrated this year from April 7 to 10.
Everyone is invited and admission is free. “We are excited about this year’s participants. We have a great combination of archives, museums, genealogical and historical groups who are all passionate about sharing and celebrating our community’s heritage. What may be the heritage of one person is a learning opportunity for another. I hope that folks will be able to explore and learn something they didn’t already know during their visit.” said Archivist Krista Taylor.
New exhibitors this year include the Strathroy-Caradoc Museum, Home Children Canada and the Presbyterian Church Heritage Centre and the Committee to Establish a Middlesex County Archives - Thames Centre Heritage Working Group. Returning will be some familiar faces, including the Upper Thames Re-enactment Society, London United Empire Loyalist, Tri-County Heritage Club, Komoka Railway Museum and Fanshawe Pioneer Village. The Heritage Fair is an excellent mix of groups to showcase the rich heritage of Middlesex County and neighbouring communities. MCA will have the Archives open to the public during the event. The Archives is located in the Delaware Community Centre.
A presentation by Dan Oatman, a member of Home Children Canada at 2 p.m. will inform many about a lesser-known time in Canadian and English history. “Home Children, sometimes known as Bernardo Boys, were children-both boys and girls - who were taken from poorer areas or workhouses in England and shipped off to Canada.” Explains Ms. Taylor. “Dan will expand more on who they were in his presentation. But simply, many who left England were under the impression they would come to Canada and work on farms and start a new life, with a farm family, fresh air and opportunity. Unfortunately, the reality was anything but for most of them. In recent years, more research has been done through genealogy to try and reconnect families that were torn apart through this Victorian and Edwardian social welfare scheme. One thing we’ve learned at MCA is that many men who joined up early in the Great War were Home Children. Going to war gave them an escape from the reality of life in Canada and for some, a chance to return to England to find anyone left in their family.”
Also going on during the Heritage Fair will be the Heritage Hunters activity for kids. A lunch booth provided by the South Lobo Women’s Institute will be on-site, with coffee, cold beverages, sandwiches, soup and pie. MCA’s annual used book sale, featuring local history books, Canadian history, and genealogical resources will also be active! Cash only please for both the lunch room and book table.
MCA will also be kicking off its annual fundraising raffle. Prizes will be on-site to view. MCA has an annual budget of about $60,000 and fundraising is a large part of MCA’s income.
For more information, visit Middlesex Centre Archives on Facebook or email at middlesexcentrearchives@gmail.com. Visit MCA online at www.middlesexarchive.ca/events.
