Archives History and Heritage

Wasaga Beach Archives is CLOSED until further notice as the Town transitions to a new service model.

For inquiries, email: archives@wasagabeach.com or call (705) 300-0203 

Consider making a donation to the Archives so that the history of the Town of Wasaga Beach can be preserved. Check your attic, basement, garage. We accept donations by appointment only from individuals and families, community organizations, businesses and local government. 

Items may include but are not limited to the following:

• Papers, letters, and diaries
• Photographs, postcards and digital image files
• Maps, Architectural drawings and plans
• Research materials and publications about the Town
• Movies and films, digital video files and sound recordings
• Family history and genealogical data

Please contact the Archives Coordinator if you wish to discuss a donation by emailing  archives@wasagabeach.com or calling directly at 705-300-0203. 

The Archives is in search of information about a business called "NIDA" that operated along the beachfront. The business was owned and operated by Peter Dambrauskus. There were a few cottages and a coffee shop on the premises. Between 1948-1952 Peter rented surf boards for day use. 

If you or someone you know has any recollections or information about the business, please contact the Archives via phone (705)300-0203, email at archives@wasagabeach.com or stop in to the Archives where we will record any details you can provide. 

As far back as 1977 the first appointed Town Archivist, Helen Gillies was collecting archival and historical items and was recommending “That council consider a suitable area for a location of files, artifacts etc.” that were being stored in her home. The Archives was opened in the Wasaga Beach Library in 1997 by the second appointed Town Archivist, Thelma Morrison. Thelma managed the Archives until her retirement in 2008 when our most recent Town Archivist, Mary Watson was appointed. Mary was Archivist until her passing in January, 2023. All three Town Archivists were well known members of the community and wrote for local newspapers. “Wasaga Saga” written by Thelma Morrison and “Sharing Memories” written by Mary Watson are books containing facts and stories about the history of Wasaga Beach and are available for sale at the Archives. We greatly appreciate the contribution to the preservation of the history of our Town by each of our Archivists.

HMCS Wasaga Series - The Saga of Our WW2 Ship HMCS Wasaga (Part 1 The Build)

By: Sgt. (Ret'd) Anthony Beresford, CD
      Archives Volunteer

The Saga of Our WW2 Ship HMCS Wasaga (Part 1 The Build)

This past January 31st marked the 100th Anniversary of the creation of a truly Canadian Naval Reserve in 1923, just 13 years after the creation of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) in 1910. The years following WW1 (1914-1918), the "war to end all wars", were filled with a global flu pandemic, collapse of the international banking system, famine due to outdated farming methods tied to record drought conditions, and the political turmoil of multiple failing or increasingly dictorial and expansionist governments. The cost of maintaining a large national military and Merchant Navy (MN) fleet was considered politically unmanageable. Rear Admiral Walter Hose, considered the father of the Naval Reserve, envisioned a citizen's reserve of skilled tradesmen that could be called-up for active service when future needs would arise. And arise they did, on September 10th, 1939 just seven days after France and England, Canada declared war on Nazi Germany following their illegal invasion of Poland.

The RCN in September 1939 was under strength and included only 3500 personnel, both regular and reserve, and six aged ocean going warships. The war lead to a substantial naval buildup of over 1,140 warships, submarines and auxiliary vessels, with 95,000 men and women in our naval service, resulting in Canada becoming the 3rd largest navy in the world based mostly on the successfulness of our naval reserve system and national defence production capabilities. Our merchant navy also increased to become the 4th largest. Part of that massive growth was the initial 1939-1940 Building Program which involved every facility capable of supporting shipbuilding. In the southern Georgian Bay region alone there were active shipyards at Owen Sound, Collingwood, Midland, Waubaushene, Parry Sound, Port Severn, Honey Harbour, Port Carling, and Orillia to name a few.  

In order to get the buy in for public support to both the War Bonds fundraising efforts, and to directly support the troops, the navy initiated an Adopt a Ship Program. Due to Wasaga Beach's location on the water as a recreational area for military troops stationed at Camp Borden, and it's former strategic importance on the War of 1812 supply route known as the 9 Mile Portage as a sheltered harbour, made famous by our own HMS Nancy history, our town namesake was officially named His Majesty's Canadian Ship (HMCS) Wasaga.

With a full complement of approximately 70 crew, almost entirely reservists, HMCS Wasaga was the first Canadian built 'Bangor Class' minesweeper, one of 18 in the first program 39-40 build, and of a 54 total that served of that class ship. She was first laid down by the Burrard Dry Dock Company Limited in North Vancouver British Columbia as hull number 124 on 3rd September 1940. She was launched under Pennant Number J-162 on 12th December 1940 and christened in Vancouver by Mrs. J.H. King, wife of Senator King, in a double ceremony with her sister ship J-165 HMCS Minas on 22nd January 1941 with the traditional Champagne shower. At the close of the ceremony Mrs. King gave a speech in response to Commander B.L. Johnson, chief naval officer for the Port of Vancouver, wishing success to the men of the sea who would in their great and hazardous task uphold the traditions of the sea - freedom, justice and mercy. It was the first double christening of naval vessels in Canada.

Following completion of initial contractor acceptance trials HMCS Wasaga departed Esquimalt under the command of LCdr Walter Redford, RCNR on 6th August 1941 to transit the Panama Canal in order to join the Atlantic Fleet at Halifax on 10th September 1941. She was sent to Bermuda to conduct Work-Up tactical training and then, being deemed 'In all respects ready for the sea', returned to join Halifax Force to earn her first Battle Honour, The Battle of the Atlantic. She would spend most of the next two years in the North Atlantic mostly working tirelessly based out of St. John, Newfoundland, then still a British Colony. She would transfer by the way of the Azores to the 31st minesweeping Flotilla in early 1944 for the preparation for her second battle honour, The Battle of Normandy, starting with sweeping the D-Day approaches to UTAH Beach, then participating in the mopping up operations along the French coastline until war's end. From the records reviewed thus far Wasaga did not lose one crewman during their eventful time onboard this lucky little ship. More detail on her operations to come. Lest We Forget. 

N.B. This is part of a series to highlight the wartime history of our namesake ship and some of the crew.

By:  Sgt. (Ret'd) Anthony Beresford, CD
       Archives Volunteer
The Saga of Our WW2 Ship HMCS Wasaga (Part 2 Battle of the Atlantic)
The first Sunday in May marks the traditional Second World War commemorative ceremonies for the Battle of the Atlantic nationwide. The Battle of the Atlantic was the longest continuous battle of the Second World War that began on the opening day of the war in September 1939 and ended almost six years later with Germany's surrender in May 1945. Within the Southern Georgian Bay region this ceremony is held annually by the waterfront in Barrie, ON attended by our local naval and air communities of veterans, active service, and cadet program.

The Battle of the Atlantic brought the war to Canada's doorstep, with U-boats torpedoing ships within sight of Canada's East Coast and even into the St. Lawrence River. In the southern Georgian Bay region alone there were active shipyards contributing to the war effort at Owen Sound, Collingwood, Midland, Waubaushene, Parry Sound, Port Severn, Honey Harbour, Port Carling, and Orillia to name a few. From 1941 to 1945, Canadian shipyards produced approximately 403 merchant ships, 281 fighting ships, 206 minesweepers, 254 tugs, and 3,302 landing craft. Most of the 2,000 RCN officers and men who died during the war were killed during the Battle of the Atlantic, as were 752 members of the RCAF. There were also civilian casualties. On October 14, 1942 for example, 136 passengers and 31 crew of the 237 on board died when the ferry SS Caribou was sunk in 5 minutes by U-69 at 3:30 AM as it crossed from Nova Scotia to Newfoundland.

Canada's Merchant Navy, along with the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) and Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), played a key role in the Allied efforts against the dreaded U-Boat. The Canadian Merchant Navy, which was considered Canada's fourth branch of the military, suffered the highest casualty rate of the four. While Canada started the war with only 37 merchant ships of her own, 410 had been built by Canada for the allied war effort, of which 175 were in the Canadian Merchant Navy manned by 12000 men and women by the end of hostilities. The ships were vital links conducting more than 25000 voyages, and often sitting ducks, a floating turkey shoot for an enemy, which, by war's end, sank 72 Canadian merchant vessels, claiming 1554 lives. Indeed, percentage-wise, their casualty rate was higher than those of any of Canada's fighting services during the Second World War-one out of every seven Merchant Navy sailors who served was killed or wounded. Despite that, the men and women weren't formally recognized as veterans until 1992, with thanks in no small part to one of Wasaga's past residents, Jack Stapleton, whose name is honoured in our Veteran Banner Program in 2018. After the war, they faced hardship, missing out on government programs, support and veteran care programs. Bill C-411 received royal assent in 2003, legally creating Merchant Navy Day on September 3rd. 

Hull number 124 was first laid down by the Burrard Dry Dock Company Limited in North Vancouver, British Columbia on 3rd September 1940 as the first Canadian built Bangor Class Minesweeper. She was launched under Pennant Number J-162 on 12th December 1940 and christened HMCS Wasaga under the Adopt-a-Ship Program in Vancouver by Mrs. J.H. King, wife of Senator King, in a double ceremony with her sister ship J-165 HMCS Minas on 22nd January 1941 with the traditional Champagne shower. Following her completion for approximately $575,000CDN, and naval contractor acceptance trials, HMCS Wasaga under the command of LCdr Walter Redford, RCNR departed Esquimalt with her initial commissioning crew on 6th August 1941 under orders to transit the Panama Canal in order to join the Atlantic Fleet at Halifax. On arrival on 10th September 1941 HMCS Wasaga was sent to Bermuda to conduct Work-Up tactical training, and then being deemed 'In all respects ready for the sea', returned to join Halifax Force to join in and earn her first Battle Honour, The Battle of the Atlantic.

Much of this part of the history of our ship is from the recollections, news clippings and photo archives of Stoker Chief Petty Officer (Retired) Donald Alexander Conron formerly of Wasaga Beach. In March 1942, HMCS Wasaga was transferred to Newfoundland Force. She would spend most of the next two years in the North Atlantic mostly working tirelessly based out of St. John, Newfoundland, then still a British Colony as Newfoundland was not part of Canada until 1949. She was a very active ship sailing 27-28 days of the month from 1942-1944. She also had a reputation as a friendly ship, nick named the 'Wacky Wasaga' for her pranks. She had a few ship's pet mascots as well, including their own cat, complete with it's own hammock. Her unofficial ship's gunshield art crest was a Wolf with a turtle strapped to his head (old British style Tommy Helmet) surfing on a torpedo with fins overlayed on a maple leaf.

But, she was a fighting ship! In addition to her regular convoy patrols, she was called on for many special assignments such as;
-Escorting the first Canadian Repair and Supply ship HMCS Preserver from Halifax to St. John's Nfld;
-Escorting the replacement ferry service between Sydney and Port aux Basques after the loss of SS Caribou that was torpedoed;
-Escorting an oil tanker regularly to Good Bay, Labrador with a load of aircraft fuel;
-Assisted the repair ship SS Lord Kelvin for two weeks while she repaired a vital transatlantic communications cable on the edge of the continental shelf east of Newfoundland;
-Recovered a disabled freighter to port during a severe winter storm in 1942;
-Rescued the crew of a disabled Fairmille also during heavy weather;
-A collision with HMCS Midland, still waiting on Admiralty Board of Inquiry details;
-Along with the sea going salvage tugboat Foundation Franklin (made famous by Farley Mowat's book 'Grey Seas Under') and HMCS Columbia, took part in the rescue recovery of the US 'Lend Lease Program' WW1 era destroyer HMS Caldwell during a very severe winter Atlantic gale in February 1943 for which the captain and crew were congratulated by Admiralty HQ as detailed in an article written by the author of HMCS Haida, Lieutenant William Sclater;
-She was generous and community minded as well. During the 4th Victory Loan drive she led all ships of the Newfoundland base command in percentage of bond sales, well over their 100% quota at $5500, and by the 5th drive in October 1943 had already signed up for $5700 worth of bonds, or 190% of their higher $3000 objective set for her. In October 1943 they also received a letter of thanks for their contributions to the Corner Brook Seaman's Welfare Association;
-While escorting convoy WB13, rescued most of the crew of HMCS Saguenay when her stern was blown off during collision off Cape Race in Nov 1943, during the same action she also rescued from the water the crew of the sunken Panamanian freighter SS Azra which had struck the Saguenay;
-A major incident nearly ended HMCS Wasaga's career when a freighter in heavy fog rammed her during convoy operations just two feet short of the depth charge locker on her stern almost causing a similar incident which almost finished off HMCS Saguenay;
-An article not printed until the end of the war for security reasons details the minesweeping work done in late 1943 by HMCS Wasaga and her sisters in clearing St. John's harbour of German submarine mines laid overnight in a surprise attach. The Germans had attempted this in Halifax several months earlier. Two merchant ships had fallen victim before they had been detected. One had sunk in 40 minutes but luckily the crew was rescued. The second carrying Iron Ore went down in 30 seconds losing 27 out of a crew of 41. According to the news reporter the Wasaga was a "Jaunty craft, gaily thumbing her nose at the hidden explosive". The mines threw up water columns almost 300 feet into the air. As the reporter was trying to figure out the workings of his lifebelt, the First Lieutenant of the Wasaga Bill Hoggett said cheerfully "I wouldn't worry about that, if we bump into one of those, all you'll need is a harp". 

She would transfer by the way of the Azores to the 31st Minesweeping Flotilla in early 1944 for the preparation for her second battle honour, The Battle of Normandy, starting with sweeping the D-Day approaches to UTAH Beach, then participating in the mopping up operations along the French coastline until war's end. From the records reviewed thus far Wasaga did not lose one crewman during their eventful time onboard this lucky little ship. More detail on her operations to come. Lest We Forget.

N.B. This is part of a series to highlight the wartime history of our namesake ship and some of the crew. 

HMCS Wasaga Pt3 (June) 1944-1945 Battle of Normandy- OP Nepturne

The Historical Advisory Committee in association with the Town of Wasaga Beach Archives periodically produces history related narrated videos available for your viewing via the Town Facebook and Twitter social media platforms, the Town website and the Wasaga Beach Historical Advisory Committee YouTube channel. The following videos are currently available:

• Memories of Normandie Lodge
• Keeping History Alive
• Memories of the Capstan Inn
• Wasaga Beach Cottage Life
• The Dardanella Dance Hall
• The Origins of the Archives and Archivist Thelma Morrison

• Wasaga Beach Bridges

The Nancy Island Historic Site has served as a historic site since 1928 and is the most viable site to the War of 1812 in Simcoe County and Georgian Bay region. 
Located at 119 Mosley Street, Wasaga Beach (Across the road from 3rd Street N). 
Phone: 705-429-2728