Guided walks in Old Aylmer commemorate the anniversary of the Great Fire of Aylmer

Greg Newing

 

Residents and visitors to Aylmer participated in a series of guided walks in Old Aylmer to commemorate the Great Fire of Aylmer which occurred just over 100 years ago on August 10 1921.  The fire, which destroyed much of present-day Old Aylmer and left 700 people homeless, is considered one of the major historical events to have occurred in the town.
The guided walks were held every Wednesday evening from July 6 to 13 and a longer walk is scheduled for the upcoming anniversary of the fire on August 10. The walks are led by Lynne Rodier, an Aylmer resident and PhD Candidate in Social Museology at UQO who has conducted extensive research about Aylmer’s history and of the Outaouais region more generally. The August 10 walk will begin at 6:30pm at the Centre Culturel du Vieux-Aylmer at 120 rue Principale and ends at 8pm at the Parc Commémoratif at the corner of rue Principale and rue Park.
Like the earlier walks in July, the upcoming anniversary walk will focus on historically significant sites throughout Old Aylmer and will highlight the major changes that have occurred in Aylmer’s urban landscape over the past 100 years. Those interested in joining the walk are also encouraged to take advantage of the special temporary exhibit on the Great Fire of Aylmer at the Symmes Inn Museum which located on 1 rue Front and is free for entry.
For more information about the guided walk see its event page on the Ville De Gatineau’s calendar of activities listed under “Visites Guidées”: calendrier.gatineau.cloud
Caption: Birdseye image of Aylmer after the Great Fire in 1921.