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Gary Denniss

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Gary Denniss
Gary Denniss, 2017
Born (1944-05-31) May 31, 1944 (age 80)
Bracebridge, Ontario
Canada
Alma materWilfrid Laurier University
(Bachelor's degree 1965)
North Bay Teacher's College
(Teacher's Certificate, 1965) York St. Peter's Evangelistic Organization
(Ordained Minister 2016)
Occupation(s)Canadian historian, elementary school teacher, columnist, ordained minister, speaker, antiquarian
Years active1965 -
SpouseGrace Audrey Reuber (m. 1972)
ChildrenDeborah Ruth Woodland (b. 1976)
Londa Carol Balfoort (1977–2004)
Steven Garfield Denniss (b. 1978)

Frank Garfield "Gary" Denniss is a Canadian historian,[1][2][3] newspaper columnist,[4] retired public school teacher,[5] speaker [6] and ordained minister born in 1944 in Bracebridge, Ontario [7] Denniss is the author of 43 books on the history of the District Municipality of Muskoka, (Muskoka District, at the southern edge of the Canadian Shield, stretches north from the Severn River through rocky and forested lake land, bounded by Georgian Bay on the west and Algonquin Park to the east, connecting to twin district Parry Sound.)[8]

Biography

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Gary Denniss was born at Bracebridge Memorial Hospital on May 31, 1944, to Frank Edwin Denniss II (1908–2003), and Jessie Evelyn Arnott (1917–1991). Mr Denniss taught in the public schools in the Bracebridge, Ontario area (Wah Wah Taysee, Cochrane, Bracebridge, Vankoughnet, Huntsville, and Macaulay) until his retirement in 1998.[2] He continues to live in Bracebridge, where he writes, teaches piano, and officiates at weddings and funerals. Since 1991, Mr Denniss has held a leadership role in the maintenance of Bracebridge veterans' gravesites, veterans' memories [9] and Langford Cemetery, Macaulay Township.[10][11]

Published works

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  • "Macaulay Township in Days Gone By" : Herald-Gazette Press, 1970, (Algoma University, Wishart Library).[12][13][14][15]
  • "The Pioneer Zimmerman Family of Macaulay Township", newspaper article, Herald-Gazette, Bracebridge, ON. April 2, 1970.
  • "A Brief History of the Schools in Muskoka", Herald-Gazette Press, 1972.[16][17][18][19]
  • "Free Methodist Hill, a Centennial History", 1879–1979, Herald-Gazette, 1979.
  • "The Spirit of the Twelfth (1982); The story of the Orange Order in Canada", Gravenhurst Printing, 1982[20][21][22][23][24][25]
  • "Muskoka - Ontario’s First District Municipality", 1995, GarDen Press.
  • "A Brief History of the Churches in Muskoka", 1997, 1998 and 2003, Publisher: GarDen Press, 2003 (Algoma University, Wishart Library),[16][17][26][27][28]
  • "The Story of Springdale Park", Publisher: Springdale Park Spiritual Association, 1998. ISBN 0968413501, by Gary Denniss.[29][30]
  • "Educating Muskoka District", 1999, ISBN 0-9686224-2-9, by Gary Denniss.[31]
  • "The Educational Heritage of Muskoka", 2001 (History of the Muskoka Board of Education), ISBN 0-9686224-1-0.
  • "The Past Before Us: A History of Free Methodist Camp Meetings in Muskoka, 2002, ISBN 0-9686224-2-9.
  • "In Loving Memory: The History of Langford Cemetery", 2006 (collection of obituaries).
  • "Going to School in Macaulay", 2010, ISBN 0-9813073-2-9 [32] by Gary Denniss.[33][34]
  • "The Holditch Family Reunion", Sept. 2013, GarDen Press.
  • "Historic Routes of Bracebridge", 2012, GarDen Press.[35][36][37][38]
  • "Bracebridge Connections", Vol. 1, 2014, GarDen Press.
  • "Bracebridge Connections", Vol. 2, 2015, GarDen Press [39]
  • "Bracebridge in the Fifties", 2016, GarDen Press [40][41]
  • "Bracebridge in the Sixties", 2017, GarDen Press [42]
  • "Bracebridge in the Seventies", GarDen Press, February 2018, ISBN 978-0-9813073-5-0 [43]
  • "Muskoka Scrapbook" (series of eight books: Individual years, 1926, 1936, 1946, 1956, 1966, 1976 (two volumes), 1952.[21]
  • "A Good Town Continues - Bracebridge 1915–1999", contributed to by Gary Denniss.
  • "The Orange Lodge and its History in Muskoka", 1999.
  • "Titch of Muskoka (a seven-part series)"[21][44]
  • "Muskoka Scrapbook - a five-part series of books on World War 1" -1914, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918): Volume 1 ISBN 978-0-9686224-4-5, Volume 2 ISBN 978-0-9686224-6-9, Volume 3 ISBN 978-0-9686224-7-6, Volume 4 ISBN 978-0-9686224-9-0, Volume 5 ISBN 978-0-9813073-1-2 [6] "Muskoka Scrapbook - Speaker Series", sponsored by Muskoka Steamship and Historical Society", First speaker, Gary Denniss, Sun., April 22, 2007.
  • Bracebridge in the Eighties ISBN 978-0-9813073-6-7 December 2018, GarDen Press [45]
  • The Family Heritage of Howard and Sheila Vincent, ISBN 978-0-9813073-7-4, December 2018, GarDen Press
  • "The Arnott's of 36 Edward Street", ISBN 978-0-9813073-8-1, June 2019.
  • "Muskoka Memories 101" November 2019, ISBN 978-0-9813073-9-8
  • "Muskoka Memories 102" ISBN 978-0-9813073-9-8
  • "Muskoka Memories 103" October 2021 ISBN 978-1-7770181-1-5 [46]
  • "Muskoka Memories 104"
  • "Muskoka Memories 105" ISBN 978-1-7770801-7-7 Parameter error in {{ISBN}}: checksum [47] [48]
  • "Langford Cemetery 1873-2023" ISBN 978-1-77701-9-1 Parameter error in {{ISBN}}: length
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https://garydenniss.ca/[permanent dead link‍]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srTeIAKzUCU

https://muskokatoday.com/2023/08/latest-gary-denniss-history-book-covers-muskokas-rugged-rich-past

Reviews

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  • "Among local Historians, Gary Denniss is Royalty", by Ted Currie, Muskoka Today, Nov. 3–17 issue, 1995.

Awards and honors

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  • Lieutenant Governor's Ontario Heritage Award for Lifetime Achievement, presented by Lt. Gov. David Onley, Feb. 21, 2013 [2][49][50][51]
  • Heritage Community Recognition Award, presented to Mr. Denniss at the Rene Caisse Theatre, the Town of Bracebridge, by Councillor Steve Clement and C. Hammond, June 27, 2012 [10]
  • Robert J. Boyer Award, "honours the dedication of individuals in our community who work to keep the natural and cultural history of our region alive", presented to Gary Denniss by the Board of Directors, Muskoka Conservancy, May 17, 2013.[52]

References

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  1. ^ "Learn about Muskoka Heritage on Apr. 16", Torstar Syndication Services, a Division of Toronto Star Newspaper Ltd., Feb. 27, 2014, ISSN 0704-0210
  2. ^ a b c Cole, Marilyn (June 26, 2014). "The story of a local historian". MuskokaRegion.com. Bracebridge Examiner. Retrieved 15 April 2017.
  3. ^ "The story of a local historian", Torstar Syndication Services, a division of Toronto Star newspapers, Ltd., June 26, 2014
  4. ^ "An aboriginal nomen - What does Muskoka mean?", July 29 to Aug. 12, 2004, Muskoka Today, (first article in column A Titch of Muskoka, by Gary Dennis)
  5. ^ Currie, Ted (8 March 2014). "Ted Currie; Antique Head: Congratulations To Muskoka Historian Gary Denniss On Provincial Award; The Atmosphere Of A Country Auction". Ted Currie; Antique Head. Retrieved 15 April 2017.
  6. ^ a b "Muskoka Scrapbook - Speaker Series", sponsored by Muskoka Steamship and Historical Society", First speaker, Gary Denniss, Sun., April 22, 2007.
  7. ^ Hartill, Mary Beth (January 12, 2017). "Author, historian Gary Denniss examines Bracebridge in the 1950s". www.muskokaregion.com. Bracebridge Examiner. Retrieved 15 April 2017.
  8. ^ "Welcome to Muskoka Books". muskokabooks.ca. Retrieved 23 November 2017.
  9. ^ "Muskoka's War Memorials with Gary Denniss". YouTube. September 2020.
  10. ^ a b " "Volunteers, athletes thanked for their many contributions", "Gary Denniss received the Heritage Community Recognition Award for his tireless efforts in restoring, maintaining and operating the Langford Cemetery in Macaulay Township", Huntsville Forester, June 27, 2012, by Louis Tam
  11. ^ "Langford Cemetery's Heritage Day on May 25", Huntsville Forrester, May 14, 2008
  12. ^ Cited by Ray Love, in "Pioneer Muskoka: Tales of Courage, Grit and Community", p. 111, 115, Friesen Press, Victoria, B.C., 2016, ISBN 978-1-4602-8812-2 by Gary Denniss.
  13. ^ "Gary Denniss, author of book on Macaulay Township history", front page of Herald Gazette Press, Feb. 18, 1971
  14. ^ "Muskoka' s Lost Ghost Towns - Abandoned Ontario". ontarioabandonedplaces.com. Retrieved 23 November 2017.
  15. ^ "Local History of Muskoka Townships". muskokabooks.ca. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 23 November 2017.
  16. ^ a b Cited by "Canadian Books in Print", University of Toronto Press, 2003, on p. 1312 and p. 1468.
  17. ^ a b Cited by "Huntsville:with spirit and resolve", by Pryke, Susan, 2000, book 255 pages, Huntsville, Ont. : Fox Meadow Creations, 2000. ISBN 0968145221, and 2010 ISBN 978-0-9864867-0-8, Tor. Public Library and Muskoka Books.
  18. ^ "A Brief History of the Schools of Muskoka", Herald Gazette Press, June 22, 1972
  19. ^ U. of T. Robarts Library Stacks, LA419.M8 D45
  20. ^ The Spirit of the Twelfth: Bracebridge (Self-published) 1982- Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  21. ^ a b c "Ghost Towns of Muskoka", Andrew Hing & Maria Da Silva, ISBN 978-1-55002-796-9, Dundurn Press, Muskoka, ON. 2008, pp. 261, 262 - Cited by "Muskoka Scrapbook Vol. 1, p. 41", "Macaulay Township in Days Gone By, p. 61", "A Titch of Muskoka", "The Spirit of the Twelfth" p. 80-81, and p. 261-262.
  22. ^ Cited by "Canadiana Vol. 1", National Library of Canada., 1985, on p. 841 and 202.
  23. ^ Cited by "The billy boys: A concise history of Orangeism in Scotland", William S. Marshall, Mercat Press, Jan 1, 1996, on p. 194.
  24. ^ "Gary Denniss writes of Orange Lodges", The Herald Gazette, Wed., Oct. 27, 1982
  25. ^ "Canada orangeroots" <canadaorangeroots@email.com>, Subject: [CANADA-ORANGE] The Spirit of The Twelfth. Date: Sun, 26 May 2002 07:33:12 -0500
  26. ^ "Limited edition book outlines the history of Muskoka churches", by Susan Pryke, Bracebridge Examiner Banner, p. 11, Jan. 8, 1977
  27. ^ "Limited edition book outlines the history of Muskoka churches", by Susan Pryke p. B12 of The Muskokan, Thurs., Aug. 21, 1997
  28. ^ http://archives.algomau.ca/main/sites/default/files/2009-156_002_009.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  29. ^ "The history of Muskoka's Spiritualist community", The Muskokan, p. A13, Thurs., Sept. 24, 1998.
  30. ^ "A unique community recalled in The Story of Springdale Park", by Dave Opavsky, p. A26, The Muskokan, Thurs., Sept. 24, 1998
  31. ^ "New Gary Denniss book out soon!", ("Educating Muskoka District") Dave Opavsky (editor), Muskoka Sun, a series, 2000
  32. ^ Cited by "A Pioneer Family in Muskoka - The Story of Moses MacCoubrey", by Steve MacCoubrey, eve MacCoubrey, 2011, ISBN 0987831305, 9780987831309, p. 19-20.
  33. ^ "Muskoka Schooling & Education", review by J. Patrick Boyer, Muskoka Books, 2010
  34. ^ "Book looks back at history of education in Macaulay", Huntsville Forester, April 14, 2010, by Matthew Sitler
  35. ^ "New book to shine a light on the history of Bracebridge streets", a review of "Historic Routes of Bracebridge", by Louis Tam, Weekender, Fri., May 11, 2012.
  36. ^ "Murders and heroes revealed in historic routes", Huntsville Forester, Jan. 2, 2013, by Louis Tam
  37. ^ "Historian shares stories of the roads on which we walk and drive", "Denniss is to be saluted for Historic Routes of Bracebridge", J. Patrick Boyer, Muskoka Bookshelf, 2012
  38. ^ "Writer takes trip down memory lane", a review of "Historic Routes of Bracebridge", by Corey Wilkinson, 2012
  39. ^ "Hospital and Health Care in Bracebridge", Seniors at Play, Spring-Summer 2016 Issue No.1, p. 5
  40. ^ "Author, historian Gary Denniss examines Bracebridge in the 1950s", Bracebridge Examiner, Jan. 12, 2017, Review of "Bracebridge in the Fifties" by Mary Beth Hartill
  41. ^ "Author, historian Gary Denniss examines Bracebridge in the 1950s", Torstar Syndication Services, a division of Toronto Star Newspapers, Ltd., Jan. 9, 2017 ISSN 0704-0210
  42. ^ "Author and historian examines life in Bracebridge in the 60s", Bracebridge Examiner, by Mary Beth Hartill, May 25, 2017
  43. ^ "New book highlights the economic boon that was Bracebridge in the 70s", 'Bracebridge in the Seventies' takes readers back to a time of great change. WHATSON Mar 27, 2018, by Mary Beth Hartill, Bracebridge Examiner
  44. ^ "St. Mary's Church: Opened by Heaven", an excerpt from A Titch of Muskoka, Thurs., Dec. 14, 2006, Vol. 13, No. 16, page 9
  45. ^ "Gary Denniss gives glimpse of Bracebridge in the '80s with 40th book", 'Bracebridge in the Nineteen Eighties' highlights goings-on in Bracebridge year by year WHATSON Feb 25, 2019, by Mary Beth Hartill, Bracebridge Examiner
  46. ^ "Journey through time with Bracebridge author Gary Denniss' 'Muskoka Memories 103, The Lonely Life of the Ranger' is just one of many stories covered in Gary Denniss' new book", Mary Beth Hartill, Bracebridge Examiner, Saturday, October 23, 2021
  47. ^ August 18, 2023: "Latest Gary Denniss History Book Covers Muskoka's Rugged, Rich Past", Mark Clairmont, Muskoka Today
  48. ^ "Muskoka Memories 105 is the 50th book by a local author. Gary Denniss' latest is about the history of Bracebridge/Watt Township", MuskokaRegion.com, Bracebridge Examiner, August 7, 2023
  49. ^ "Local resident honoured with lifetime heritage award", Bracebridge Examiner, Feb. 26, 2014, by Lisa Gillan
  50. ^ "Local resident honoured with lifetime heritage award", Torstar Syndication Services, a division of Toronto Star Newspapers Ltd., University of Toronto Reference Library, Feb. 26, 2014,
  51. ^ https://bracebridge.civicweb.net/document/13640 [bare URL PDF]
  52. ^ Letter to G. Denniss from Kristie Virgoe, Muskoka Conservancy (May 17, 2013 (retrieved April 20, 2017)
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