Division of Time

Main St. W. & Division St. S.

When the Motorco building complex was completed in 1985, it contained 18 apartment units and 12,000 square feet of commercial space. This building replaced two blocks that were destroyed by fire in 1981. The Wigle-Conklin Block, on the corner of Division and Main, was completed for Dr. Andrew Wigle and David Conklin in 1896 and just south was the E.A. Brown Block. Built in 1923, the Brown Block was Kingsville’s post office until 1936 when the federal building was opened on the north-east corner of Division and Main. The Motorco building’s architect “worked closely with the Town, Motorco and Nova Goldsmiths so that the building would blend in with the present decor of the downtown area” and included a “gift to the people of Kingsville of a triangle of land to replace the loss of the Town Square.”

Mr. D. Conklin has secured the lots of Mr. Wm. Kennedy and Mr. Geo. Grenville. We hear from undoubted authority that a magnificent block will go up right away from the Mechanic’s Institute to corner of Division St. And south on Division 103 feet, the owners being our solid and enterprising townsmen, Messrs. David Conklin, and Dr. Andrew Wigle. It is one thing to be a citizen and another thing to have sand enough to be progressive. These gentlemen have all these ingredients and qualities.

The Kingsville Reporter, March 29, 1895 p.5

The town of Kingsville experienced one of the worst disasters in its history on Monday, November 9, 1981, when fire destroyed a large portion of the business district on the south side of Main Street West. In all, some nine businesses were levelled by the flames, losing all of their stock. As well, the 23 persons who lived in the apartments above the stores lost all their possessions in the blaze.

The Kingsville Reporter, December 10, 1981 p.1

On Sunday, August 25^th, the Motorco Savings and Credit Union held an open house from noon until 4 p.m. at the Town Square. Everyone had an opportunity to tour the Square from the lower floor to the top where the apartments are located. Several applications for renting the apartments have been received. Following the tour, coffee and donuts were available.

The Kingsville Reporter, August 28, 1985 p.7

Motorco To Close Doors

The Kingsville Branch of the Motorco Savings and Credit Union announced last Thursday that they will be closing their doors.

The Motorco building at the Town Square is up for sale and the credit union is leaving Kingsville.

The Kingsville Reporter, May 17, 1988 p.1

124 Division Street South

The lot on the corner of Division and Elms streets remained vacant until the 1950s, when Al’s FINA station opened offering gasoline, oil, car washes and minor repairs. The property was sold in 1976 and the new owners wanted to convert the property into a convenience store and gas bar, but the
neighbours objected. At a council meeting during the summer of 1976: “The contact with the neighbors resulted in a reasonable compromise: a gas bar was opposed and the immediate homeowners wanted a private dwelling. If the property is to be commercial the compromise is for a convenience food store without a gas bar.” It took a couple of years, and a hearing with the Ontario Municipal Board, before the plans for a variety store were completed. A portion of the original station was torn down and the 30×56’ addition was completed in 1978.

Building Inspector Everett Upcott received a request for a variety store on the Fina property at the corner of Elm St. and Division St. South and this was referred to the Planning Board.

The Kingsville Reporter, June 30, 1976 p.1

A petition signed by approximately 40 residents opposing a variety store on the corner of Division Street South and Elm Street was submitted to council, Pat O’Malley, Joseph Leach and Walter Cowan, residents of the area, expressed concern for the development of the former Fina Station property and requested it be zoned residential.

The property is zoned non-conforming use and a variety store is stipulated a from of upgrading and non-conforming use. Council was sympathetic to those who signed the petition and after discussion the decision was made to accept the recommendation of the Planning Board and the residents refusing to issue a permit for a variety store at the location.

The Kingsville Reporter, July 14, 1976 p.1

Council also dealt with matters concerning the property at the corner of Elm and Division Streets. Council accepted the application for a change of zoning of the property. Council then passed By-law 53-77 to outline the neighbourhood commercial zone requirements and restrictions. The zoning includes the use of offices and local variety stores.

The Kingsville Reporter, November 2, 1977 p.1

OMB Supports New Store

The Ontario Municipal board (OMB) decision which was announced by W. E. Dyer, Jan. 23, has backed up the Kingsville town council and agreed to allow the opening of a combination Pinto Variety Store and office building in a Division Street South building, originally occupied by a Fina gas station, although the area is classified as residential.

The decision was made public prior to the Jan. 22 council meeting at which Acting Mayor Tom Gibson stated his delight that the OMB are behind them in this matter.

At an earlier council meeting some area residents raised objections to the proposition because they were against the noise, traffic, litter and late night hours they felt go hand-in-hand with such a franchise.

The Board felt this was not sufficient cause to withhold their approval. A 10-year lease had been signed previously with Loeb Ltd. of Toronto to operate a gas bar, Maurice Gartenberg, owner of the property since 1977, dropped plans for a gas bar and has applie [sic] for zoning to permit an office.

The Kingsville Reporter, February 14, 1979 p.1

72 Division Street South

Alvin and Lillian Besant had this home built in 1969 on a lot formerly owned by the Green family. 1969 was also the year the Official Languages Act came into force. The Act “declared French and English to be Canada’s official languages “in all matters pertaining to the Parliament and Government of Canada”; it also declared their equality of status as well as equal rights and privileges with regard to their use in all institutions of Parliament and the Government of Canada. The 1969 Act expanded the scope of the constitutional guarantee regarding the use of French and English in Parliament and federal courts to cover all federal institutions, including federal departments, agencies and Crown corporations as well as quasi-judicial bodies and administrative agencies.”

History of Bilingualism in Canada

1867 – Section 133 of the British North America Act (now the Constitution Act) permits the use of either English or French in the debates of Parliament as well as in the proceedings before the federal courts. This section also provides that both languages must be used in the records and journals of Parliament, and that its laws must be enacted and published in both languages.

1927 – Postage stamps become bilingual.

1934 – The federal Translation Bureau is established by an Act of Parliament.

1936 – Bank notes become bilingual.

1959 – Simultaneous interpretation of the debates in both languages begins in the House of Commons.

1963-1970 – The Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism is established and produces its reports.

1969 – Following the work of the Commission, the first Official Languages Act is adopted by Parliament. This Act recognized English and French as the official languages of all federal institutions in Canada. It grants equality of status of French and English not only in the Parliament or before courts, but also throughout the federal administration. The Act before federal courts and tribunals in the official language of their choice.

1969 – New Brunswick enacts its first Official Languages Act, making it Canada’s first, and only, officially bilingual province.

http://www.pch.gc.ca/eng/1359469891097/1359470316573

EDITORIAL

UNITY

English Canadians – after years of questioning Quebec on what she really wants – have finally been handed an answer.

Quebec really wants to feel at home from coast to coast in her own country. Men and women of Quebec don’t want to feel like poor relations. They want their culture, language, heritage and economic aspirations to be respected and recognized throughout the country.

In the years since Confederation – while Quebec nursed and nourished her heritage and language – English-speaking Canadians and foreign interests moved in to develop the province economically.

Then in 1960 Quebec residents woke up to the sour fact that they were simply workers, not planners, pioneers and managers of their own province. This is the emotional whip-sting driving Quebec forward now.

The Kingsville Reporter, January 18, 1968 p.4

TRUDEAU AND FOE. Premiers Walter Weir, Manitoba, Ross Thatcher, Saskatchewan, Harry Strom, Alberta and John Roberts, Ontario, have all battled against the Official Languages Bill which would guarantee linguistic equality in Federal Government services where the number of residents speaking either language justifies it. The premiers want the bill put before the Supreme Court. This action stemmed from this week’s constitutional conference.

The Kingsville Reporter, February 13, 1969 p.2

BESANT: Alvin c. 1914-1998. Passed away peacefully in his sleep at the Leamington Nursing Home on Tuesday, August 25, 1998. Al has been the loving husband and best friend of Lillian (Mcdonald) for the past 55 years. He has been a devoted and most cherished dad to the late Linda Brown, (October 1997) and Alda Wigle-Klingbeil; a kind and respected father-in-law to Gary Brown and Henry Klingbeil. Al is predeceased by brother Bill, Norm and Joe. He leaves behind a sister Theresa Sterling and her husband Harry. He leaves behind grandsons, Dave Brown (Julie), Essex: Mark Brown (Darlene), Stratford: Dale Brown (Carrie), Kingsville: Chad Wigle, Windsor and granddaughter Crista Wigle, Calgary Alberts. Al had 5 great-grandchildren as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Al was retired for many years from Overland Western. Al was a kind and generous person who enriched the lives of family members and friends. Out of generosity he touched the lives of many individuals who never had the opportunity to meet him. He will be deeply missed.

The Kingsville Reporter, September 1, 1998 p.20