A s we move into the latter third of the year, it is worthwhile checking the list of 2012 anniversaries marking noteworthy dates.
Some are still to come, while others have already been celebrated. The year has moved quickly, and just this past week we heard comments about Thanksgiving, Halloween and even Christmas.
One hundred and fifty years ago at this time of year, there were discussions concerning the municipal seal, the design of which had been received from Col. Moody.
Moody was thanked by council for his work and for "his assistance and knowledge of heraldry in guiding them to establish a proper model for a municipal seal." This October will mark the 150th anniversary of the creation of the city seal.
Looking back 125 years to 1887, we note the anniversary of Queen's Park.
Be sure to watch next year as our city parks department honours the beginnings of this vital green space.
A century ago this community was proudly talking about new schools in the town.
There were mentions of schools on Sixth Avenue (to be Herbert Spencer) and in Sapperton (to be Sir Richard McBride), and there was also a very formal laying of the cornerstone by the Duke of Connaught for the new high school that would bear his name.
Also 100 years ago, in 1912, the city was involved in major plans for a new gas works to provide for the town's needs.
Some major anniversaries from 1937, focused on transportation as we started a new bus service and began to remove the street car tracks and their required power poles.
There was also great excitement about the opening of a new bridge, the Pattullo. This new river crossing, much needed then and now the focus of many comments, opened for traffic in November of the year - maybe a party is in order.
And 50 years ago, the proposal to establish a Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame in New Westminster was approved. October 1962 saw two other events that remain important to this day - the storm Typhoon Freda wreaked havoc on the area, and later that same month the city established a sister-city relationship with the City of Moriguchi, Japan.
It is always important to look back and to mark our community anniversaries. Remember that the Royal Columbian Hospital's 150 year anniversary will be the focus of a cemetery tour, Sunday, Sept. 9, starting at 1: 30 p.m. at the Fraser Cemetery.
