New Comic Book Highlights Mississauga Stories

Heritage Mississauga, together with the Museums of Mississauga, are excited to announce the launch of the newest comic book in the popular The Grange comic book series! Volume 15: Legend of the Museum brings our story to the Museums of Mississauga, where artifacts are not quite what they seem. This remarkable journey of exploration and discovery is brought to life through the incredible work of artist Daniel Wong.

The comic brings stories (and artifacts) to life in an incredible journey of remembering, imagining and belonging. It also reminds us that museums are much more than places for old, forgotten things to be stored away. Museums are vibrant places that collect, preserve, and share stories while challenging perspectives.

While one of the primary focus points of a museum is to conserve, protect and store objects, those collections support exhibitions, educational programs, research, and public understanding in ways that books, spoken word, or digital media alone cannot. Museum collections hold countless artifacts, helping to preserve countless stories. Museums keep collections because the collection is at the heart of what a museum is. Everything else – exhibitions, education, events, programs – flow from that. Collections, and the stories they help to preserve and share, are invaluable in creating and supporting a sense of place, belonging, stewardship, collective memory and civic identity.

The artifacts highlighted in the new comic are all part of the collections of the Museums of Mississauga, and all have a remarkable story to share that highlights significant lived experiences in the history of Mississauga. Items such as Captain Harris’ silver snuff box from 1855 and the framed portrait of Captain Harris from 1875 highlight everyday lived experiences from residents who lived here long before our city came to be. Similarly, the Blower family’s stonehooking rake is a tool that recalls the countless families in Port Credit who made their living on the waters of Lake Ontario, including backbreaking labour of prying stone from the lake bottom to be sold for building material.

Other artifacts in the collections continue to tell the stories of this place, and its people, over time. ERICA (Easy Rider Information with Computerized Assistance), whose appearance was influenced by the popularity of Star Wars, was launched in 1977 as a state-of-the-art telephone communication system to connect travellers with bus route information with Mississauga Transit. Also, in 1977, for a brief moment in time, Summer Records brought together youth from the Malton area, and a burgeoning music scene was born, creating a distinctly Canadian (and Mississauga!) sound. Similarly, Margaret Marland’s flight suit, Dorothea Sheasby’s sun hat, and George Hunter’s photography vest all share vibrant stories of not only the people who wore them, and their achievements, but also of the continued evolution of our city during their life and times.

Preserving and displaying these artifacts, and many more, help us realize the importance of getting to know Mississauga’s history. The stories are inspiring and limitless and also highlight the importance of preserving and celebrating our collective heritage.

We invite you to come to the launch of the new comic book, and meet the artist Daniel Wong, on Saturday, February 28, 12-4 pm at the Benares Visitors’ Centre (1507 Clarkson Road North). The comic is free, and copies of previous comics in the series will also be available.

At the launch, you can receive your free copy of Legend of the Museum, meet artist Daniel Wong, see the artifacts highlighted in the comic, visit Benares Historic House Museum and enjoy light refreshments.
Reserve you spot here!