From the Archives

The City of Vaughan’s archives house more than 600 collections dating from the early 1700s to the present day. Within these files are the stories of how Vaughan evolved from the traditional territories of the First Peoples of Turtle Island to the bustling city it has become. 

Let’s look back at our history and share the stories of the people, places and moments that helped shape the city we know today. This month’s feature is on Ed Price.   

Ed Price, originally from the town of Maple, served as a navigator during the Second World War. He obtained the rank of flight sergeant in the Bomber Command of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), and for the duration of the war, his unit was stationed at Dishforth in Yorkshire, England, fulfilling a primarily offensive role.

Part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan focused on educating the more than 130,000 Canadian and allied airmen who enlisted in the war effort. To satisfy this need, airfields, schools and other training facilities had to be improved or established, where almost every province in Canada hosted training. Recruits started at an Initial Training School and then moved on to an Elementary Flying Training School. Once recruits passed their training exams, they were promoted to the position of flight sergeant and were separated into fighter and bomber pilot groups. 

Navigators like Ed who were part of Bomber Command were expected to plan the flight course, making changes as the wind fluctuated. Other factors that could further complicate the role of a navigator included low visibility, sitting above bombs and flares, flying over new territory and being attacked from the ground or by other planes. Pilots were then sorted once again before going overseas, into Advanced Flying and Operational Training Units.

While the Second World War did not officially end until Sept. 2, 1945, fighting for Ed and other members of his Bomber Command Unit had ended in Europe in May 1945. As part of demobilization, members of the RCAF had the ability to relax after over five years of fighting, including participating in volleyball tournaments and pursuing other opportunities to aid their reintegration into Canadian society. 

Items held within the City of Vaughan Archives relate to Ed Price’s service during the Second World War. These include an oral history interview recorded on tape cassettes from 1990 focusing on his wartime experiences and Vaughan Township’s reaction to the war, copies of his military identification card, the sports champion certificate and pictures from the Bomber Group RCAF volleyball tournament, and photographs of Flight Sgt. Price.

Vaughan Remembers

The City of Vaughan has proclaimed November Remembrance Month in perpetuity. You’re invited to view this year’s exhibit, Defined by Duty, available online for one year. The exhibit focuses on residents with ties to Vaughan and York County who served Canada in wars abroad before returning to enter public service.

VIEW VAUGHAN'S ARCHIVES ONLINE!

Looking for more information about the history of Vaughan? The City's Archival Collection is on digital display for all to explore! The below galleries are available in the City's online gallery on Flickr: 

• From Township to City: The Evolution of Vaughan
• Historical Families of Vaughan
• Historical Photography
• Past Mayors of Vaughan
• Prohibition in Vaughan
• Recollections of Rural Vaughan
• The Great Depression in Vaughan
• The Mary Wood Collection
• The Way We Were: Representations of Vaughan's Past
• Vaughan’s Forgotten Heroes 
• Vaughan Lodge Fonds
• Vaughan Working Environments
• Vaughan Through the Ages: Medicine, Music and Sports and Recreation
• And more! 

A personal Flickr account is not required to access the City's online gallery, which contains only a small selection of the full archives collection. If you are looking for a particular image, original file, primary source record or more, please visit the Archival Database or contact the City by calling 905-832-2281 or emailing archives@vaughan.ca. 

By managing and preserving both City and community records, the City’s Enterprise Information Management Services team ensures that Vaughan's rich and varied history will continue to be available for future generations. Learn more at vaughan.ca/archives.

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