Provincial plaques commemorate the Jean-Baptiste Lainé Site

Friday, August 25, 2017 at 10:30 a.m.

Join the Ontario Heritage Trust, in partnership with the Huron-Wendat Nation and the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville, for the unveiling of provincial plaques to commemorate the Jean-Baptiste Lainé Site. The unveiling will be followed by an interactive archaeology session led by Archaeological Services Inc.

The Jean-Baptiste Lainé Site is the location of a 16th-century village founded by Ancestors of the Huron-Wendat. The three-hectare village had a population of about 1,700, making it one of the largest and most sophisticated settlements in North America at the time. Excavations conducted by Archaeological Services Inc. between 2003 and 2005 revealed numerous longhouses, nearly 1,500 cultural features and more than 104,000 artifacts. The uncovered artifacts, including a Basque iron tool, provide evidence of complex trading networks among First Nations that extended across North America.

Known initially as the Mantle archaeological site, the site was renamed in 2012 to honour Jean-Baptiste Lainé, an esteemed Huron-Wendat veteran who fought during the Second World War, earning the Volunteer Service Medal and the Defence Medal for his service to Canada.

The Ontario Heritage Trust's Provincial Plaque Program commemorates significant people, places and events in Ontario's history. Since 1956, over 1,277 provincial plaques have been unveiled.

Location:

Wendat Village Public School
99 Reeves Way Blvd.
Whitchurch-Stouffville, Ontario

Map

(Unveiling event to be held in the park east of/adjacent to the school property)