In Collaboration with the Oshawa Senior Citizens’ Camera Club
Then and Now: Oshawa at Play marks the 4th installment of the Then and Now series a collaboration between the Camera Club and the RMG. Using images from the Thomas Bouckley Collection as a starting point, the Camera Club explores the evolution of fun through sports, entertainment and leisure activities in the Oshawa community.
Whether by participating in or watching, sports have been an important part of life in Oshawa. Sports such as lawn bowling and hockey are deeply rooted in Oshawa’s history, acting as popular past-times since the late 1800s. As Oshawa grew into a City in the early 1900s, its citizens benefited from its growth and industrialization which allowed for less time spent working and more for free time. Leisure and entertainment venues such as bowling alleys, billiards halls, theaters and roller rinks lined the City streets and quickly became favorable past times for the community. Along with business owners, the City of Oshawa recognized the need for leisure locations, creating municipal parks such as Alexandra Park in 1908 and Lake View Park in 1920. Home to many events, Oshawa’s parks have continued to be favourite places for the community to spend their free time.
Today, we continue to see Lakeview Park full on summer days, crowds pouring out of the movie theatres and the community enjoying parades down King Street. This exhibition serves to explore the evolution of fun through sports, entertainment and leisure activities in the Oshawa Community.