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Welcome to the Hamilton Branch

United Empire Loyalists’ Association of Canada

The United Empire Loyalists’ Association of Canada (UELAC) is an organization dedicated to enriching the lives of Canadians through knowledge of the past, in particular the history of the United Empire Loyalists and their contribution to the development of Canada.

We are the Hamilton, Ontario branch of that association.


News

Our news page is where you can find the latest articles of interest. Here are some recent ones:

A Look at Our United Empire Loyalist MonumentPosted July 28, 2025
More About the Mills FamilyPosted July 19, 2025
Our Loyalist Statue and the Family Responsible for Its CreationPosted July 19, 2025
Plaque Placed at Mount Vernon Pioneer CemeteryPosted June 1, 2025
Our Award-Winning MembersPosted May 6, 2025
Ruth Nicholson UE (1951–2025)Posted March 16, 2025
HIs Majesty King Charles III Commemorates Our Flag’s 60th AnniversaryPosted February 15, 2025
Our Genealogist Michele Lewis Has Been Awarded the King Charles III Coronation MedalPosted January 13, 2025
Three Rivers Called Home — A Book by Vicki HolmesPosted December 3, 2024
A Tribute to David Hill Kanowakeron Morrison UE (1954 – 2024)Posted November 29, 2024
Hamilton Branch Newsletters Are Now OnlinePosted February 9, 2024
Read the Stories of Our Loyalist AncestorsPosted December 15, 2023

Monthly Meetings

WHEREAll Hamilton Branch monthly meetings (excluding the Christmas luncheon) are held at
St. Matthew on-the-Plains Anglican Church
126 Plains Road East
Burlington
WHENThe third Thursday of February, March, April, October, and November

Monthly meetings start at 7:30 p.m.
All are welcome!
HOWWe conduct meetings in-person and hybrid for remote attendance.
SPEAKERSSee the complete list of 2025 speakers
For more information, email Pat Blackburn

Upcoming Events


Photo credit: Donald McArthur

Monthly Meeting — October 16, 2025

Speaker: Debra Honor UE

Topic: To be announced

Debra is a retired elementary teacher, a graduate of the National Institute of Genealogical Studies, and an active member of the Ontario Genealogical Society for 43 years.

She has proven 10 Loyalist ancestors. 


Past Events


Photo Credit: Rick Cordeiro

Loyalist Day —June 19, 2025

On Thursday, June 19 at 11:00 am, we will be holding a Loyalist Day event at the rock near the parking lot at Dundurn Castle in Hamilton.

Speakers will be Neil Switzer and Lee-Ann Hines-Green, who will talk about the Mills family’s association with their ancestral families.

Please bring a fold-up chair for the ceremony, if required. A picnic lunch will be provided, in the picnic pavilion, to those who reply as “coming” when the email memo arrives announcing this event.


Photo Credit: City of Hamilton

Stoney Creek Reenactment — June 8, 2025

On Sunday, June 8, the Hamilton Branch will have an Outreach table set up at Battlefield Park for the Stoney Creek reenactment.

Contact Catharine Gonnsen, draglakelodge@gmail.com, if you would like to volunteer.


Photo credit: Robert Bennett

Plaquing Ceremony — Mount Vernon Pioneer Cemetery — June 1, 2025

There will be a plaquing ceremony at Mount Vernon Pioneer Cemetery in Burlington on Sunday June 1 at 2 pm. Clement Lucas Jr., who is buried there, was a United Empire Loyalist first-generation refugee to what is now Canada.

All are welcome. If you have a 1780 Loyalist costume, please wear it to our ceremony.  Light refreshments will beserved.  

Mount Vernon Cemetery is on Harvester Road, across from the Appleby GO Station in behind the businesses.


Portrait of Ruth Nicholson
Photo Credit: Hamilton Spectator

Celebration of Life for Ruth Nicholson — April 26, 2025

A Celebration of Life for Ruth Nicholson will be held April 26 at 2:00 p.m. in St. James United Church, Waterdown. It will be followed by a reception at the Legion.

Ribbons will be handed out at the April 17th meeting to those planning to attend the Celebration of Life.


Photo credit: Huron University

Monthly Meeting — April 17, 2025

Speaker: Timothy Compeau, PhD

Topic: A Political Death in the Family: A Connecticut Loyalist (Joel Stone) in War and Exile

Dr. Compeau is an assistant professor of history at Huron University in London, Ontario and author of many books. He is the project director of Loyalists Migrations in partnership with the United Empire Loyalists’ Association of Canada.

His most recent book is Dishonored Americans: The Political Death of Loyalists in Revolutionary America.

In describing his approach to teaching history, he says, “my aim is to guide students to think critically and historically, to understand how the past continues to shape our present and to uncover and articulate the strangeness, tragedies, and triumphs of the past


Photo credit: LindaCorupe.com

Monthly Meeting — March 27, 2025 (NEW DATE)

Speaker: Linda Corupe UE

Topic: Becoming Canadian

The author of over 50 books, Linda Corupe, UE, has researched genealogy and family history in Ontario and Quebec for over 40 years, in collaboration with her husband Gary. The result speaks for itself: valuable historical and genealogical documents that will provide information to researchers for years to come.

You only have to look at one of Linda’s publications to understand the detailed type of work she does. In announcing a newly available book, The Loyalist Gazette said “Linda has a reputation as a careful researcher, so new publications from her are a treat.”


Photo credit: Queen’s University

Monthly Meeting — February 20, 2025

Speaker: Dr. Elizabeth Jane Errington

Topic: Loyalist Women Grappling with the Revolution

Dr. Elizabeth Jane Errington teaches the history of colonial North America at Queens University. Dr. Errington explores issues of identity and the creation and development of colonial societies. She has written 3 award winning books and is currently working on two projects: a study of church and charity in the first half of the 19th century; and a study of the making of the Royal Military College. Dr. Errington is also professor emeriti at the Royal Military College of Canada.

Dr. Errington will be joining us virtually by Zoom.


Past Events — 2024

Past Events — 2023