One of the most frequently asked research questions at the NOTL Museum is “how do I find out more
about my property’s history?” With such a large number of historic homes and properties all over the
municipality of Niagara-on-the-Lake, this is indeed a valid question.
Property research is conducted frequently at the Museum, to assist Town Staff with historical
designations and heritage permits, for realtors who are listing historic properties, and for homeowners
who want to know more about their homes.
On Saturday, April 6 th the Museum welcomes representatives from the Brown Homestead in St.
Catharines to host a full-day workshop on how to use the online Ontario Land Registry. Participants will
receive hands-on teaching on how to research property histories.
“We are trilled to be partnering with the Brown Homestead on this program”, said Amy Klassen, the
Museum’s Director of Finance & Marketing. “This workshop provides unique learning opportunities to
both staff and the public on a subject that garners ongoing curiosity and fascination.”
Brian Narhi, Jessica Linzel and Sara Nixon will walk participants through the process of using OnLand, an
online portal of property records for Ontario. The workshop will give an overview of Ontario’s land
registry system and structure, best practices for using the OnLand database, as well as how to trace the
history of any given parcel of land from its Crown patent back to the present time.
Participants are welcome to bring their own laptops or tablets, or simply watch the experts and take
notes.
The Brown Homestead was founded in 2015 to preserve and maintain significant heritage buildings and
sites. Brian Narhi is a local historian from St. Catharines who sits on the Board of Directors. Jessica Linzel
is the homestead’s Director of Community Engagement, a historical researcher dedicated to
understanding, preserving, and sharing stories of the past. Sara Nixon is the Community Engagement
Manager for the Brown Homestead, using local history to build community connections and amplify new
voices.
The workshop runs from 9 am until 3:30 pm and all are encouraged to bring a packed lunch for the
break. The cost is $50 or $40 for Museum members. Registration is required as space is limited. To
register, call 905-468-3912.