This millennium project commemorates the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Township of Wilmot. It was officially opened by the people of Wilmot Township on Sunday, October 1, 2000.
The sitting wall, built with fieldstones contributed by Wilmot Township families, marks the site of the original 1850 Township Hall.
"Leap of Faith", the bronze statue by Wilmot Township resident, Ruth Abernethy, portrays two young people about to leap from the stone archway. They face the future with confidence, courage and spirit - as did those who came before.
The inlaid map of Wilmot Township shows the early settlements and encourages you to orient yourself both literally and figuratively in the past, present and future.
This plot of land was deeded by the Crown to Peter S. Gingerich in 1836.
The Oasis pays tribute to our cultural and natural heritage. It represents the spirit of community involvement of many generations of Wilmot Township residents.
Wilmot Township was designated a Crown Reserve following the Canada Act of 1791 which created Upper and Lower Canada. Following the government survey of Bleam's, Snyder's and Erb's Roads in 1824, Mennonites from Waterloo Township and Amish from Europe claimed lots along these roads and began clearing roadways and farms. The Canada Land Company opened the Huron Road through the southern part of the township in 1828. Soon after, Roman Catholics and Lutherans from Alsace and Germany, Anglicans from the British Isles, and others joined the initial settlers in clearing land and building roads, mills, shops, churches, schools and villages.
In 1842 Wilmot Township sent representatives to council meetings of the newly-formed Wellington District. They adopted the Common School Act and divided the township into school districts. The Baldwin Act, passed in May 1849, established a new framework for municipal government. Townships and incorporated villages were recognized as rural units of government. They gained power to elect their own local officials and to tax land owners for local improvements.
On January 21, 1850, in Wilmot Centre, the first elected council of the Township of Wilmot met. The sitting wall at this Oasis in the Centre represents both the foundation of the 1850 Wilmot Township Hall and the strong community foundation built by those early settlers.