NEWS RELEASE
ORILLIA MUSEUM OF ART & HISTORY
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The Orillia Museum of Art & History (OMAH) kick-starts the 2019 History Speaker Series on Wednesday, January 16. Join us to hear guest speaker Evelyn Ross recount the story about her parents with her talk “Fleeing Nazi Europe.”
When Hitler's Nazis marched into Austria, Evelyn's father, Eugene Meth, decided to flee. In the Netherlands he met Lutina Dirks, the love of his life. When the Netherlands was occupied they left together.
What followed was two years of fear, close calls, the kindness of strangers, and a Spanish internment camp. Evelyn Ross will tell the story of her parents’ escape to a life in Canada in 1943.
Evelyn has lived in Orillia for over 30 years. She had previously worked in the publishing industry in Toronto and achieved general manager of a house. After coming to Orillia in 1989 she started the downtown Orillia children’s store, Otter Tales and Toys, that she owned for 11 years.
On Wednesday, Feb. 20, in observance and celebration of Black History Month, Ann Harrison will speak about the Underground Railroad. Many of Ann’s and her husband’s descendants entered Canada via this pathway to freedom.
The History Speaker Evenings start at 7:30 p.m. Admission is free. Donations to OMAH are appreciated. All are welcome.
For more information about the History Speakers Evenings and other events please visit our website.
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