Wellesley Township Heritage & Historical Society
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Minutes of the Police Village of Wellesley​, 1908-1961

"The police village, a category of local governing body in Ontario, predates Confederation. The original purpose was to establish a local body in a hamlet ("village") to maintain public order (hence "police") and deliver a limited number of services to rural township dwellers. The police village was created by a bylaw of the county council."
The Canadian Encyclopedia 

Wellesley was established as a police village in 1908 by By-Law 588 of the County of Waterloo. Three trustees were appointed at their first meeting on February 17, 1908: Henry Alteman, jeweller, Henry Forler. grocer and Peter Ottmann, farmer.

At their second meeting on April 10, 1908 they moved to "ask the County Judge to arbitrate in the dispute between the Police Village and the Township of Wellesley as the portion of Township funds to be granted to the Village by the Township and the secretary is instructed to communicate with his honor, the County Judge, to hear and decide in the matter at his earliest convenience."  

At their third meeting on July 27, 1908 they got right down to business and the approved the following notice:  


"That riding bicycles and coasting with express waggons [sic] on sidewalks is strictly prohibited, and anyone found guilty overstepping the above notice will be punished according to law, and above notice to be printed in the Wellesley Maple Leaf. "

Read the minutes of the Wellesley Police Village here: 
1908-1917
1918-1921
1922-1944

1944-1961