Gatineau Valley Historical Society

By Trevor Greenway

Wakefield hasn’t been the same since longtime volunteer and village champion Norma Geggie died in 2024. 

But Maison Fairbairn and the Gatineau Valley Historical Society (GVHS) are making sure that Geggie, who founded the Wakefield Grannies, raised tens of thousands for the local hospital and helped create Wakefield’s palliative care home, isn’t forgotten. 

The GVHS and The Fairbairn House Heritage Centre are turning the second floor of the Wakefield museum into the Norma Geggie Research Centre – a gathering place for people to share stories of Geggie and La Pêche, as well as an archive room for those looking to learn more about the history of the Gatineau Hills. 

“Norma is the basis of all we know about the heritage in the area, and we’ve all learned from her,” said GVHS former president Marc Cockburn. “We’re all using her resources. And you know, she’s been an inspiration to a lot of people, and we just felt this was a way to show what she’s done for the community.”

Geggie was a village champion in the Hills, from raising funds for the Wakefield Hospital by holding her annual garden parties, to founding the first-ever grandmother-to-grandmother group, The Wakefield Grannies in 2004. The Grannies connected Wakefield grandmothers with their South African counterparts, who are facing an AIDS epidemic. The Wakefield Grannies was the first-ever Granny Group in the world, and more than 250 of them are now set up across North America through the Stephen Lewis Foundation. 

Geggie may not have been born in the Hills, but she spent 71 years of her life here after moving from Australia. She worked as a nurse and midwife in the 1950s and later married Stuart Geggie, the son of Dr. Harold Geggie, who founded the Wakefield Memorial Hospital in 1953. 

Geggie died in 2024 at the age of 99, just days before her 100th birthday. 

Cockburn said that Norma was committed to preserving the history of the Hills and, with her husband, wrote several books detailing the history of La Pêche. She also contributed more than 800 photographs to the GVHS’ image bank. 

“She was just a great documenter. And, like I say, her books are just – they’re priceless,” added Cockburn. “She connected all these people together in Wakefield for all these years. And you know, this is just taking it further – just having a gathering place in her name where people can share stories and learn about our history – all in the spirit of Norma.”

The research room is open to the public and features computer terminals linked to the GVHS, allowing residents to access historical articles and photographs. Cockburn said the research centre will also feature ancestry and genealogy services for people to connect with their own heritage. An official opening ceremony will take place at Maison Fairbairn Sept. 16 from 5 to 7 p.m. RSVP at the following email to attend: info@fairbairn.ca.