(Brampton)- Beginning Feb. 2, 2005 the Peel Heritage Complex will open a new exhibition, featuring rare archival documents and artifacts from the pioneer days of Ontario. The Peel Heritage Complex is the first touring venue for Unique Journeys: Canadian Emigrant Letters, 1815-1852, which continues until Feb. 27.

Unique Journeys explores a host of archival treasures offering clues about how and why our ancestors migrated to this region. Why did they come? How did they prepare for the journey? What were their expectations of life in Canada? What was their reality when they arrived?

In conjunction with this exhibition, the Peel Heritage Complex is offering a free, 90-minute public lecture, Discovering your Family History: An Introduction, by internationally respected Canadian genealogist, J. Brian Gilchrist on Thursday, Feb. 3 at 7 p.m. Related lectures on genealogy and exploring your family history will be held at the Peel Heritage Complex, for a cost of $10, per person, for each lecture:

• Thursday, Feb. 10, at 7 p.m. - An Introduction to English Sources
• Thursday, Feb. 17, at 7 p.m. - An Introduction to Irish Sources
• Thursday, Feb. 24, at 7 p.m. - An Introduction to Scottish Sources

The Peel Heritage Complex is operated by the Region of Peel and is located at 9 Wellington St. E. in Brampton . The Complex is open to the public Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., weekends from noon to 4:30 p.m., and Thursday evenings from 6 to 9 p.m. Admission is $2.50 for adults, $1.50 for seniors, $1 for students and $7 for families.

The Peel Heritage Complex is made up of the Region of Peel Museum, the Art Gallery of Peel and the Region of Peel Archives. Together, they collect, preserve and display a variety of materials related to Peel's heritage.

For more information about Unique Journeys, the genealogy lecture series or the Peel Heritage Complex, visit our Web site at peelheritagecomplex.org or call the Peel Heritage Complex at 905-791-4055 for more information.