In 1841, Kingston’s Bishop Remigius Gaulin wrote to Bishop Ignace Bourget of Montreal asking him to allow the Sisters of the Hotel Dieu of Montreal, the Religious Hospitallers of St. Joseph (RHSJs), to found a hospital in Kingston to care for the increasing number of poor Irish Catholics who settled in the city following the... Continue Reading →
Social Distancing at the Cataraqui Cemetery
At a time when we are constantly reminded of the rising death toll of COVID-19, it may seem strange to do a cemetery walk. Spring may be beckoning us outdoors, but do we really want to explore a cemetery? “Yes” is the answer. On a mild, spring day, I enjoyed a walk in the gorgeous... Continue Reading →
Beyond Classrooms at the Frontenac County Schools Museum
What if teachers could move their classes to a museum, an art gallery or a community site for a week to stimulate inquiry-based learning? What if teachers could plan a unique program with the help of professionals who have experience with these kinds of programs and could draw on community members who are able to... Continue Reading →
Mark your calendars for WinterLight on November 30th and All Aboard for the Holidays on December 7th and 8th
It was about this time last year that I took a drive out Highway 2 to the MacLachlan Woodworking Museum to participate in WinterLight. Now in its 8th year, WinterLight is a popular outing for both adults and children and it was easy to see why. This event has a great mix of activities in... Continue Reading →
Ontario Street: Brewers, Bakers and Boilermakers, 1830-1970
I liked it. I liked the alliteration. It drew me to the PumpHouse to see what their special exhibit was all about. Did they ever make beer at the PumpHouse? What about bread? I had visited the PumpHouse when I was a university student at Queen’s many years ago, but I don’t recall anything about... Continue Reading →
Steps away from Lake Ontario, I discovered the Museum of Health Care at Kingston
Twice in the last month, I’ve heard music as I approached Newlands Pavilion. Perhaps that’s not surprising given that this attractive wooden building was designed in 1896 as a music pavilion, but it’s nice to know that it is still being used for musical events and dances. It’s a very special part of Kingston’s waterfront,... Continue Reading →
Fashion, Light and Rembrandt at Agnes
If you’re ready to step out to an art gallery, you may want to visit Agnes to see Stepping Out, one of its four new exhibitions. This is a charming exhibition based on the historic practice of getting dressed up to visit a gallery. It features clothing from the 1860s to the 1970s along with... Continue Reading →
Algonquin Storytelling at Bellevue House National Historic Site
On a lovely Saturday afternoon, for once completely unscheduled, I took the opportunity to hop on over to Bellevue House and learn more about local aboriginal history through their Aboriginal Storytelling program with Tim Yearington. Tim Yearington is a Métis person of French-Canadian-Voyageur and Algonquin ancestry. His ancestors are from the Kitchizibi (Great River) territory... Continue Reading →
Fairfield House in Amherstview, on the Shores of Lake Ontario
By Clara Columbus, Photography by Susanna Gordon The story of Fairfield House begins during the American Revolution. The Fairfields were a family of Vermont farmers who remained loyal to the British Crown as tensions rose and the rebels gained power. William Fairfield fled to Canada in 1778, leaving behind his wife, Abigail, and seven children,... Continue Reading →
What’s Behind These Walls? The Lower Burial Ground!
Most of us have likely walked by this hidden treasure located on Queen and Montreal Street. The cemetery has caught my attention many times, and each time I thought to myself 'I need to come back and check this out with some time on my hands'. Just recently, when being stopped in traffic bypassing the... Continue Reading →