Tag: kingston
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Drawing Kingston and Area Museums: Process and Memory Recall
When the Kingston and Area Association of Museums, Art Galleries, and Historic Sites (KAM) approached me to create line drawings of their member sites, I didn’t hesitate to say yes. By drawing Kingston and area museums, I could finally combine my passion for creating art and visual arts degree with my work as a heritage…
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The History of St. George’s Cathedral in Kingston
In February of 1792, the construction of Kingston’s first church (of any denomination) began. The history of St. George’s Cathedral spans centuries, from humble roots as a building “that resembled a barn more than a church” to the first cathedral in Kingston. St. George’s has been a defining monument in Kingston’s skyline for over 200…
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What is the LodgePole Arts Alliance?
Written by: Eva Macdonald A story of cultural pride coupled with the infectious drive of its creators. A story of local roots and international aspirations. It is my pleasure to introduce LodgePole Arts Alliance. Grounded in tradition and rooted in East Woodland artistic expression, LodgePole Arts Alliance is an exciting initiative emerging from Wolfe Island.…
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The Kingston Scout Museum, A Unique Museum
As a member of Girl Guides, Scout’s sister organization, I was fascinated to find that Kingston had a museum dedicated to preserving its history. Scouting has a long history, not just in Canada but across the world, and I was particularly interested to see what Kingston’s history with it was. Did you know that Kingston…
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Two Bays, Two Stories: From Deadman’s Bay to Navy Bay
On each side of Fort Henry lies a bay: Deadman’s Bay to the east and Navy Bay to the west. These two bays have stories to tell, about 100 years apart. One is a story of tragedy, the other of ingenuity. Both are about hard work and determination. With the spring weather now here, you…
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The Founding of the Hotel Dieu Hospital
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…
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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…
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Going Beyond the Classroom 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…
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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…
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Steps away from Lake Ontario, I discovered the Museum of Health Care at Kingston
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, equally popular for selfies and…
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Fashion, Light and Rembrandt at Agnes
If you’re ready to step out to an art gallery, you may want to visit Agnes. One of its past exhibits was Stepping Out. This was a charming exhibition based on the historic practice of getting dressed up to visit a gallery. It featured clothing from the 1860s to the 1970s along with contemporaneous works…
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Algonquin Storytelling at Bellevue House National Historic Site
Published by Iris Russak 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…
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Fairfield House in Amherstview, on the Shores of Lake Ontario
By Clara Columbus, Photography by Susanna Gordon Published by Iris Russak 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,…
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What’s Behind These Walls? The Lower Burial Ground!
Published by Iris Russak 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…
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Share Your Family Story – South Frontenac Museum
Published by Iris Russak The most recent stop on our Tour of Kingston Museums was the South Frontenac Museum in Hartington. For those of you not familiar with the location, you will find the museum next to the Hartington branch of the public library on Road 38, just up from Harrowsmith. It is a short…
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March Of Museums At The Military And Communications Museum
This March Break, we were enjoying a pretty awesome ‘staycation’ at home in Kingston. We had company with us – all the more reason to explore the unique sites Kingston has to offer. One of the great opportunities to see more of them – for free! – was the March Of Museums hosted by the…