Tag: ygk
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A Historic Church in Kingston, The Story of The Spire
The Spire, also known as the Sydenham Street United Church, is a community hub that promotes the arts and over 20 community and cultural groups. This historic church has been part of the Kingston skyline for more than 160 years and continues the vision of the pioneers who built this piece of history. Like many…
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A Historic Place in Odessa, The Reopening of the Babcock Mill
The Historic Babcock Mill, built in 1856 and located on the banks of Millhaven Creek in Odessa, was officially reopened to the public by Loyalist Township on July 6th, 2023. For many, the wait for this day has been long. The historic place has been closed to the public for the last 30 years! As…
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World Class Art in Kingston: The Agnes Etherington Art Centre
Written by: Michaela Cardo, M.A. Conveniently located on Queen’s main campus is the Agnes Etherington Art Centre. It is home to a diverse collection of art, from Rembrandts to contemporary work by Indigenous and Black artists. With a rotating selection of exhibitions, it is a place you will want to visit more than once. The…
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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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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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Canada’s Penitentiary Museum
Written by Emily Manson I’ve been to Canada’s Penitentiary Museum a few times, but I learn something new each time I visit. The site is small but picturesque and packed with fascinating history. It is located directly across the street from Kingston Penitentiary, in the former Warden’s residence. The building of a house for the…
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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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Murney Tower – A UNESCO World Heritage Site In Our Own Backyard
Published by Iris Russak It was a great privilege to spend a couple of hours on a warm and sunny spring morning with the Curator of the Murney Tower, Danielle. It was a good thing she had given me a heads up to bring a sweater – it stays quite cool on the inside of…
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Frontenac County Schools Museum and Barriefield
Published by Iris Russak It feels like I am starting off every blog post I write with something along the lines of “we discovered another Kingston gem”, this may be getting old but it is so very true of the couple of hours we spent in Barriefield on a wonderful, sunny and warm spring morning. I…
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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…
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A Bring Your Thing Pop-up Museum: Made in Canada
The Kingston and Area Association of Museums, Art Galleries and Historic Sites ran a series of free pop-up museums called Bring Your Thing throughout 2017 to celebrate Canada’s 150th anniversary. The first pop-up museum was held on January 21st at Artillery Park Aquatic Centre. It invited people to bring any objects which fit the theme…
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Mistaken Point in Newfoundland at the Miller Museum in Kingston
Mistaken Point in Newfoundland is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Another listed site in Canada is The Rideau Canal, which encompasses Kingston sites like Fort Henry and Murney Tower. The Point’s unique collection of unusually preserved fossils makes it infamous. The fossils have not been discovered anywhere else in the world! The Miller Museum of…
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Canada’s Penitentiary Museum: Innovative Inmates
It is 1998 and you’ve landed yourself a bunk in the Dissociation Cell area of Stony Mountain Institution in Manitoba. While using your supplied toothbrush for its rudimentary purpose of brushing your teeth is an option, there is another one. The innovative inmate you are, you could also use it and source remnants of various…