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 →
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... 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 →
Murney Tower – A UNESCO World Heritage Site In Our Own Backyard
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 these limestone walls. They... Continue Reading →
Frontenac County Schools Museum and Barriefield
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 had never been to... Continue Reading →
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... Continue Reading →