Piecing Together Canada's History
Through Quilts
A condensed version of this programme
that showcases handmade quilt designs
from the past appeared in the Fall 2014
edition of the Canadian Quilter Magazine
which is distributed across Canada and the world.
Stories, Traditions and Superstitions
honour the quilt designs from long ago.
No thread running through Canada's
history is stronger or more consistent
than in their use as links between women
and their female descendants. Many women
felt that the female family, past,
present and in the future was important
and that these generations were united
by the quilts that were the works of
their hands and their hearts.
Pauline is the Social Historian for the
South Western Ontario Barn Quilt Trail.
Irish Legends and Tales
Meet the wee creatures of the Emerald
Isle
The Leprechaun, the Pooka, the Fir
Dirrig, the Banshee and the Irish
Cinderlad (Ireland's version of
Cinderella) come to life with Pauline's
spinning of the yarn. Unlock your
imagination as you travel across
Ireland.
Time: One Hour
Scottish Legends and Tales
Pauline will share legends and tales of the clans and mythical creatures of the highlands and lowlands of Scotland.
Stories of the Kelpie, the Brownie, the Selkie and Whippety Stourie, Scotland’s version of Rumpelstiltskin, and many more come to life with Pauline's spinning of the yarn.
Close your eyes and imagine the antics of Hamish MacDonald who vanished during an argument between Clan MacDonald and Clan MacLeod. Can you hear the pipes playing “The Flowers of Scotland”?
Welcome, sit a while and listen, you’ll not be disappointed.
The Traditions and Legends of Hallowe'en
Hallow'en
dates back to the Samhain's end of the summer festival
and has its roots deep in the traditions from the
British Isles and France. Many of these traditions
traveled to Canada with the Scottish and Northern Irish
in the early 1800's and the people later added modern
Victorian traditions based on the "old ways" .
Children will learn that their modern celebration is not
very far from the holiday celebrated by children across
the sea and in Canada of long ago. Hallowe'en is
seen in a different light with more meaning for the
modern traditions!
Time:
One Hour
The Legends and Traditions of Christmas
Students
will learn of the boy Nicholas who became St. Nicholas
and our present day Santa Claus, and the people who
wrote the first poems and stories in his honour.
The traditions of the Pioneers who first came to Canada
will be presented with samples of some of their crafts
and decorations. If requested this programme can
include a craft. Upon request, the background of
some of the traditional stories and songs of Christmas
will be included.
Time
:One Hour
First Nation Legends
Following her Native roots Pauline will tell traditional stories from a variety of teachings handed down orally before they were written down.
Stories in this 30 minute presentation include: “The Raft Baby of the Peace River, “ The Dancing People, The Spirit of the Deer”, and “The Talking Stone”.
A longer presentation can be provided if requested.
Aboriginal Stories - Let the
Fur Fly
Following her Native roots Pauline will
tell traditional stories handed down
orally before they were printed on the
page. Thoughtful stories from a variety
of teachings to explain how and why it
came to be.
Stories in this presentation include “
How Chipmunk Got her Stripes”, “Coyote
and the Laughing Butterfly”, “ How
Coyote Stole Fire”, “Why Blackbird has
White Eyes”, Rabbit the Hunter” and
“The Dancing People, the Spirit of the
Deer”.
Stories of the Aboriginal Farm workers
Stories of the Aboriginal Farm workers
are seldom told and not generally
recorded in the pages of history, yet
their roles were vital to Canadian farms
including those in the Village of
Aldershot where Pauline lives. At the
request of the Métis Women’s Circle of
Hamilton Pauline spent two years
researching and interviewing Elders from
the community to piece together this
important part of our history.
This history is told in first person as
Pauline portrays a 1947 farm wife
reminiscing about the Native farm
workers, their families and their
contributions throughout the years in
the Aldershot farming community and
beyond.
Told with the permission of the Métis
Women’s Circle
http://www.metiswomenscircle.ca/
The Freeman Train Station
The Freeman Train
Station was a busy hub of comings and
goings from the hamlet of Freeman and
the centre of Burlington carrying people
and produce to Toronto, Chicago, New
York, up into Georgetown and beyond.
The first train station, constructed in
1850 was lost in a fire, re-constructed
and then burned down again in 1904. The
station was finally re-constructed in
1906. A group of local historians has
worked tirelessly to preserve the
Freeman Train Station and portray its
history.
Pauline speaks in first person as a lady
living in Freeman circa 1920. Her
stories reminisce about the activities
that have surrounded the station thus
far and the lives of local farmers and
businessmen who continue as regular
visitors to the Freeman Train Station,
an important piece of the history of
Burlington Ontario.
If
Teapots Could Talk
Celebrating Canada’s history from the year of confederation into the future
Can you imagine how many cups of tea have been shared in the parlour, on special occasions, family gatherings, when someone needed to be consoled or to wipe away a tear? What stories would be told if teapots could talk?
Family teapots were packed for the journey to Canada and when families moved from one household to another within this great country of ours.
Pauline will take you on a brief journey through time with the supposed stories of teapots that might have belonged to famous and not so famous people while Canada’s history was unfolding.
Teapots must have absorbed more feeling from shared moments with their owners and their visitors than we can ever imagine.
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