Culture Talks at the Bath Museum

Join us at the Bath Museum for a Culture Talk highlighting a beautiful local collection of historic artifacts and the stories they tell. Lifelong collector and local historian Mike MacKinnon will share highlights from his personal collection, explaining how these carefully preserved artifacts reflect daily work, family life, and Bath's early years. Set within the context of the original MacKinnon homestead and heritage farm, this presentation explores how everyday objects help us understand early life and the experiences of those who lived in the area.

Mike Mackinnon, a ninth-generation farmer in Bath Ontario, whose family roots in the community span generations. He was raised with a deep respect for stewardship, tradition and the land, he carries forward a legacy that has shaped both his livelihood and his personal passions.

His interest in antiques was inspired by his grandmother, Dorothy Burleigh, who introduced him to the stories and craftsmanship behind the pieces she treasured. She taught him that history is not something we just read about, it is something we can see, touch and preserve. Through her guidance, Mike developed a deep appreciation for the tangible connection that antiques provide to history. Family members have joked, that he may have been bitten by the antique-collecting bug even more deeply than his grandmother herself.

Mike collects antiques for a multitude of reasons. He enjoys furnishing his home with interesting pieces that bring warmth, beauty and character, and especially pieces that carry local history and individuality. Collecting allows him to study, research and share history in a hands-on and engaging way. He sees each piece as a thoughtful and meaningful investment for future generations to appreciate and enjoy.

For Mike, collecting is about stewardship, preserving craftsmanship, honouring our heritage and ensuring that the stories of previous generations continue to be appreciated and shared.

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The age of sail and steam on the Great Lakes comes alive in David Archibald's Spirit of the Inland Sea — a collection of original songs about our freshwater marine heritage. Archibald spent the summers of his youth on the shores of Lake Huron and has been captivated by the legends and lore of the lakes ever since. Now the listener can enjoy the songs that have engaged audiences in live performances across the province for years.

Feel the anguish of Captain John Munro as first his family members and then his majestic schooner, the Azov, fall prey to an unforgiving lake. Join the crew of the steamer Bruce Mines on their heroic last voyage around Cape Hurd. Enjoy the humour of an elegant equine solution (horse manure) to leaky vessels in "The Nags That Saved the Schooner." Listen as a shadow crosses a sailor's grave in ‘“The Wind & the Chill.” Follow the exploits of one of Canada's only pirates in "The Ballad of Pirate Bill." "The Chantry Light" and "Rocks of Tobermory" explore the majesty of the imperial lighthouses and the loneliness of the lightkeepers.

Spirit of the Inland Sea has been featured at National and Provincial Parks across Ontario, and Archibald was invited to give a workshop on Traditional Music of the Great Lakes Region at the North American Folk Alliance conference in Cleveland, Ohio. Selections from Spirit of the Inland Sea have been heard many times on CBC radio as well as stations in the U.S.

Singer/songwriter David Archibald has recorded with RCA. His musicals have been produced across Canada. The Kingston Symphony has performed his orchestral work 'Symphonia Galactica.' David produced the first recording of pop-star Avril Lavigne. His recordings include: Spirit of the Inland Sea, Savanna, Sand & Butterflies, Legends and Lore of the Charleston Shore, Pukaskwa: Songs of Superior and St. Nora’s Tower.

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Step back to a pivotal moment when the future of Canada hung in the balance. In this illustrated talk, local historian Lloyd Therien brings the opening years of the War of 1812 vividly to life, exploring the military campaigns, personalities, and alliances that shaped the conflict’s early course.

From the surprise British capture of Fort Mackinac to the dramatic surrender of Detroit, audiences will learn how quick decisions, psychological warfare, and Indigenous alliances altered the trajectory of the war. The presentation highlights key figures such as Isaac Brock, Tecumseh, and Laura Secord, and examines decisive engagements including Beaver Dams and the Battle of Crysler’s Farm along the St. Lawrence River.

Richly detailed and accessible to a general audience, this program offers fresh insight into how British, Canadian militia, and First Nations forces successfully resisted early American invasion attempts—securing Upper Canada at a critical moment in history. Ideal for history enthusiasts and anyone interested in the roots of Canada–U.S. relations.

Lloyd Therien is a long-time member of the CWRT of GK, with more than 25 years of involvement in the organization. An active and engaged participant, he has both attended and delivered presentations, drawing on decades of shared learning and travel with fellow members, including numerous week-long trips to Civil War battle sites.

During the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812, Lloyd was completing a six-year term as a Director on the Board of the St. Lawrence Parks Commission, where he had the opportunity to access and study War of 1812 holdings and sites. This experience informed his ongoing interest in the conflict, including the Battle of Crysler’s Farm—now partly occupied by Upper Canada Village—which features prominently in his research and presentations.

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Join us as we kick off the fall series of Culture Talks with a combination of song ballads and storytelling with Stephen Bruce Medd. The evening will cover fascinating historical events and people in pre-Confederation Canada, including Indigenous connections, French explorers, Loyalist refugees of the American Revolution, War of 1812, 1837 Upper Canada Rebellion, and the 1847 Typhus Epidemic.

Stephen Bruce Medd is a performing songwriter of historical ballads and spiritual songs. These songs are inspired by Canadian history; the remote and beautiful landscapes he explored as a geologist; and social issues of the day. Stephen’s most recent project entitled, "If Lilacs Could Sing" is a book of ballads and accompanying recordings about fascinating historical moments and people of Upper Canada with a focus on the Kingston-Quinte area. In 1999-2000 Stephen recorded 3 Spiritual-Folk songs that he wrote for Avril Lavigne that were her first studio recordings before being discovered by the music industry. Some of his influences include Gordon Lightfoot, Stan Rogers, Pete Seeger, The Chad Mitchell Trio, Mac Beattie and Celtic Music. His music and performing info are available on Bandcamp, YouTube and Facebook under Stephen Bruce Medd Music.

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My “Stupid Bicycle Thing” is the story of Phil Norton’s 2021 bicycle-camping journey from Prince Edward County to the Mexican border.

As he explains, "This is a repeat of my 1979-1980 bicycle camping travels from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. At that time at age 22, out in the world before computers and the Internet connectedness, I had ambitions of working as a photojournalist. Then, following my lifelong career in the media, I set off again in 2021 at age 63, with a smart phone connecting me to the world at every moment."

You will get a unique perspective of North America in distance and time — 4100 kilometres and 41 years later…during the pandemic and across the closed border…. along the Quebec and New England backroads, over the Appalachian Mountains and through downtown New York City, Washington DC and Houston, Texas.

This is a twin story - the personal story about an adventure travel expedition, pedalling on the road and sleeping in the woods as he traveled from Canada to Mexico on bicycle, combined with the geography and meeting the people along the way. You will meet a cross-section of the Americans from all walks of life — a much different perspective than you get on the television news.

After a career as a photojournalist, it’s no surprise that his presentation is based on photography—the travel documentary of the landscapes, the people, the weather and the wildlife—you will be surprised at the cameras used. There is also a tale of adventure—80% physical hardship and 20% grand reward of a self-propelled expedition—and also a unique "then and now" comparison of eastern Canada and the USA since my original cycle tour in 1980.

Norton has lived in Lake Ontario country since 2007 leading photography group trips throughout North America and working on County books. Before that, he owned an apple orchard and maple syrup farm in Quebec near the border of New York State and ran a youth journalism program in 2 English high schools. As film photography transitioned to digital, he worked at The Montreal Gazette shooting photo assignments and running the sales department of the photo archives where they also published 3 books.

You may order the book about his 10,000 km pedalling expedition in 1979-80 and get a refund for postage when you pick it up at the museum. Or purchase a copy at the show. Also, his “Four Seasons County” photo book series on Hastings County and Prince Edward County will be available half-price.

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To be determined