Who Said History Was Boring ~ Fort Henry ~ St. Lawrence Parks Commission ~ Will Baird

www.forthenry.com

Will Baird, Manager, Fort Henry, St. Lawrence Parks Commission

www.parks.on .ca

Ontario Visited interview Mr. Will Baird, Manager of Fort Henry, St. Lawrence Parks continues …

Who said History was boring? ….

While to some history may be perceived as not very exciting, but to Fort Henry and its staff, it is! Fort Henry’s fresh outlook, as Mr. Will Baird, Manager of Fort Henry tells me, will portray the “Real Picture”, not fiction, the real thing, the real life!

Will tells me... History, as it is being taught in our educational systems today, he feels that it is being taught in a form of disservice.  How students and citizens had to learn history in the past was based on “facts”, memorizing them without putting into context. Will states, it’s not a judgment on school curriculum, but he feels if more teachers were passionate in “painting the history picture rather than just facts, history might not be so boring”. Today Fort Henry has the opportunity to bridge the gap and help create a new passion for our youth and citizens of our society today.

Stay tuned for my upcoming Blogs, Articles and Newsletters. In the meantime, please check out Fort Henry website at (LINK) for the Sunset Ceremony details; Upper Canada Village at (LINK) and the St. Lawrence Parks Commission at (LINK).

Why is History Important ~ St. Lawrence Parks Commission ~ Fort Henry ~ Will Baird

www.forthenry.com

Will Baird, Manager, Fort Henry, St. Lawrence Parks Commission

www.parks.on.ca

Ontario Visited interview Mr. Will Baird, Manager of Fort Henry, St. Lawrence Parks continues …

Why is History important? …

Fort Henry feels that Canadian History and “living history” is important, so I wanted to know how important the history is and how do it impact our society today?

Will replies … The Fort provides the ability to connect history to Canadians, both new Canadians and Current Canadians, and visitors from around the World.  Fort Henry helps connect a cross section where we have been to now. Mr. Baird tells me a lot of where we are going is determined a lot by where you have been. Fort Henry is an exciting part of the connection of the Rideau Canal, and is able to connect to the public the relevance of the large part of why it was created.

Why is that important … Mr. Baird says … The Canal is a significant part of history, as it greatly affects our ability to travel today. We need to remember that travel was not easy in the United States, especially for a British Citizen. He goes on to say about history, that we can learn to understand the value of small inventions, such as electricity. Can the youth of today imagine a world without e-mails, i-pods, computers, cell phones and so much more? Baird reminds us that being mindful of that (history) is important.

Stay tuned for my upcoming Blogs, Articles and Newsletters. In the meantime, please check out Fort Henry website at (LINK) for the Sunset Ceremony details; Upper Canada Village at (LINK) and the St. Lawrence Parks Commission at (LINK).

MAID for a MUSKET ~ Career of a Playwright ~ Secrets to Success

www.stlawrenceshakespeare.ca

Ian Farthing, Artistic Director, St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival

Lucia Frangione, International Award Winning Playwright

As part of the War of 1812 Celebrations, Ontario Visited is excited to share some “SCOOP” about their upcoming performance “MAID for a MUSKET”, a brand new comedy by Lucia Frangione, Original music by Melissa Morris. Ian Farthing, Artistic Director of the St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival has kindly introduced us to Ms. Lucia Frangione, internationally produced award winning playwright and actor. Together with Ian’s input, we continue …

IMPORTANCE of the ST. LAWRENCE SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL … IMPACTING the CAREER of a PLAYWRIGHT …

Ian Farthing, Artistic Director, St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival, is also an accomplished Director/Actor/Singer/Performer. He is also “witty” “cleaver”, kind, generous and thoughtful! Once again, I called on Ian for his input with the next question for Lucia Frangione. Ian asked … “How does working with a Festival, such as the St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival, impact the career of a Playwright. Lucia tells us …“Ian has given me to the opportunity to write for a new audience, a large cast (a rare luxury, most theatres tend to produce new Canadian plays with a cast of six or less) and delve into a piece of history I didn’t know much about beforehand. I also had the opportunity to study one of Shakespeare’s lesser known plays, Love’s Labour’s Lost. I am able to write a play that is, in a way, a love letter to the people of Prescott. Not only to honor the people in the town’s past but to celebrate the particular things that make that little corner of the world beautiful and unique: the river, the wild flowers, some of the historical buildings…that sort of thing. The royalties go to a living breathing Canadian writer, a single Mom who really needs the pay cheque, unlike, say, Noel Coward’s estate.”

IMPORTANCE OF VOLUNTEERS … ST. LAWRNECE SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL SECRETS TO SUCCESS …

For many festivals and events, historical sites, attractions and museums, it is critical to have Volunteers! For this edition of THE INSIDE SCOOP I asked Ian Farthing, Artistic Director, St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival if he could share with us some techniques on managing so many volunteers, performers? Mr. Farthing tells us …“Organization is key! At the St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival we hire a full-time outreach coordinator each summer whose job is partly to recruit, train, schedule and retain volunteers. The key to having a successful team of volunteers is to ensure that each person knows that their contribution is valued and vital. And to make it fun! If people are giving their time and talents voluntarily, we want them to enjoy themselves! In a way, it can be very similar when dealing with an ensemble of actors. You'll get the best out of a cast if they feel their contribution is essential to the production.”

Ontario Visited thanks both Lucia Frangione and Ian Farthing, St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival! Check out their website for the details (www.stlawrenceshakespeare.ca), plan on a fun, and great, memorable time!

Call for Vendors ~ Fort Henry ~ St. Lawrence Parks Commission ~ Will Baird

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Will Baird, Manager, Fort Henry, St. Lawrence Parks Commission

www.parks.on.ca

Ontario Visited interview Mr. Will Baird, Manager of Fort Henry, St. Lawrence Parks continues …

 “CALL FOR VENDORS”

New for 2013... Fort Henry is excited to announce The Trade Square. The Trade Square is Kingston's newest shopping district inside the walls of the Fort. Shoppers will enter the Upper Fort free of charge, shop the rooms and outdoor stalls and have lunch or dinner on Kingston's newest outdoor patio which overlooks the beautiful city.

The Trade Square will operate Wednesday - Sunday from June 29th - September 2nd, plus run throughout Fort Fright. Core hours will be 10:00am - 5:00pm, with extended hours occurring on holidays, special events and Sunset Ceremony nights throughout the summer. Vendors will include artists, crafts people, retailers, museums, organizations, and food & beverage providers.

Call for Vendors

“The Trade Square will include indoor spaces and outdoor spaces, seasonal and monthly options. In total there are 7 casements and 20 outdoor spaces. Space will be allotted and booked based on space requirements of vendor. Seasonal rentals will be given preference on booking. Indoor monthly or seasonal spaces can operate as a studio / retail space where artists and vendors are encouraged to work as well as sell. The main season will be June 29 - September 2, which includes the Canada Day Market and Civic Holiday Market as well as other special events during that time period at no extra charge.”

Get in touch with the Fort today to join in the fun! In the meantime, please check out Fort Henry website at (LINK) for the Sunset Ceremony details; Upper Canada Village at (LINK) and the St. Lawrence Parks Commission at (LINK).

MAID for a MUSKET ~ Greater Opportunities for Our Next Generation

www.stlawrenceshakespeare.ca

Ian Farthing, Artistic Director, St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival 

Lucia Frangione, International Award Winning Playwright

 As part of the War of 1812 Celebrations, Ontario Visited is excited to share some “SCOOP” about their upcoming performance “MAID for a MUSKET”, a brand new comedy by Lucia Frangione, Original music by Melissa Morris. Ian Farthing, Artistic Director of the St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival has kindly introduced us to Ms. Lucia Frangione, internationally produced award winning playwright and actor. Together with Ian’s input, we continue …
GREATER OPPORTUNTIES FOR OUR NEXT GENERATION …

Lucia Frangione, continues on telling what she felt was the importance of the performing arts in our society today.

“A Canadian playwright will understand the Canadian experience and it is different from other places in the world. I will speak your language. I will have your sense of humor. I do know the color of your sky. I have tasted the first strawberries in Ontario and picked them with my father. I have been bitten by horseflies. I have walked along the St Lawrence River as the sun sets. I have been so humidly hot in the summer I want to jump into a bath full of ice cubes. I have been in love with a boy who plays lacrosse and have kissed his face, his face with the tiny bit of ice crystal snot around the nose, hoping it doesn’t melt too fast…you might be chuckling or wincing right now reading this, why? Because you’ve done the same thing! I watch you and listen to you and put you up on the stage and share your voice with the rest of the world. You think Beyonce is going to do that? You think Tarantino can? No. They’re great novelties and amazing artists. But we tell each other who we are. We inform each other what we believe in, who we love, what we live for, what we strive to be. That is irreplaceable.”

GREATER OPPORTUNTIES FOR OUR NEXT GENERATION …

As our society changes with technology, I asked Ms. Frangione is she had any suggestions on how to encourage the youth today to participate in such a unique “field” that requires passion, talent, dedication and devotion. Lucia tells us …“I think my generation was the “TV generation” and the fear was that technology would replace all the live arts. I do see the youth today obsessed with their ipads, video games, itunes, etc, sure. But I also see the returned pleasure and value being found in taking dance, music lessons, drama…all the live arts. I think there is greater opportunity for this next generation to share their talent with the world through utube, social networking etc. A teenager now has the technology and networking available to them to shoot their own film, their own music video, their own live poetry reading, their dance routine, their piano concert, get it on line and share it with the world electronically or market a live event. It’s really amazing.”

Stay tuned for more exciting “SCOOP” from Lucia Frangione and Ian Farthing, St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival! Check out their website for the details (www.stlawrenceshakespeare.ca), plan on a fun, and great, memorable time!

Exciting News from the FORT ~ Fort Henry ~ St. Lawrence Parks Commission ~ Will Baird

www.forthenry.com

Will Baird, Manager, Fort Henry, St. Lawrence Parks Commission

www.parks.on.ca

 Ontario Visited interview Mr. Will Baird, Manager of Fort Henry, St. Lawrence Parks Commission

“EDUTAINMENT”… Looking towards the future … EXCITING NEWS from the “FORT”

Ontario Visited is extremely pleased to be working, this year, with the St. Lawrence Parks Commission, including Upper Canada Village and Fort Henry. For me, this past week was truly enlightening, as I had the privilege of interviewing Mr. Will Baird, Manager of Fort Henry - St. Lawrence Parks Commission. Will shared some “Edutainment” enthusiasm and excitement with us. For those of you who are not familiar with the word “Edutainment”, I believe it is the process of combing “EDUCATION with ENTERTAINMENT”. We will be posting Blog articles over the next few weeks talking with Mr. Will Baird about: “Edutainment”; “Why is history important!”, “Who said History was boring?”; “ The Famous NEW, EXCITING Sunset Ceremony”; “Controversy … Historians, artifacts, accuracy”; “Alive in Five” strategy: “The Trade Square”, “The most exciting Job ever!”, “TOTAL GAME CHANGER” …and more! 

We being our Journey … In keeping up with what is relevant in consumer consumption; innovative plans are in place at Fort Henry. The revitalization of the Fort is all part of an “Alive in Five” strategy the St. Lawrence Parks Commission’s mantra to become financially self-sufficient within five years. What that means to you, the visitor, and consumer … “The upper fort now will be free for the public to enter”… “Waiting for new visitors is a wooden deck that spans the inside walls and offers an unparalleled view of Lake Ontario and the Royal Military College. Tables and chairs for more than 100 people will be added where they can sample light dishes and beverages. Some of the rooms that line the upper fort, formerly offices, will be turned over to vendors who will turn each one into a craft room. Tables will also be set up on the upper parade square, now to be called The Trade Square, to hold more items. The market will run from Sunday May 12, through September 14. “At any given time as long as the fort is open, you will be able to walk in there, free of admission charges, and go and browse the shops”. This area will be a permanent little artisan market that includes jewelry, sculpture, paintings, glassware and other crafts made from natural materials.

Don’t worry! …Mr. Baird tells me in part of our interview… It is important to continue to “get the historical message out there” … that it is not necessarily how the message is passed on, but, that it is passed on! Will states … "people can get caught up a lot in their efforts to be 100% accurate". Mr. Baird says that there can be cohesiveness between the reality of interpretation and true history enthusiasts. Fort Henry’s core business is to preserve millions of dollars of artifacts. Will Baird says that it is Fort Henry’s goal to preserve the core, but, they can spread the word, pass on the historical messages by engaging people. 

Stay tuned for my upcoming Blogs, Articles and Newsletters. In the meantime, please check out Fort Henry website at (LINK) for the Sunset Ceremony details; Upper Canada Village at (LINK) and the St. Lawrence Parks Commission at (LINK). 

MAID for a MUSKET ~ Importance of Performing Arts in our Society Today

www.stlawrenceshakespeare.ca

Ian Farthing, Artistic Director, St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival

Lucia Frangione, International Award Winning Playwright

As part of the War of 1812 Celebrations, Ontario Visited is excited to share some “SCOOP” about their upcoming performance “MAID for a MUSKET”, a brand new comedy by Lucia Frangione, Original music by Melissa Morris. Ian Farthing, Artistic Director of the St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival has kindly introduced us to Ms. Lucia Frangione, internationally produced award winning playwright and actor. Together with Ian’s input, we continue …

IMPORTANCE OF PERFORMING ARTS in our SOCIETY TODAY! …

This might be one of my favorite questions to ask. Ontario Visited often finds out by asking, “What is the importance of living history”, “What is the importance of Volunteers”, “What is the importance of festivals and event” and; what social and economical impact occurs as a result in our society today! Today I asked Lucia Frangione, what she felt was the importance of the performing arts in our society today. This might be my favorite reply … She shares …

“All of us live and breathe art every single hour of every single day. We just don’t think about it as art necessarily. The colour on our walls. The print on our dress. The CD in our car. The episode on TV. The Christmas pageant our kids are in. When we need a little pick up to our day, we turn on the radio and search out a good song. When we want a little mental break from work, we pick out a good book. When we can’t understand some aspect of our own behavior or the confusing maddening behavior of our lover, our child, our neighbor, our neighboring country…we seek out some kind of story to help understand them better: a film, a novel, a play, an essay, an article, a photograph. Like hospitals, schools, political and spiritual constructs, urban infrastructure, social programs for the disadvantaged…a civilized society has always contributed financially through taxes or tries to keep these charitable organizations available to all people, not just for the rich and powerful. Can you imagine how crappy our art would be if we only created it for those who could pay for it?

Some worry about the future of theatre, that it is outmoded by film and tv. That’s as ridiculous as saying itunes will replace all live concerts or photography will replace sculpture.

There is something about being “live”, tangible, first person, that simply can’t be replaced. Live is harder. It’s immediate; you have to be spot on. There’s no retake. But that’s where the excitement is. That woman is actually singing that beautifully right in front of you. That man is actually dripping beads of sweat in this sword fight, that’s his technique, his footwork, his skill, his athleticism: it’s not animated. Those aren’t manufactured emotions. That’s real pain the actors find and reveal for the sake of bringing a character alive for your entertainment but also for a kind of connection with you.
Sure, I like an imported kiwi once in a while, but I think there is greater value in live, fresh, local art, just as there is more nutrient value in live, fresh local produce.

Stay tuned for more exciting “SCOOP” from Lucia Frangione and Ian Farthing, St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival! Check out their website for the details (www.stlawrenceshakespeare.ca), plan on a fun, and great, memorable time!