Time Warp

It's Thanksgiving Weekend in Canada! So This week, Kate ties a few topics together. Thanksgiving; fall tree-leaf colors; and the establishment of a train service to Haliburton County that had many uses - including fall leaf-color tourism. Plus, many don't realize how recently (1965) Canada adopted its instantly recognizable Maple Leaf Flag. It was a long divisive journey for many who didn't want t...

This week, Kate talks about the fall tree-leaf colour extravaganza which led her to the Dorset Fire Tower. The tower is a great lookout to take in the colours. The fire towers were iconic for defence from forest fires at one time. As technology developed they outlived their usefullness and most were removed, but a few - like the Dorset Tower - have been preserved and make a great viewing platform....

This week, Kate has the story of the newest item to have arrived at the Haliburton Highlands Museum. It's a quilt that comes with a bit of a mystery. Plus, a week ago, as of this episode's broadcast, the Toronto Blue Jays honoured long time player and broadcaster Buck Martinez in a pre-game ceremony. So, in that spirit Paul has the story of of what has gone down in history as one of the greatest p...

This week, Kate takes a look at going back to school and school days in early Haliburton County. Plus, Paul has the story of William Maxwell Aitken, better know as Lord Beaverbook, an ambitious Canadian entrpreneur who became wealthy; moved to Britain; became influential in British politics; served in government during both World Wars including becoming responsible for aircraft production in WW2;...

This week, Kate has an amusing anecdote about life in the early lumber camps and what happens when the log drivers finally hit town after having been in isolation for a long winter and early spring. Plus, Paul has the story of American efforts and propoganda designed to tempt Canadians to join their revolution against Britain and to, in effect, become the fourteenth colony in their new union. The...

This week, Kate talks about women working to make a livliehhod in early Haliburton County. Plus. Paul has the story of Sir Hugh Tudor who was significant in British security policy and militarized policing in Ireland during the early 1920's. The policy of retaliation and deterence against IRA attacks led to the escalation of the 'troubles', brutal reprisals, and destruction of property. Was he sim...

This week, Kate talks about the importance of horses in early Haliburton County. Plus, Paul has the story behind an audacious 1977 heist at the Vancouver Safety Deposit Vault that was protected by thirty inches of reinforced concrete and steel plating. It remains one of the boldest and technically sophisticated thefts in Canadian History. Questions remain - many of the heist-crew have never been c...

This week, Kate has the story of Alfred Schofield who was born in England in 1867, had an adventurous life, and eventually settled in Haliburton County. He was instrumental in community development by bringing 2 Red Cross Outpost,Hospitals to the County as well as being active in the salvation Army. Plus, Paul has the last chapter in the arc of Canadian Confederation. This week it's Canada's 10th...

This week, Kate has some historical stories from the local newspaper. Plus, Paul continues the arc of Canadian Confederation. This week it's Alberta and Saskatchewan, the 8th and 9th provinces, that were created in 1905. The situation with these provinces was a little difference - they were already part of Canada as a "Territory" after Canada acquired Rupert's Land from the Hudson's Bay Company in...

This week, Kate has the story of the adventure a group of Haliburton County students making the long trek to Toronto to hopefully catch a glimpse of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth during their 1939 Canadian Tour. Plus Paul continues the arc of Canadian Confederation. This week Prince Edward Island - the British colony that first said 'absolutely not' only to come to join Canada in 1873 after t...

This week, Kate goes back to when Canada Day was to the late 1800's-early 1900's when it was known as Dominion Day, and the celebrations that took place in Minden and elsewhere in Haliburton County. Plus, as part of the mini-series on the sometimes troubled path of Canadian Confederation, Paul has the story of British Columbia. And how things could have gone quite differently. Kate Butler is the D...

This week, Kate has the story of 1860's pioneers in Haliburton County - the Hartle family and the dramatic survical story of William Hartle on a trapping expedition. Plus, Paul has the continuing story of how the story of Canadian Confederation was never a foregone conclusion or an easy road. This week it's New Brunswick where Confederation was resoundingly rejected, and then ressurected a year la...

This week, Kate talks about Haliburton County Fairs, some that have been in existence since 1864. Originally with agricultural roots, many have adapted to remain relevant as society and communities change. And yet they are still reminiscent of a an earlier, gentler time. Plus, Paul has a brief overview of Canadian Confederation. Many have a nostalgic view of Confederation as being easily achieved...

This week, it's two founding stories, one about a Haliburtonian named Joseph Paull who Kate describes as a Haliburton treasure. Plus, Paul has the story of the Louis Hebert and his wife Marie Rollet who are credited as the first true European settlers, as opposed to merchants and contract workers, in Canada. And that was before the Pilgrims arrived in the US. They were the first Europeans to clear...

This week, Kate has the story of Dysart's (Dysart et al is a municipality within Haliburton County) first Reeve - Captain John Lucas. John was a sea captain in the mid 1800's who eventually came to settle in Haliburton. He was an entrepreneur, was the first Reeve when the community was established, and he and his family became significant to the community. Plus, Paul has the story of Captain Nicho...

This week, has the story of Victoria Day and the long weekend when Canadians celebrate the UK's Queen Victoria's birthday. Spoiler alert - apparently Canada is the only country in the world that still celebrates her birthday. Plus, Canada has at least 3 unique breeds of horses that originated here, with histories that go as far back as the 1600's. New France's Canadian breed; the Lac La Croix Indi...

This week, Kate the story of Kinmount. Existing just outside of Haliburton County, Kinmount is still often seen as an honorary member of the County. Plus, it's the wrap-up....the third episode of 3 episodes about the evolution of Canada's interior from a territory created by the early fur trade; the development of the Metis people with a presence in both the European and Indigenous communities; to...

This week, Kate has some tales about farmyard animal pranks and hijinks in pioneer Haliburton County. Plus, today Paul is building on the westward expansion of Canada in the 1860's. Last episode dealt with the amalgamation of the Hudson's Bay (HBC) and North West fur trading companies. Essentially the HBC, a private company, now governed a huge territory in central Canada. But it didn't take into...

This week, Kate talks about early bridges - and those that built them. In a rural pioneer county crossed by lakes and rivers, bridges were an absolute necessity that we now take for granted. But back then it would have been pretty tough to get around without them. Plus, Paul has the origin, growth, and competition between the fur trading Hudson's Bay Company and the North West Company that devolve...

This week, the Spring season has almost sprung and Kate is using it as an opportunity to talk about early maple syrup production. Plus, in the late 1700's Captain Cook's exploration of Canada's west coast led to a boom in sea otter pelts. Sea otter pelts were the world's softest and most luxurious furs, and some people were willing to pay a small fortune to acquire them. Canada's North-West fur tr...

This week, Kate Butler is the Director of the Haliburton Highlands Museum. Paul Vorvis is the host of the Your Haliburton Morning Show 7 - 9 a.m. Fridays on Canoe FM 100.9 and streaming on your devices. Haliburton County is in cottage country about 2 1/2 hours north of Toronto. You can contact us at timewarp@canoefm.com

This week, Kate has the country of origin of many of Haliburton County's pioneers. Ironically, although there's many community names that are Welsh in origin there weren't necessarily that many Welsh settlers in the County. Regardless, there were settlers from England, Scotland, Ireland, and eventually Italy among other countries. Plus Paul has the story of the first synthetic fabric - nylon - cre...

This week, Kate was thinking about International Women's Day and that brought her to musing about it in terms of the contributions of pioneer women in Haliburton County. Plus, Paul has the story of the first oil well and commercial operation in North America. It's sort of a "coming up from the ground came a bubbling crude" story. It wasn't in western Canada or the prairies, it was a quiet corner o...

This week, Kate has the story of the life of a charming little church that was built in Haliburton in 1875 for the local Presbyterian congregations. Plus, Paul has the tale of early Soviet spying in Canada before and just after WW2.Today's episode introduces 2 men who never met but who's actions are often cited an opening moment in the outbreak of the Cold War. The first man is the spymaster Sam C...

This week, Kate has an anecdote about life in the winter lumbercamp - this one revolves around celebrating Lent. Plus, Paul has the story of J. Blair Seaborn, a Canadian diplomat who participated in secret missions to Vietnam in the 1960's to try and mediate between the U.S. and the North Vietnamese. Kate Butler is the Director of the Haliburton Highlands Museum. Paul Vorvis is the host of the You...