HerStory History
Pauline's performances are a collection of self penned narratives of some of Canada's heroines and pioneers;

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.

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

Dressed in Widow’s Weeds (period clothing) Pauline Grondin will take you back to the Samhain’s end of summer festival where Hallowe’en draws its roots deep from the traditions of the British Isles and France. Many of these traditions traveled to Canada with the Scottish and Northern Irish in the early 1800's. The people of the Victorian era added their own traditions based on the "old ways". Our modern celebration is not far from the traditions celebrated across the sea and in Canada of long ago.

Stories of mythical Irish beings and a true eerie Canadian story complete the presentation.
 

Funeral and Mourning Traditions

During times of health and happiness it is perhaps trying to turn our thoughts into doleful channels but sooner or later in our lives the sad time comes.

Through the ages, people looked upon the rituals of mourning and laying a  loved to rest differently. Grave decorations became less morbid and more of a spiritual awakening. Superstitions and traditions continued to take on a more modern approach as did “saved by the bell”, "the graveyard shift” and “holding a wake”.

Mourning of the dead became a fashionable trend under the reign of Queen Victoria after the death of Prince Albert in 1861 and even common folk could earn their place in the community by their very acts of respect for the dearly departed.

These traditions and customs traveled over the seas to Canada and the rituals were continued and expanded upon. Even though we have our own traditions, their roots are firmly planted in the customs of the past.

The Wedding Gift

The story of “The Wedding Gift” is set in Port Marriott Nova Scotia in the winter of the year 1794.

It is a delightful story laced with comedy and insight and gives a clear picture of early life in the Canadian winter and the hardships of travel in unknown territory.

The ending of the story has a delightful twist that causes a chuckle of acknowledgement to the antics of Miss Kezia Barnes.

The Legends and Traditions of Christmas

Dressed in period clothing, Pauline Grondin will take you back to the Christmas celebrations of yesteryear.

Participants 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.

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.
 

Royal scandles told by their supposed pots

The English are famous for their “cuppa tey””.
If the pots of the Royal families throughout the ages could talk to us what would they tell?  Stories of mistresses and their children, imprisonment and beheadings. An “accidental” fall, a poisoning, a birth recorded in a church registry with a page now missing.

The stories in this presentation start with our famous King Henry V111 and his jug of ale. Where else we ask would be a better place to start down the road of “Could this be true?!” Scandals of one more Royal to be shared before tea finally enters English history in 1662 with the wife of King Charles 11. The remaining scandals will then be witnessed by various teapots reporting stories of the Royal family.

Inspired by questions asked by those curious for such history Pauline will share some of the highlights recorded, and sometimes hidden, in the pages of time.