My new article in the Canadian Encyclopedia is about Prince Rupert of the Rhine, First Governor of the Hudson’s Bay Company. The article discusses his eventful life as a prince in exile, royalist general, privateer, artist and scientist in addition to his involvement in the Royal African Company and the Hudson’s Bay Company.
Click here to read my article about Prince Rupert of the Rhine in the Canadian Encyclopedia
My new article in Reader’s Digest Canada discusses ten of the most memorable tours of Canada by Prince Charles (HRH The Prince of Wales) from the 100th anniversary of the province of Manitoba in 1970 to the 150th anniversary of Canadian confederation in 2017.
My new eight week online course at the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies starts Wednesday January 12, 2022. Click here for more information and to register.
The year 2022 marks Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee, the 70th anniversary of her accession to the throne. It’s an opportunity to look back on the social, political and cultural changes during her long reign. The personal lives of royalty are a popular subject for fiction in novels, films and TV series but the real history is more interesting. Each generation of royalty must respond to the challenges of their times to keep the monarchy relevant and engaged with public opinion. Join Carolyn Harris, historian, commentator and author of Raising Royalty: 1000 Years of Royal Parenting for a lively discussion of the history, politics and cultural significance of the monarchy in the UK and Canada.
I discussed popular perceptions of the monarchy in Canada and the place of the monarchy in the Canadian constitution on the Elias Makos show on CJAD 800. Since Barbados transitioned from constitutional monarchy to republic in the past month, there has been discussion and debate concerning Canada’s relationship with the monarchy.
Click here to listen to A majority of Canadians want to ditch the monarchy. Can this be done?
I discussed the Prince of Wales, the emergence of a republic in Barbados and the monarchy in transition with Janet Davison at CBC News. We also discussed the upcoming royal Christmas and Queen Elizabeth II’s close ties to her extended family.
I discussed the future of the monarchy in Canada with Jackson Weaver at CBC News, comparing the differences between Barbados, which became a republic at the end of November following a parliamentary vote, and Canada, where changes to the office of the Queen would require the consent of all ten provinces.
Click here to read Barbados just got rid of the Queen — should Canada follow suit? at CBC News
I discussed the transition from constitutional monarchy to republic in Barbados with Global National News
Click here to watch Barbados formally removes Queen Elizabeth II as head of state, becomes a republic
My zoom lecture on Royal Train Tours of Canada (from Spring 2021) is now available for purchase online from the Toronto Railway Museum.
My latest article in the Canadian Encyclopedia is about King George VI and his relationship with Canada, including the 1939 Royal Tour and the Second World War.
Click here to read my article in the Canadian Encyclopedia about King George VI
My latest article in the Historica Canada Canadian Encyclopedia is about Joseph Whiteside Boyle.
Nicknamed Klondike Joe, Boyle founded a gold mining company and became a millionaire in the aftermath of the Klondike gold rush. During the First World War, he equipped a machine gun unit and was a spy with the British secret service in Russia and Romania. He also reorganized the Russian military supply network, rescued Romanian prisoners of war and became the confidant and possibly lover of Queen Marie of Romania.
Click here to read my article about Joseph Whiteside Boyle in the Canadian Encyclopedia