Book Signings, Talks, Via Rail, and Kingfisher Bay
- M.E. Cooper
- Apr 4
- 2 min read
During February and March, 2025 I completed book signings
and talks for The Peter Robinson Experiment in British Columbia
and Ontario. At the Norwood Town Hall, many of those who attended
my talk are descendants of the Peter Robinson group of 1825 who settled in the
Asphodel-Norwood Township, and are either related to my family, or have
been family friends and neighbours for years. Meeting everyone and presenting
information about Leaving Ireland was such an enjoyable and memorable experience.
Later, I was particularly pleased to meet with the Irish Research Group
in Ottawa because, while my ancestors participated in the Peter Robinson
experiment of 1825, it was due to the bravery, determination, and success of the
500 Irish who participated in the first phase of the scheme in 1823 and
relocated to the Ottawa area that made the second phase possible.
As expected, while travelling and attending the events, I met new
people and learned about their lives. One morning, at the Via Rail depot
in Toronto’s Union Station, I chatted with two sisters who were on their
way home after a holiday in Mexico. While having a fun and interesting
conversation, I learned that they host music festivals near Sudbury and
that the music styles are quite varied. I look forward to attending one of
their festivals one day. Of course, I told them about the purpose for being
on my way to Ottawa, gave them one of my cards, and later received a
wonderful message telling me that they had purchased a copy of my book
and really enjoyed reading the story.
At a book signing in Peterborough, Ontario I spoke to a man who told me about his Retreat Centre, called the Kingfisher Bay Retreat on Stoney Lake. Having never visited the Centre,
I am not qualified to review it, but the descriptions, photos and reviews on its website are quite impressive.
‘Kingfisher Bay Retreat is a not-for-profit organization which offers a unique and
welcoming atmosphere, surrounded by the beauty of tall pines, peaceful waters, and
abundant wildlife.’ (the Kingfisher Bay Retreat website)
At this point, my next event in Ontario will be in Douro on July 4 to 6, 2025
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