Trent Valley Archives Theatre Returning in 2026
June 4, 5, and 6 — A Fundraiser for The Trent Valley Archives at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre, Peterborough
Learn about last year’s play: Crossing Over: Sequel Tide of Hope
The Kid from Simcoe Street
In our adaptation of this moving World War II era memoir, James Clarke recalls growing up in the poor and alcohol-ridden neighbourhood of downtown Peterborough.
As a boy, his father had been a foot soldier, but after coming home from the battlefields he turned to manic drinking and belligerence, shattering his wife’s dreams, and casting a dark shadow over James’ boyhood.
This story, told with emotion that is unflinching in its honesty, lets us see just how remarkable it is that James Clarke became not only a man esteemed and honoured as a judge of the Superior Court of Ontario, but as a respected poet, too.
Purchase your copy from Exile Editions
Have you seen the updated Heritage Gazette?
We are pleased to continue and expand on the pioneering work of archivist Elwood Jones and Steve Gavard as we explore the near and distant past in this full colour publication.
View the current and past issues
What inspired genealogist and Beyond the Ships' Lists tour guide Gillian Holden to research and write a tour themed around the descendants of the Peter Robinson Emigrants buried in St. Peter's Cemetery? Check out the interview Bicentennial Storyteller Teresa Kaszuba did with Gillian a few weeks before the tour first debuted during Nine Ships 1825's Bicentennial Commemoration Week. ![]()
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If you missed the tour in August and want to learn more about some of the athletes, clergy, military personnel and more who are tied to the Peter Robinson Emigration, we are reprising it THIS SUNDAY September 28 at 2pm! Tickets cost $20 each and can be purchased on Eventbrite, here: www.eventbrite.ca/e/beyond-the-ships-lists-st-peters-cemetery-tour-tickets-1681231662159?aff=oddt...
The reprise of our popular Beyond the Ships Lists: The Peter Robinson Settlers and their Descendants St. Peter's Cemetery tour is THIS SUNDAY September 28 at 2pm! This is your final chance (this year, at least!) to learn more about the lives and legacies of some of the descendants of the original Peter Robinson emigrants at their final resting places. Tickets to this tour cost $20 each and can be purchased on Eventbrite, here: www.eventbrite.ca/e/beyond-the-ships-lists-st-peters-cemetery-tour-tickets-1681231662159?aff=oddt... ![]()
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If you need convincing to venture to St. Peter's Cemetery this weekend, check out these great photographs of some of the headstones featured on the tour that Nine Ships photographer Linda Cardona took during the tour on August 10!
The reprise of our popular Beyond the Ships Lists: The Peter Robinson Settlers and their Descendants tour is just one week away! Join knowledgeable tour guide and genealogist Gillian Holden in St. Peter's Cemetery next Sunday, September 28 at 2pm for an unforgettable afternoon learning about the legacy left behind by the Peter Robinson Emigration to our region in 1825. ![]()
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Spread out across North America, the descendants of the Peter Robinson Emigrants led diverse and interesting lives, many of them removed from the farming traditions of their ancestors. Some enlisted in the military, joined the clergy, or followed athletic pursuits like Francis "Moose" Heffernan, whose story is told in this video excerpt taken from Gillian's tour on August 10, during the Nine Ships 1825 Bicentennial Commemoration Week. Check out the video to learn about Frank's athletic accomplishments, and his family ties to the Robinson emigration. ![]()
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If you enjoyed this story and want to hear others like it, then you'll want to purchase a ticket to the tour! Tickets cost $20 each and can be purchased on Eventbrite, here: www.eventbrite.ca/e/beyond-the-ships-lists-st-peters-cemetery-tour-tickets-1681231662159?aff=oddt...![]()
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Thank you to Linda Cardona for capturing this video during our August 10th Beyond the Ships Lists tour.
We had a very successful open house and book launch at 567 Carnegie Avenue yesterday! Several people took the time on a beautiful, sunny Saturday to find out what the Trent Valley Archives has to offer and to purchase a copy of Peterborough: Spirit of Place, the newest publication in our bookstore. ![]()
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Thank you to everyone who visited us yesterday, especially Peterborough: Spirit of Place photographer John McQuarrie, who made the trip to Peterborough to speak about the latest addition to his Spirit of Place book series. We would also like to thank our archivist, Elwood Jones, for speaking about Peterborough after the Robinson emigration and our dedicated team of archives volunteers who helped us prepare refreshments, sell books, and greet visitors.![]()
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If you couldn't make it yesterday to purchase a copy of Peterborough: Spirit of Place, we still have copies of the book available! They can be purchased at our archives building at 567 Carnegie Avenue during our operating hours, Tuesday to Saturday from 10am-4pm. They cost $40 each, and every copy includes a bonus copy of McQuarrie's Trent-Severn Waterway book, free of charge,
Happening today! We hope to see you at 567 Carnegie Avenue this morning.On Saturday, September 20th from 10:30am to 1:30pm, we will be opening the doors at our archives building at 567 Carnegie Avenue in Peterborough for curious community members and devout TVA supporters alike! ![]()
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The highlight of this year's Open House will be the launch of Peterborough: Spirit of Place, photographer John McQuarrie's newest addition to his popular Spirit of Place book series. The perfect addition to any Peterburian's coffee table, this 150+ page book features dozens of McQuarrie's gorgeous full-colour photographs of Peterborough and the surrounding area paired with articles written by local authors and historians, including our archivist, Dr. Elwood Jones. ![]()
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At our Open House, both McQuarrie and Dr. Jones will speak about the book, which profiles the history of Peterborough alongside McQuarrie's photographs. Just in time for the Bicentennial of the Peter Robinson Irish Emigration, this historical profile features a stand-out article written by Patrick Leahy, a descendant of one of the Peter Robinson emigrants, about the emigration. ![]()
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Don't miss your chance to be one of the first to own a copy of this beautiful book, and to get it signed by two of its major contributors. Copies of the book are $40 each and will be available for sale at our Open House. As a special offer to celebrate the launch of the book, each copy of Peterborough: Spirit of Place will also come with a copy of McQuarrie's previous book, Trent Severn Waterway, free of charge!![]()
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The Open House will be running from 10:30am-1:30pm, and you are welcome to drop in anytime (although the speaking portion of the Open House will begin around 11:30am). There will also be light refreshments available. If you have never paid our archives building a visit before, this is the perfect opportunity for you to find out what resources we have, peruse our new and secondhand local history books for sale, and even become a Trent Valley Archives member!![]()
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Our president, board, and volunteers are excited to welcome you to our archives building this Saturday. We hope to see you there!