Does your group need a guest speaker? Will a fascinating history story fit the bill? Then call me at 613-439-8992 or send an email to
danbuchanan@cogeco.ca.
Over the last decade I have been the guest speaker for dozens of meetings across Ontario. Organizations invite me back year after year because I provide entertaining and informative history stories that keep the audience engaged. Question period is always fun too.
The stories I tell are based on historical research and lots of original documents. My experience with genealogy helps give a people-centric approach to explaining the context of events and the reasons people had for their actions and decisions.
During the pandemic I have developed good Zoom technique, so virtual presentations are an excellent option, covid-19 or not.
For in-person events, I am available to speak at any time and place. Living in Brighton gives me easy access to locations along the 401 and I am happy to drive almost any distance if I have the chance to tell a history story.
Emergency calls are welcome! If I do not have other events booked, I can be there quickly and be ready to tell a history story.
See below for new topics and download a full list of topics I can present by clicking on the button.
danbuchanan@cogeco.ca.
Over the last decade I have been the guest speaker for dozens of meetings across Ontario. Organizations invite me back year after year because I provide entertaining and informative history stories that keep the audience engaged. Question period is always fun too.
The stories I tell are based on historical research and lots of original documents. My experience with genealogy helps give a people-centric approach to explaining the context of events and the reasons people had for their actions and decisions.
During the pandemic I have developed good Zoom technique, so virtual presentations are an excellent option, covid-19 or not.
For in-person events, I am available to speak at any time and place. Living in Brighton gives me easy access to locations along the 401 and I am happy to drive almost any distance if I have the chance to tell a history story.
Emergency calls are welcome! If I do not have other events booked, I can be there quickly and be ready to tell a history story.
See below for new topics and download a full list of topics I can present by clicking on the button.
| guest_speaker_topics_2024_02_07.pdf |
New stories Dan is telling...
A History of the Murray Canal
The fourth history book written and published by The History Guy of Brighton is called "A History of the Murray Canal". Released in February 2024, this is the only book dealing with the history of the Murray Canal. As a historian in Brighton, just down the road from the canal, I have been annoyed that there was no history of the canal. So, I decided to do it myself. My presentation on this topic starts with Lieutenant John Graves Simcoe stating clearly that he felt a canal should be built at the west end of the Bay of Quinte - in 1794! Why did it not get built until the 1880s? There were lots of reasons why it never happened as well as lots of reasons why it finally happened in the 1880s. Using a comprehensive set of documentation that has been languishing in archives for decades, Dan Buchanan brings the story alive with clarity and compassion. Yes, it is a story about boats and dredging and political influence, but it is also a story about people. Just ask the folks who live near the canal or anyone who had relatives working as bridge tenders or sailing schooners or barges on the busy canal in the 1920s.
The fourth history book written and published by The History Guy of Brighton is called "A History of the Murray Canal". Released in February 2024, this is the only book dealing with the history of the Murray Canal. As a historian in Brighton, just down the road from the canal, I have been annoyed that there was no history of the canal. So, I decided to do it myself. My presentation on this topic starts with Lieutenant John Graves Simcoe stating clearly that he felt a canal should be built at the west end of the Bay of Quinte - in 1794! Why did it not get built until the 1880s? There were lots of reasons why it never happened as well as lots of reasons why it finally happened in the 1880s. Using a comprehensive set of documentation that has been languishing in archives for decades, Dan Buchanan brings the story alive with clarity and compassion. Yes, it is a story about boats and dredging and political influence, but it is also a story about people. Just ask the folks who live near the canal or anyone who had relatives working as bridge tenders or sailing schooners or barges on the busy canal in the 1920s.
Around Town: History of Properties on Main Street in Brighton
Around Town is a major project begun in 2023 to document the history of every property in the town of Brighton. As of January 2024, the properties on both north and south sides of Main Street have been completed, from Memorial Park to Ontario Street. Presentations were done at the Brighton Public Library in October 2023 and February 2024. Details are available on The History Guy’s web site and will be updated as sections of the work are completed. In the meantime, presentations can be done to highlight the work and provide fascinating insights into the people who settled in Brighton and how they helped to developed the town. Lots of new information here!
Around Town is a major project begun in 2023 to document the history of every property in the town of Brighton. As of January 2024, the properties on both north and south sides of Main Street have been completed, from Memorial Park to Ontario Street. Presentations were done at the Brighton Public Library in October 2023 and February 2024. Details are available on The History Guy’s web site and will be updated as sections of the work are completed. In the meantime, presentations can be done to highlight the work and provide fascinating insights into the people who settled in Brighton and how they helped to developed the town. Lots of new information here!
George Gibson's Schooner
The old story of the burning of George Gibson's schooner on Presqu'ile Bay during the War of 1812 gets a total facelift as a result of archival documents that tell a very different version of events compared to what local lore provided. George Gibson's schooner was burned, for sure, but why and by whom? Hear the real, documented facts of the story in the context of a fascinating time in Canada's history, during war with the Americans. As always, it is important to tell both sides of the story, and there is lots of information available after extensive research to fill in the situation from both sides of the lake.
The old story of the burning of George Gibson's schooner on Presqu'ile Bay during the War of 1812 gets a total facelift as a result of archival documents that tell a very different version of events compared to what local lore provided. George Gibson's schooner was burned, for sure, but why and by whom? Hear the real, documented facts of the story in the context of a fascinating time in Canada's history, during war with the Americans. As always, it is important to tell both sides of the story, and there is lots of information available after extensive research to fill in the situation from both sides of the lake.
Journey to Murder in the Family
In 2022, the History Guy provided a video series to describe his own personal journey toward the publication of his first book "Murder in the Family: The Dr. King Story". Now, hear the same story in the form of a presentation, from the horse's mouth, so to speak. If you have read the book, this presentation, or the video, will give you a much better understanding of why the book was written and how it was approached. It was a process, and not an event.
In 2022, the History Guy provided a video series to describe his own personal journey toward the publication of his first book "Murder in the Family: The Dr. King Story". Now, hear the same story in the form of a presentation, from the horse's mouth, so to speak. If you have read the book, this presentation, or the video, will give you a much better understanding of why the book was written and how it was approached. It was a process, and not an event.
History of Presqu’ile Point
Presqu’ile Point is the peninsula south of Brighton which is best known as the site of Presqu’ile Provincial Park. However, there is also a significant community of homes and cottages along Bay Shore Road which is part of the Municipality of Brighton. This presentation outlines the development of Presqu’ile Point from the first settlement of Europeans in the area, through the changes that led to it becoming known as a popular summer resort. See how this place became the go-to spot for summer fun in the early decades of the 1900s and into the 1960s, and how that led to the establishment of the park which receives thousands of visitors from around the world.
Introduction to the Brighton Digital Archives (BDA)
The Municipality of Brighton recently created the Brighton Digital Archives Advisory Committee as a full committee of council. This is a huge step forward for a group of volunteers who have given massively of their time and created a terrific web site to display archival collections for Brighton and area. See how this organization started with an idea and a few dedicated people, and evolved from one project to the other into a major community asset. Images from the web site will highlight the many unique collections we are lucky to have from Brighton’s history and the History Guy will use the images to explain the fascinating connections between people and events. The best thing is – the BDA just got started!
Presqu’ile Point is the peninsula south of Brighton which is best known as the site of Presqu’ile Provincial Park. However, there is also a significant community of homes and cottages along Bay Shore Road which is part of the Municipality of Brighton. This presentation outlines the development of Presqu’ile Point from the first settlement of Europeans in the area, through the changes that led to it becoming known as a popular summer resort. See how this place became the go-to spot for summer fun in the early decades of the 1900s and into the 1960s, and how that led to the establishment of the park which receives thousands of visitors from around the world.
Introduction to the Brighton Digital Archives (BDA)
The Municipality of Brighton recently created the Brighton Digital Archives Advisory Committee as a full committee of council. This is a huge step forward for a group of volunteers who have given massively of their time and created a terrific web site to display archival collections for Brighton and area. See how this organization started with an idea and a few dedicated people, and evolved from one project to the other into a major community asset. Images from the web site will highlight the many unique collections we are lucky to have from Brighton’s history and the History Guy will use the images to explain the fascinating connections between people and events. The best thing is – the BDA just got started!