The Opeongo Line

Taken from an audio vault of 2018 live performances by the Opeongo Readers' Theatre, this show presents Thomas G. Devine's "On the Opeongo Line," "The Shanty Teamsters Marseillaise," "A Wesleyan Methodist's Ride Through Rockingham," and "The 1874 Inspection of the Bark Lake School."

The Opeongo Readers' Theatre presents the curious story behind the founding of Algonquin Provincial Park. Lesley Betts, Lynn Stewart and Jeff Bowman perform the original writings of two very different men who shared the same wilderness dream.

The Opeongo Readers' Theatre honour three local women -- Helen Dombroski, Teresa Beanish, and Mary Cybulski -- who all made significant contributions to the economic growth of the Upper Madawaska Valley, but whose lives should also remind us of the significant cultural contribution made by local people of Polish-Kashub heritage. 

Born in the Wilno hills on November 12th, 1927, Agnes Coulas was in grade school when her mother died and yet she also unexpectedly met the love of her life, Stanley Chippior, at a church bazaar shortly after he returned from the Second World War. But if there's one thing she knows for certain after nearly 95 years of living, it's to take life as it comes. She chats with 'Back in the Day' host, Martina Coulas.

Born in 1880, Thomas Patrick Murray not only witnessed the coming of the OA & PS Railroad to Barry's Bay in 1894, he helped build it. Tom's great grandson, Graham Conway, performs a one-man show of Tom reliving those early years in his own words.

Thomas Patrick French was no ordinary man who came to Renfrew County in 1855. He was the Crown Land Agent charged with bringing hundreds, if not thousands, of immigrants to settle on free farm land along the newly opened Opeongo Colonization Road. It's was no ordinary job and he was no ordinary man from County Mayo.

Thomas Patrick French was no ordinary man who came to Renfrew County in 1855. He was the Crown Land Agent charged with bringing hundreds, if not thousands, of immigrants to settle on free farm land along the newly opened Opeongo Colonization Road. It's was no ordinary job and he was no ordinary man from County Mayo.

The 'Local' host, Sean Conway, chats with Joanne Olsen, Mark Woermke and Karen Yakabuski about the history of celebrating St. Patrick's Day among the Irish as well as the non-Irish of Barry's Bay throughout the 20th Century.

The 'Local' host, Sean Conway, chats with Joanne Olsen, Mark Woermke and Karen Yakabuski about the history of celebrating St. Patrick's Day among the Irish as well as the non-Irish of Barry's Bay throughout the 20th Century.

The Opeongo Readers' Theatre gives a rousing performance of William Henry Drummond, a writer sometimes consider controversial but still considered an extraordinary Canadian poet in places like the Upper Madawaska and Opeongo River Valleys where people say we talk funny!