History Room at The Briars
[caption id="attachment_341" align="aligncenter" caption="The Briars’ archivist Diana Rowney in action"]
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The prospect of a “History Tour” at The Briars did not immediately fill me with anticipation. I was more interested in clambering around the rocky shores of Lake Simcoe taking pictures with the Nikon, or hanging out in the dining room with Carlos and Hylton, listening to their stories about “back home” in Jamaica.
[caption id="attachment_342" align="aligncenter" caption="Service at The Briars is excellent and very friendly"]
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[caption id="attachment_343" align="alignright" caption="Diana Rowney"]
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Don't get me wrong, I like history, but there's lots more to do here. Anyway... my mood improved when we rendezvoused with a gaggle of nurses in the foyer to start the tour. Then my mood improved considerably more when we were introduced to our tour guide, the incredibly engaging archivist Diana Rowney. She's got a way about her that makes the stories come alive. And there are many stories too. Not just dusty, old grade school stuff. No sir. These stories are bawdy and raucous, as, I think, all good history should be. Here's a link to some of the stories from the Briars' history to whet your appetite.
It was all very civilized. After the tour we retired to the main veranda where the proprietor, Mrs. Sibbald, served us sherry. The conversation drifted between the modern resort industry in Ontario and the state of the nursing profession in that province.
[caption id="attachment_344" align="aligncenter" caption="Mrs. Sibbald entertaining guests on the veranda at The Briars"]
[/caption]
The resort is in Jackson’s Point on Lake Simcoe. It has been here for over 165 years. If the traffic is not bad, it's about an hour north of Toronto.
[caption id="attachment_345" align="aligncenter" caption="Main entrance to The Briars Resort, Spa and Conference Centre"]
[/caption]
The accommodation is very comfortable and the service is fantastic.
[caption id="attachment_346" align="aligncenter" caption="The hallway just outside of our room at The Briars"]
[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_347" align="aligncenter" caption="Lake Simcoe shoreline"]
[/caption]
[/caption]
The prospect of a “History Tour” at The Briars did not immediately fill me with anticipation. I was more interested in clambering around the rocky shores of Lake Simcoe taking pictures with the Nikon, or hanging out in the dining room with Carlos and Hylton, listening to their stories about “back home” in Jamaica.
[caption id="attachment_342" align="aligncenter" caption="Service at The Briars is excellent and very friendly"][/caption]
[caption id="attachment_343" align="alignright" caption="Diana Rowney"][/caption]
Don't get me wrong, I like history, but there's lots more to do here. Anyway... my mood improved when we rendezvoused with a gaggle of nurses in the foyer to start the tour. Then my mood improved considerably more when we were introduced to our tour guide, the incredibly engaging archivist Diana Rowney. She's got a way about her that makes the stories come alive. And there are many stories too. Not just dusty, old grade school stuff. No sir. These stories are bawdy and raucous, as, I think, all good history should be. Here's a link to some of the stories from the Briars' history to whet your appetite.
It was all very civilized. After the tour we retired to the main veranda where the proprietor, Mrs. Sibbald, served us sherry. The conversation drifted between the modern resort industry in Ontario and the state of the nursing profession in that province.
[caption id="attachment_344" align="aligncenter" caption="Mrs. Sibbald entertaining guests on the veranda at The Briars"][/caption]
The resort is in Jackson’s Point on Lake Simcoe. It has been here for over 165 years. If the traffic is not bad, it's about an hour north of Toronto.
[caption id="attachment_345" align="aligncenter" caption="Main entrance to The Briars Resort, Spa and Conference Centre"][/caption]
The accommodation is very comfortable and the service is fantastic.
[caption id="attachment_346" align="aligncenter" caption="The hallway just outside of our room at The Briars"][/caption]
[caption id="attachment_347" align="aligncenter" caption="Lake Simcoe shoreline"][/caption]