A Speaker Series, Presented by Peter Lockyer and Special Guests

Step into the past this Flashback February with a four-part Speaker Series exploring compelling stories from Prince Edward County and Canadian history. From lost industries and legendary hockey triumphs to Civil War intrigue and a notorious 19th-century murder trial, each afternoon brings a different chapter of the past to life.

Each talk is a standalone event. Tickets must be purchased separately for each date at checkout.

Feb 4 – The Rise & Fall of the County Canning Industry
Speaker: Local historian and journalist Peter Lockyer
Why Prince Edward County became the “Garden County of Canada”—and why that era ended. A look at the canning industry’s economic impact, decline in the 1960s, and the legacy of Sprague Foods.

Feb 11 – The 1959 Belleville McFarlands: Glory & Scandal
Speaker: Local historian and journalist Peter Lockyer
From world champions to public scandal. This talk traces the McFarlands 1959 victory, the financial controversy that followed, and the lasting impact of the team on the city and its players.

Feb 18 – George “Lightning” Ellsworth & Canada’s Civil War Connections
Speaker: Montreal journalist and author Julian Sher
The remarkable story of a County teenager who fought for the South and became one of history’s earliest “hackers.” A wider look at Canada’s hidden role in the American Civil War.

Feb 25 – The 1884 Lazier Murder Trial
Speaker: Retired Justice Robert Sharpe
A chilling true crime story from Bloomfield. A botched robbery, a murder, a divided community, and a trial that remains one of the County’s most infamous cases