This page was exported from Shelburne Free Press [ https://shelburnefreepress.ca ] Export date:Thu Jun 25 19:32:21 2026 / +0000 GMT ___________________________________________________ Title: Canadian historian Craig Baird to highlight local history at Shelburne’s Grace Tipling Hall --------------------------------------------------- Written By JOSHUA DRAKES LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER Craig Baird, a nationally recognized Canadian history storyteller, will visit Shelburne on July 14 as part of a two month cross-country tour designed to bring the stories of small communities to a wider audience. The event, to be held at Grace Tipling Hall, will highlight both the broader sweep of Canada's past and the specific local history that has shaped Shelburne over generations. “Over the course of two months, from about June 30 to Aug. 21, I'm going to be driving around Canada, exploring Canada's history and culture,” Baird said. “What I do for a living is share Canada's history through social media, through my podcast, through videos, and then a radio show, and part of that is going to be in Shelburne.” His stop in Shelburne is one of several sponsored community visits along the route, arranged locally with the help of historian and educator Neil Orford. During his time in town, Baird plans to discuss his book Canada's Main Street, outline his current cross-country project, and explore Shelburne's own historical legacy. “I'm speaking at Grace Tipling Hall, which is a great historical hall,” he said. “When I'm there, I'll be looking at the railway history of the town, Fiddle Park, then the walking tour you guys have, and a bunch of other things. I'm really looking forward to kind of showcasing that local history and getting a lot more people to learn about what Shelburne is all about.” Shelburne's selection as a stop reflects both its rich past and its changing present. The community has experienced remarkable population growth in the last two years, with thousands of new residents calling the town home. At the same time, Shelburne has worked to preserve connections to its roots, from its railway heritage and early settlement stories to landmarks such as Grace Tipling Hall, Fiddle Park, the town's walking tours, and local museums.  Baird's visit aims to help newer and long-time residents alike understand how those layers of history contribute to the community they see today. “What I'm hoping to do with this project, in Shelburne and in general, is really show a lot of fascinating Canadian history, and get people to learn more and show some more pride in Canada,” he said. “Not all of it is good, so we can also understand that our history can have very dark aspects to it, but it's all part of what has been built into Canada today.” Much of Baird's work focuses on amplifying the stories of smaller places that are often overshadowed by nearby cities. Through his podcast, radio show, and growing social media channels, he has built a strong following by presenting Canadian history in an accessible, engaging format. “I've always felt that Canadian history is extremely interesting,” Baird said. “It's just how it's presented. It has often been very dry and not as interesting, but with the response that I have online with what I post, people remain interested in our history and want to learn.” His approach emphasizes lesser-known events, local landmarks, and community narratives that rarely appear in traditional textbooks. Inspired in part by Heritage Minutes and popular Canadian history writers, Baird has shifted from earlier careers in technology and newspaper journalism to full-time historical storytelling. Since launching his podcast, Canadian History Ehx, in 2019, he has steadily expanded into national broadcasting, publishing, and, most recently, on-the-ground video projects. His upcoming appearance in Shelburne is intended to encourage residents to see their town as part of a larger national story, while also recognizing the unique people, places, and events that define the community. --------------------------------------------------- Images: --------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- Post date: 2026-06-25 12:41:11 Post date GMT: 2026-06-25 16:41:11 Post modified date: 2026-06-25 14:09:04 Post modified date GMT: 2026-06-25 18:09:04 ____________________________________________________________________________________________ Export of Post and Page as text file has been powered by [ Universal Post Manager ] plugin from www.gconverters.com