University of Victoria

Graduate Student, History

PhD Candidate; Teaching Assistant Consultant; Sessional Instructor

Faculty of Graduate Studies

Thesis Title: The Settlement of the Ottawa and Opeongo Colonization Road, 1850-1900

About

Born and raised in the woods of the Upper Ottawa Valley, I gained a deep appreciation for the role of landscape in history. Geography played an important part in the economic, social, and cultural development of "the Valley". At the same time, much credit needs to be given to the people who made their homes and built families and communities in that majestic, though often harsh and unforgiving, country. Rather than seeking to romanticize this history, my doctoral project examines the history of the Upper Ottawa Valley from the early days of European colonization up to the 1970s with an eye toward uncovering those characters, events, and, most importantly, relationships, that shaped the development of an agro-forestry economy, a strong and vibrant local culture, and a feeling of connectedness with the landscape. At a time when many urban Canadians seem to be losing their connection to the land that has provided them with so much privilege, it is crucial that we understand the historic, and continuing relationships between people and geography.