About Me
Welcome to “History to the People”. I am an historian and heritage planning professional based in southern Ontario. My interests include built heritage, heritage planning, adaptive re-use, heritage education, military history, agricultural history and the role of women and ethnic communities in the shaping of Canadian history.
I have over 10 years experience in heritage planning across Canada. I have worked with a number of Heritage Advisory Committees/Commissions including the Nanaimo Community Heritage Commission and Heritage Guelph. I am Vice Chair of Heritage Guelph and a Board member of the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario’s Guelph-Wellington Branch. I am also currently working as a Heritage Coordinator with the City of Mississauga and I am an intern member of CAHP (Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals).
I hold a Master of Arts in History from the University of Northern British Columbia plus I have completed my first year towards a PhD in History from the University of Leeds in England. I also hold an advanced diploma in Journalism from BCIT (Burnaby, BC). In terms of continuing professional development, I have attended several workshops, seminars and conferences on heritage conservation, urban planning, and heritage building restoration in North America and Europe. I have presented heritage related papers at conferences in Canada, the US and England plus I have gained experience in finance and fundraising in both the not-for-profit and heritage sectors. In terms of advancing my professional development, I am currently enrolled in the heritage conservation planning stream of the University of Victoria’s Cultural Resource Management program. If you’d like to see more, please visit my LinkedIn page.
History and heritage conservation are definitely my passions in life. I consider myself a story teller and an heritage educator and the best way to let peope know about this great country’s fabulous cultural, historical and built heritage, is to tell a great story that inspires everyone, no matter their location or educatonal background, to go in search of their own stories to tell. I do also enjoy other things in life like checking out the local music talent, crochet, travel, culinary pursuits and writing. Yet, most of all, I love going on road trips in search of history and heritage in order to tell a good story. So, if you see a red-head staring up in awe at a heritage building with notebook and camera ready in your community, please say hello for I also enjoy meeting new people everywhere I go!
Cheers!
Laura
Love your site, and look forward to learning more about Canada. Keep up the great work.
Hi Laura I have written a book about the 1857 train wreck on the Desjardins Bridge and would like to use a couple of your illustration of Dundurn Castle interiors–particularly the bedroom and parlour May I have your permission? Of course I would name you in the photo credit.
Hi Don,
Yes, you can use those photos provided I am fully credited and the source is mentioned as well. That sounds like a very interesting book! Let me know when it is released as I would like to read it. Who is the publisher?
Best wishes,
Laura
Hi, Laura
Love your site! I am a municipal heritage committee member who also used to work in the heritage conservation field 20 years ago and I am also a collector of heritage recipes. Did you know there is an organization called Culinary Historians of Ontario? Located in Toronto? All neat stuff based with historic roots, doing food demos in historic settings. I think you’d love it.
Deborah
Hi Deborah,
Thanks very much for your comment and I’m glad you like the site. Yes, I have heard of the Culinary Historians of Ontario, but I have to admit I haven’t done much research into what they do. Now I will have to check them out more closely! Thanks for the tip.
Cheers,
Laura
Thanks so much Laura Sorry to take so long to respond. The book is called END OF THE LINE being published by Dundurn Press!! I realize that I will need better quality images than I can download from your site so I wonder if you can email images at 300 dpi or better to me if you have them? I’m looking for shots of bedchamber, parlour and dining room
I shall be happy to credit image and source and mention you and your book in the acknowledgements. Hope you can help. Cheers
Love your site. My main interest is Sir H. Pellett’s connection to Cobalt, Ontario… namely his mines the Cobalt Townsite Mine and the Cobalt Lake Mining Company.
I have been researching and writing articles, soon to put together in a book on the famed Cobalt Mining Camp.
Any networking we can do I am more than open to discuss.
Anyone with any photos or research info on the Cobalt Mining Camp, please email me at [email protected].
Cheers… Nina
Hi Laura,
I’m currently working on an article on the Parliament Hill Fire of 1916. There don’t seem to be any books written solely on the topic. I was wondering if there were any sources you’d recommend (or that you used when writing your piece) besides old newspaper articles?
Thanks! Keep up the great work with this website!
Laura
Hi Laura,
I would suggest contacting the Library of Parliament directly. They have a wonderful research and librarian team and I have consulted them on a number of other projects not relating to this website in addition to the story about the 1916 fire. They are a fantastic resource for anything to do with Parliament Hill, Constitutional or political history in Canada.
Thanks for reading and best of luck with your article.
Cheers,
Laura
all i can say FABULOUS GREAT
Iam an ex seaman who sailed with western canada steamships
i have been looking for pictures of three of there ships
the lake minnewanka lake sicomous and lake winnipeg
any sugestions
ed cooper