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Exploring BC's scottish heritage
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September 4, 2002
Scholars at Simon Fraser University hope their third annual conference will alleviate the dearth of research on how Scottish immigrants helped shape BC and how their experiences here molded their cultural identity. "Scots are reputed to have played a huge role in Vancouver and elsewhere in the province during the early part of the 20th century, particularly in labour, education and business. Yet, hardly anyone is studying Scots in BC," laments SFU historian Jack Little.
The expert on highland immigration to Quebec chairs this year’s conference, Scots Heritage in British Columbia and the West, hosted by SFU’s centre for Scottish Studies, September 12-14, Harbour Centre campus. The conference will bring town and gown together to present papers on the impact of Scots in the Pacific Northwest and the Prairies. "Many of the presenters are well-known writers and so-called history buffs, not academics," says Little.
He hopes conference events, such as a two-day archival road show, September 13-14, will inspire more academic research. The public is invited to bring in archival material pertaining to Scottish heritage, such as letters, books, papers and artwork. Archivists, librarians and museum curators from Scotland and BC will assess their heritage value. "It’s often the discovery of good archival material that inspires new research in history, not the search for a solution to a particular problem," notes Little.
One of Little’s colleagues and a presenter at the conference, SFU geography professor Paul Koroscil, agrees. The discovery of a 1917 New Year’s greeting card created by James Cameron Dun Waters led Koroscil to research the impact of wealthy Scottish immigrants, such as Dun Waters, on the Okanagan. Scottish immigrants were largely responsible for the conversion of Okanagan cattle ranches into orchards. Koroscil’s conference presentation will detail his efforts to save BC’s only remaining octagonal barn and fruit packing house on Okanagan Lake. The buildings were part of Dun Waters’ estate in Fintry, BC, a farming town he named after his Scottish hometown. The estate is now a provincial park.
Among other conference presenters is famous historian James Hunter of Scotland’s Highland University. He authored a book on Scottish natives in Canada. For further conference information see http://www.sfu.ca/scottish/conference2002.htm or call 604 .291.3689
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CONTACT
Jack Little, 604.291.4533 Carol Thorbes, Media & PR 604.291.3035
The expert on highland immigration to Quebec chairs this year’s conference, Scots Heritage in British Columbia and the West, hosted by SFU’s centre for Scottish Studies, September 12-14, Harbour Centre campus. The conference will bring town and gown together to present papers on the impact of Scots in the Pacific Northwest and the Prairies. "Many of the presenters are well-known writers and so-called history buffs, not academics," says Little.
He hopes conference events, such as a two-day archival road show, September 13-14, will inspire more academic research. The public is invited to bring in archival material pertaining to Scottish heritage, such as letters, books, papers and artwork. Archivists, librarians and museum curators from Scotland and BC will assess their heritage value. "It’s often the discovery of good archival material that inspires new research in history, not the search for a solution to a particular problem," notes Little.
One of Little’s colleagues and a presenter at the conference, SFU geography professor Paul Koroscil, agrees. The discovery of a 1917 New Year’s greeting card created by James Cameron Dun Waters led Koroscil to research the impact of wealthy Scottish immigrants, such as Dun Waters, on the Okanagan. Scottish immigrants were largely responsible for the conversion of Okanagan cattle ranches into orchards. Koroscil’s conference presentation will detail his efforts to save BC’s only remaining octagonal barn and fruit packing house on Okanagan Lake. The buildings were part of Dun Waters’ estate in Fintry, BC, a farming town he named after his Scottish hometown. The estate is now a provincial park.
Among other conference presenters is famous historian James Hunter of Scotland’s Highland University. He authored a book on Scottish natives in Canada. For further conference information see http://www.sfu.ca/scottish/conference2002.htm or call 604 .291.3689
—30—
CONTACT
Jack Little, 604.291.4533 Carol Thorbes, Media & PR 604.291.3035