Presented by Jane MacNamara
90-Minute Enhanced Presentation (Beginner)
If your ancestors lived near the shores of Lake Ontario or Lake Erie, or along any of the major rivers that fed into them in the 1860–1880s, they may have met Ontario’s first Fisheries Overseer, John W. Kerr. With a policing background, Kerr was charged with imposing new rules on a previously unregulated activity. He was passionate about protecting fish stocks and water quality as well as the viability of the fishing industry. Based in Hamilton, Kerr travelled extensively, crisscrossing his territory which included today’s Niagara Region, Hamilton, Halton Region, Peel Region, Toronto, and Durham Region. His jurisdiction, covering rivers like the Grand, Credit, Humber, Don, and Rouge—took him further inland.
Kerr interacted with fishers, both large enterprises and those who supplemented their income by fishing—as well as farmers, millers and other industry owners whose activities impacted fish and water. He kept extensive journals, including lists of fishing licenses sold and other less positive reactions to the new rules. (It could be dangerous work!) His journals and letter books—nearly 10,000 pages—are full of names and his experiences—and available online for free.
Using the digitized journals of John W. Kerr as an example, this session will demonstrate how you can tell a more complete and captivating story by finding supplementary information, context and illustrations. We’ll also look at various presentation formats and techniques to attract your readers/ viewers/ or listeners.
