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Science Geography

Meaningful Pasts

Historical Narratives, Commemorative Landscapes, and Everyday Lives

by (author) Russell Johnston & Michael Ripmeester

Publisher
University of Toronto Press
Initial publish date
Feb 2024
Category
Geography, Post-Confederation (1867-), General
  • Paperback / softback

    ISBN
    9781487550424
    Publish Date
    Feb 2024
    List Price
    $29.95
  • eBook

    ISBN
    9781487528751
    Publish Date
    Jan 2024
    List Price
    $29.95
  • Hardback

    ISBN
    9781487528737
    Publish Date
    Feb 2024
    List Price
    $80.00

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Description

In Meaningful Pasts, Russell Johnston and Michael Ripmeester explore two strands of identity-making among residents of the Niagara region in Ontario, Canada.

 

First, they describe the region’s official narratives, most of which celebrate the achievements of white settlers with a mix of storytelling, rituals, and monuments. Despite their presence in local lore and landmarks, these official narratives did not resonate with the nearly one thousand residents who participated in five surveys conducted over eleven years. Instead, participants drew on contemporary people, places, and events. Second, the authors explore the emergence of Niagara’s wine industry as a heritage narrative. The book shares how the survey participants embraced the industry as a local identifier and indicates how the industry’s efforts have rekindled the residents’ interest in agriculture as a significant element of regional heritage and local identities.

 

Revealing how the profiles of local narratives and commemorations become entwined with social, cultural, economic, and political power, Meaningful Pasts illuminates the fact that local narratives retain their relevance only if residents find them meaningful in their day-to-day lives.

About the authors

Russell Johnston is an associate professor in the Department of Communication, Popular Culture, and Film at Brock University.

Russell Johnston's profile page

Michael Ripmeester, Phillip Gordon Mackintosh, and Christopher Fullerton are faculty members in the Department of Geography at Brock University.

Michael Ripmeester's profile page

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