shoreLINES: Stories from our guides and guardians

Family in the fur trade

By Ness Diotte

This past year, staff from Fort St. Joseph National Historic Site dug into the Archives of Manitoba and the world of voyageur contracts. These documents allow researchers to have a better understanding of who was in the region and why. As part of the team sorting through the records, I noticed something exciting; my ancestors were on the Michilimackinac Company payroll!

Visit virtually from anywhere!

By Liana Hryniewicz

In 2021, to increase accessibility of cultural institutions, Google created an application called ‘Google Arts and Culture.’ Parks Canada was invited to submit some of the first virtual exhibits. The Sault Ste. Marie Canal National Historic Site was selected to showcase its Indigenous history and technological marvels using 360° virtual tours and historic photos. The exhibit is now live!

Secrets of the Forest

By Chad O’Halloran

In June of 2023, a film company travelled from Toronto to Pukaskwa National Park to film two episodes for the TVOKids program “Secrets of the Forest.” Created for kids ages 6-9, Secrets of the Forest is an action-packed documentary-style science series hosted by 10-year-old Taviss Edwards.

A nomad pollinator under threat

By Heidi Michalski Ribeiro

Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) are fascinating nomadic pollinators. They are the only butterfly species known to undertake a two-way migration, similar to that of birds. In 2023, their status in Canada was upgraded from Special Concern to Endangered, highlighting the urgent need for habitat recovery and conservation to protect them.

Mysteries of the Midcontinent Rift

By Sahand Farivar

During the summer of 2023, I had the privilege of accompanying a team of geologists as they ventured through Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area to collect field samples. In the interest of mining some knowledge for a geology program, I donned my journalist’s hat and joined them.