Heritage, Meaning, and Remembering Well in 21st Century Canada
Speaker: Dr. Geoffrey Bird
This event is part of the Military Lecture Series hosted by Guelph Museums.
Tune in for “The torch; be yours to hold it high”: Heritage, Meaning, and Remembering Well in 21st Century Canada, presented by Dr. Geoffrey Bird on Thursday April 14th, 2022 at 7 pm.
Interpreting John McCrae’s immortal poem, In Flanders Fields, as a call to action to remember is particularly prescient in our world today. But in the context of commemoration and remembrance of the world wars, what should holding the torch high look, and feel, like? Is there a good or preferred way to remember?
DR. GEOFFREY BIRD, PhD, is a Professor in the School of Communication and Culture at Royal Roads University, Victoria, BC. Geoffrey created the War Heritage Research Initiative in 2015 and has produced over 30 short documentary films exploring Canada’s world war heritage from the world wars. His doctoral research focused on the battlefields of Normandy and the role played by tourism in remembrance. Geoff has consulted for agencies such as the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and Education First Tours in their design of the Vimy 100 Education Expo in Arras, France. Prior to RRU, Geoff’s career involved serving as a naval reserve officer, with the provincial government in the field of post-secondary education, and leading a community development project in Vietnam while at Capilano University. He also worked as a heritage interpreter at the Canadian National Memorial at Vimy Ridge. One other significant experience: Geoff volunteered at McCrae House while attending University in Guelph! He has lived and worked in Southeast Asia, Africa, Europe and across Canada, and calls Victoria home.
To watch, click here to visit the event page on the Guelph Museums site.
