A Home for Historical Thinking
My Journey or, Concerning Hobbits
Everyone has a story, even your teacher. This section of the Heimat is dedicated to help you get to know the loud, bearded man in your class.
A Northern State of Mind
Born and raised in Prince George, I am definitely a Northerner in my blood, but then again, the idea of "the North" is different wherever you go. Geographically speaking, the North could be the Territories, or Prince George, or anything beyond Hope. In my opinion, much like the art of dodgeball, Northerness is a state of mind.
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Being from Prince George has given me an abundance of opportunities that I would not have had otherwise. Academically, I was fortunate enough to live near one of Canada's best universities, the University of Northern British Columbia. Being surrounded by stunning scenery has given me a deep love of nature. Lastly, the long winter nights have given me an affinity for dank and/or spicy memes.
Wherever the road takes me
I think I might be a Hobbit. I'm not particularly tall, I like good and hearty food (and Second Breakfast), and most of all, when the road takes me away, I never quite know where I will end up.
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So far, I've been to 19 countries, and my goal is to visit at least 30 countries before I turn 30. Some personal favourite places are Jordan, Switzerland, Denmark, and France. Up next on my growing Bucket list: the Silk Road, Iceland, Central Africa, and the Arctic. Do you have any recommendations? Let me know!
My passport stamps
One foot in the past
In addition to being a teacher, I am also an active Academic Historian. Since 2015, I have been studying the witch trials in the Canton of Zug, Switzerland. Between 1559 and 1748, Zug conducted 197 witch trials, of which 192 of them resulted in execution, a rate much higher than the rest of Europe. Zug, being the smallest full canton in Switzerland, makes for an interesting case study in the history of the witch trials due to this enormous amount of executions.
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Starting in 2019, I will begin my Master's degree in History, focused on these trials. My thesis, based on preliminary research from the summer of 2018, will examine the role of Zug's geography on these trials. My thesis work will dive into the application of borderlands and landscape theory to both social witchcraft beliefs and judicial trials. Not that I expect anyone to follow those ramblings. You still there? Wonderful!
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Beyond the realm of Academic History, I am also a huge supporter of the idea of Public History. I live and breathe the past. If there is a living history site (particularly if you can dress up), you can guarantee that I will be there. I've spent years researching my family history through my grandparents, read more historical fiction than I care to admit, and spent far too much time thinking about historical films. Also, gamers rejoice! I'm a huge fan of historical based video games. If you want to talk to me about games, you'd better make sure you know at least a bit about Civilization, Battlefield, or Assassin's Creed (my personal favourite!).
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The World is ahead
If I'm not outside, I hardly feel alive. Every day, I feel so fortunate that I get to live and thrive in the most beautiful place on Earth, here on the traditional territory of the L'heidli Tenneh. The fresh air, the fresh water, and the life that surrounds us is so often taken for granted. That is why I take every chance I can get to step into the great outdoors.
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Hiking is my greatest passion. I've done dozens of hikes in the PG area of all difficulty levels, ranging from the light saunter to the extreme climbs. My greatest achievement, however, was finishing the West Coast Trail in 4 days. This 75km trail is composed of the toughest terrain I have ever encountered, where everything you own is on your back, and you need to keep your wits about you to survive and stay safe. The views made it all worthwhile, though, and that sense of accomplishment: nothing beats it.
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What's next? Canoeing the Bowron Lakes, fishing on the Skeena,driving the Dempster to Tuktoyaktuk, the list is endless! Get out there and explore!
Quotable Quotes
"'You miss 100% of the shots you don't take'
- Wayne Gretzky"
- Michael Scott