Students

Creating the Public History Program at B.U. was one of the best moves ever made by the History Department. As a student of History I transferred to the Public History Program immediately. For me, the program provides academic knowledge, practical experience, and functional knowledge for the job market. The program is a perfect fit for my vision of working as a museum curator, and has further opened my eyes to career prospects in archives, the private sector, the film industry, and the government.

More importantly however, is the enthusiasm and support of Dr. J. Manore who has spearheaded the public history program and has advocated for more student involvement and opportunities. Public History has created opportunities to visit museums, historical sites, archives, and to speak one-on-one with public historians.

The Public history program is really a refreshing way of studying history. For students not wanting an entirely academic focus, the public history classes offer practicality, connections with the current job market and incredible professors who will make an effort to make sure you learn, succeed and enjoy your university experience.

It was a privilege to study history at Bishop's. Considering Bishops is a small university I was able to take a wide variety of courses. From my first year onward I had direct contact with my professors. They taught me so much about history, learning, teaching, and future work options in the field.

Because the Department and classes were small, I really felt that both my Professors and my fellow students knew me and were a part of my academic growth. It was nice to know that others knew how much I had progressed from my first introductory course. The upper year seminars were great and the fact that I was able to take a number of seminars during my undergrad is just wonderful. By the time I reached my fourth year I really felt that I had become part of the Department.

The support I received from my Professors over the years was so important to me and it was such a gift. Without it I don't think I would have applied to grad school. I don't know how many students from big universities could say the same of their undergrad experience.

About 288 Words on John Horn and the Bishop's University History Department

John Horn is taking over Canada's West Coast. Well, at least one of Vancouver Island's fastest growing community colleges. And it is undoubtedly in large part because of his creative immersion in Bishop's University's Division of Humanities, particularly the History Department. John completed his Masters of Arts in History in 2004, and currently works as a Career Educator and Instructor at Camosun College in Victoria, BC, where he helps students make the - at times - difficult transition from school to the workplace. He also teaches courses about pirates. Seriously. John was the Valedictorian of the Class of 2003, appeared on CBC Newsworld's The Hour with George Stroumbolopoulos in 2005, helped to organize a youth employment conference in Kigali, Rwanda in 2006, and is currently an Instructor and the official Emcee of the Camosun College Foundation.

What does the employer community cite as the most important skill that an entry level worker can possess? Communication. What is today's most common form of workplace communication? Email. Couple these trends with the written and verbal communication skills gleaned by students studying History at Bishop's and you have a recipe for success in the real world. Skilfully researching and presenting ideas is power, and there are only a handful of post-secondary institutions in Canada that teach young learners how to wield such abilities with the utmost effectiveness. Bishop's is not only one of them - it's one of the leaders.

Studying History at Bishop's means confidence. Small class sizes and personalized instruction makes Gaiter-grads a unique commodity in the real-world, as they will stand up, speak their minds and constructively question authority when their colleagues struggle to do so. Learning about the past at Bishop's University means success in the future.

Exeunt

The experience of public history at Bishop's has guided me both in my career aspirations as well as in my academic pursuits. Dr. Manore's combination of group and practical projects with reflective theoretical discussion gave me a firm foundation in the practice and historiography of public history. Travelling to Ottawa with Dr. Manore and my classmates, and meeting with CDCI, the Canadian War Museum, and the INAC has encouraged me to pursue a career in the public service and contribute to the practice of public history within the governmental sector. Since graduating from Bishop's I have completed a Masters' Degree in Public History from the University of Western Ontario. My research interests include French Canadian nationalism and public history, stemming from seminars taken in fourth year at Bishop's. I have worked in the field of public history as a historical researcher for Parks Canada National Historic Sites Directorate and as a Collections Assistant with the Muskoka Boat and Heritage Centre. Currently I am working for the Ontario Government as a Records Officer and volunteering for the West Toronto Junction Historical Society assisting them with the arrangement of local history fonds. Working in the field of public history has shown me the possibility of finding a career that incorporates the benefits of working outside of academe with a love for the past developed in the halls of Nichols.

Completing a History degree at Bishop's was a very rewarding experience. It enabled me to successfully complete an M.A. in Public History and start a career in the Federal Public Service. History is an excellent subject to study because it provides you with depth and context to many issues that affect you in the present. It also gives you a useful suite of tools which are valuable in almost any job: solid writing and oral communication, critical analysis and well-developed research skills. There are a number of advantages to studying history at Bishop's. The small class sizes mean that your work is marked by professors eager to give you direct personal feedback. It also enables you to engage in meaningful classroom discussions and debates with your fellow students. Perhaps the best aspect of Bishop's is the high calibre of the professors in the History Department. They are well-respected scholars but also passionate educators. This makes the classes engaging and emphasizes the fact that you are treated as an individual. I plan to encourage family and friends to attend one of the best universities in Canada and be part of the next 150 years' history of Bishop's.