About Our Project
Our project began in May 2020 with the intention of collecting oral histories and memories from people within Brantford/Brant County that remembered the polio epidemics of 1930s-1950s and were currently experiencing the COVID-19 pandemic.
This project was made possible through Laurier Brantford's undergraduate research apprenticeship program funded by the Race family.
We received approval from the Unviersity's Research Ethics Board in the summer of 2020 and interviews commenced in late August. We intend to donate our transcripts to the Brant Historical Society.
None of it would be possible without the gracious participation and patience of our ten oral history volunteers. They were generous and kind while we conducted our research through mail, telephone or video calls during a pandemic that prevented face to face interviews.
This project is the product of co-operation and work between four students at Laurier's Brantford campus of varying ages, backgrounds and interests:
Steve Parr: "I am a mature student with a wonderfully supportive wife who has been my motivation in my studies at WLU. I have loved the experience in the WLU History program and I have made many close friendships with students and faculty, they have all been an inspiration for me."
Delores Maas: "I am a mature Indigenous student in my fourth year Honours Bachelor of Arts with a double major of Indigenous Studies and Youth and Child Studies. Oral history is part of my culture and being able to learn about history from some our Brantford citizens was an enriching and enjoyable experience. I could have listened to many more hours of stories."
Lillia Dockree: "I am a fourth year History Major, and was born and raised in Brantford. I highly enjoy learning about local history and engaging with my community, and this project was the perfect way to facilitate that. Having the opportunity to capture these stories was such a joy, and I am grateful to have been trusted to do so."
Tyler Britz: "I am a 4th Year History Major and president of the Laurier Brantford History Students Association. The opportunity to engage in this amazing project has only increased my love of local history. Projects like this are what makes education and the preservation of history so important! I hope to live half the life that many of our participants lived."
We appreciate the amazing guidance and mentorship of Dr. Tarah Brookfield.