Jan Dunn has been an Islander for four and a half years. Her interest in history began in Simcoe County, Ontario when she began to research the house she and her husband bought there. Although her career was as a teacher and working in a hospital pharmacy she became a member of the Tecumseth and West Gwillimbury Historical Society and served on their executive. Jan grew to love the stories that the group unearthed.
After Jan moved to Salt Spring Island a neighbour introduced her to Mary Davidson. Jan quickly accepted an invitation to help at the Archives. Jan is fascinated by the short history of Salt Spring Island’s development. She finds the Island history a different but appealing comparison to Simcoe County. The division between the north and the south and Islander’s pioneering spirit make for interesting research.
Jan has accepted the task of cataloging all the photographs and letters to the editor printed in the Barnacle since the paper began. Now that the Archives has a computer Agnes Cunningham is putting Jan’s notes into a database. It will be very easy to find information about a person or place.
The number of visitors who come to the Archives surprises Jan. Many are tourists who have had a relative or another connection to the Island. Their stories are varied and fascinating. Many want to know where someone lived and if they can still find the place.
Although details may not seem significant at the time, forty years later people are delighted to find out something about their family. It is important to help children find continuity through the generations.
Jan is very excited to have the Archives available on the Internet. For a little Archive we have a wonderful collection. Although people may not be able or willing to drop in they will be able to look things up on the Internet.