Working History: Louis-Philippe Lord
Louis-Philippe Lord, Guide-interpreter, Parks Canada Agency
Name: Louis-Philippe Lord
Employer: Parks Canada Agency
Location: Saint-Paul-de-l’Île-aux-Noix
Position: Guide-interpreter
Number of years employed: Ten years
What does your job entail?
As a guide-interpreter for Parks Canada, my job consists of introducing people to new experiences by giving them access to sites that involve discovery, learning, and recreation. In concrete terms, I welcome visitors to the Fort Lennox National Historic Site and explain the history of 18th-century British soldiers. We present their lives using a variety of tools to provide insight into their presence on Île-aux-Noix, including theatrical presentations, guided tours of the buildings, lectures, and themed activities. We also do interpretation for special groups, such as francization groups.
What’s your favorite part of the job?
The most stimulating part is interacting with others. On the one hand, meeting the public is very enriching because all visitors come with their own background, knowledge, and personal experiences. For this reason, I have to continually reinvent how I interpret. And that's what makes my job anything but routine. On the other hand, teamwork is essential for guides because it allows us to pool our creativity so we can give visitors ever-more compelling experiences. Lastly, being able to surprise and astonish people with aspects of history they didn’t know about is a very fulfilling part of the job.
What’s the biggest challenge you’ve encountered in your job?
For a guide, knowing how to reinvent yourself is critical. What makes a good guide so valuable is the ability to know how and when to adapt interpretations to provide the best possible visitor experience. In my case, I work on special projects, such as creative educational programs, which force me to push myself by delving into the creative side of interpretation.
Why are you interested in history?
History has fascinated me since childhood because it was always very important in my family. I’ve always been intrigued by how much other areas, like music, can teach us about history and I quickly realized how much the subject had to offer me. So when I went to school, I decided to study history.
What advice would you give to students interested in doing what you do?
Since it’s a seasonal job, it’s important to have a broad educational background if you want to work more in this area. You have to continually improve and customize your skills, notably by gaining knowledge in a related field. In my case, I chose communications and administration to round out my history studies. I have a university friend who chose computer science and another who elected to study law. The former designs multimedia web tools and the latter works in a legal archives department. History combines very well with so many different subjects — all you need is the desire and a little imagination!