Olivia B.

Kingston, Ontario

Kingston Regional Fair

Cemeteries: Preserving Our Past

Cemeteries play a big role in preserving the history and heritage of a community. My video traces how cemeteries have changed over time in my home town of Kingston and how cemeteries help Kingston and other communities preserve their past.

 

 

What was the most interesting thing you learned about your topic?

The most interesting thing I learned was how cemeteries in my community changed over time – from family and church cemeteries to rural reform. I also learned that we can learn a lot about the history of our community by visiting our cemeteries.

What important lessons have you learned that you want to share with other Canadians?

I would like people to know that cemeteries keep lots of records and preserve our history in many different ways. They show how our community has grown; they tell the story of events and epidemics that affected us; they show how our values and styles have changed over the years, they recognize and honour the important people of the community and serve as an important research tool.

How would you compare your life today to the lives of those studied in your project?

Cemeteries have always existed and will always be needed. The difference is that now there is a greater variety than there was in the past when people were buried on family land or in a church yard. People have a lot more choices for honouring their families in death.