Community partnerships

Lights, camera, library? A local film headed to the Montreal Independent Film Fest sheds light on the importance of primary resources to capture historic stories.

The North Was Our Canaan is a local documentary that shares the story of those who crossed the Detroit River into Sandwich seeking freedom from slavery. Directed by Anushray Singh (MFA 2020) and produced by local historian Irene Moore Davis and Leddy librarian Heidi Jacobs, it features the voices of descendants residing in historic Sandwich Town.

In Ontario, Treaties Recognition Week takes place the first week of November each year. It was introduced in 2016 as one way to honour the importance of treaties and to help Ontarians learn more about treaty rights and relationships.

It was during the gloomy month of March in the early stage of lockdown that librarian and author Heidi Jacobs found herself restless and distracted. Staring out her back window to the garden her she was entertained by the antics of two stray cats who had made a home for themselves in her backyard.

“I spent a lot of time staring out my back window, drinking coffee, watching the winter fade to spring,” said Jacobs. “It was the funny antics of these cats, who I named Klaus and Sebastian, that brought inspiration to my distraction.”

The five-judge panel for the Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour announced Friday that UWindsor librarian Heidi Jacobs had claimed the honour.

Jacobs’ novel, Molly of the Mall: Literary Lass and Purveyor of Fine Footwear, was one of 84 submissions considered for the $15,000 annual award that celebrates Canadian authors in memory of Stephen Leacock and is presented to the best book of humour each year.