Creating a living legacy
By Paula White
For This Week
Renforth’s rich rowing history is receiving even more worldwide attention thanks to six students from Rothesay High School.
Working for Rothesay Living Museum, the students recently finished putting together a Web site chronicling the history of rowing in the Rothesay area – starting from the Great Race of 1871 to the present day.
Rowing: The Legacy of Renforth, was officially launched on Thursday in the Renforth Room as RHS. Those in attendance included Rothesay Mayor Bill Bishop, Fundy Royal MP John Herron, Rothesay Living Museum committee Chair William Pearson, RHS Principal Roger Brown and Kennebecasis Rowing and Canoe Club President Greg Zed.
In his remarks to the crowd, Mr. Bishop said the town was very pleased with the work of the museum and its efforts to “preserve our past and enrich the history of our little town.”
“I want to underline the very close relationship between the town and Rothesay High School,” he said. “It only seems appropriate that our past be recorded and made available to our young people in a school setting.”
The Web site includes more than 100 historical photographs, 250 newspapers articles dating back to the 1850s, audio files, artwork and details about local rowers who have earned recognition in the sport over the years – starting, of coarse, with the famous Paris Crew. IN 1867, four local boys became national heroes when they won an International Regatta in Paris, France. They remained world champions for three years, until English rower James Renforth and his crew won the title in 1870. In 1871, a grudge match was set up to take place on the Kennebecasis River. Mr. Renforth died from the exertions of the race. Thirty years later, local residents decided to name their small village after him. Through the years rowing, has remained one of the Valley’s successful sports. The local rowing club, established in 1972 has produced Olympians, Canada Games medalists and other world class athletes. The Web site includes the club’s most recent successes, including the numerous medals won at last summer’s Canada Games. The club’s successes were outlined at the launch by Mr. Zed.
“We have in excess 350 athletes and a number of volunteers and families in the Rothesay-Kennebecasis area and it is probably one of the most successful programs, in terms of athletic endeavor and personal growth,” he said. “The Living Museum has been able to connect rowing not only with the rest of Canada, but we’ve now been able to connect with the world.”
The students who created the Web site each had a different role in its production. Rosalie Hanlon co-ordinated the project as well as served as its public relations officer. Artist Anna Stroud was responsible for the graphic images and completed a large acrylic mural of James Renforth and his crew, which will be displayed at the Bill McGuire Memorial Centre.
Erica Schollenberg spent many hours immersed in archives, searching for rowing-related photographs and newspaper articles. Owen Heatherington provided technical expertise, while Andrew Leblanc was responsible for digital acquisitions. Finally, the Web site’s animation sequences were the brainchild of Greg Paciga. All the students worked under the guidance of Rothesay Living Museum Curator and RHS Art teacher, Brian Perkins.
“His ideas are wonderful,” commented RHS Principal Roger Brown during Thursday’s lunch. “The benefactors of those ideas, I believe, have been the students – the work they have done, the skill they acquired, the knowledge, the preparedness they’re going to have for their adult life… it is an absolutely wonderful opportunity.”
“This experience has been one that will stay with all of us for the rest of our lives,” agreed Ms. Hanlon. “It has given us a better idea of what role we want to play in the workforce and the relevant work experience to give us a head start.”
Mr. Herron also played a role in the site. Through his influence, the Web site was funded with $18,240 from Canada’s Digital Collections, an Industry Canada program. Its goal is to provide funding for organizations so they can provide work experience for young Canadians.
“Rowing: The Legacy of Renforth Web site firmly establishes our community on the Web,” Mr. Herron said. “This collection is more than a Web site. It offers young people a chance to learn and practice multimedia skills in a paying job, while documenting Canada’s history. It’s really exciting to know people around the world will be able to see this high-quality collection.”
The Web site is one of many heritage projects completed through the Rothesay Living Museum, which was created through a partnership between the Town of Rothesay and RHS. It was founded on the concept that heritage and history are important aspects of a community’s identity. To preserve a community’s history, its stories have to be passed on to younger generations. Eventually, the museum plans to complete projects centering around all five communities that make up Rothesay.
For This Week
Renforth’s rich rowing history is receiving even more worldwide attention thanks to six students from Rothesay High School.
Working for Rothesay Living Museum, the students recently finished putting together a Web site chronicling the history of rowing in the Rothesay area – starting from the Great Race of 1871 to the present day.
Rowing: The Legacy of Renforth, was officially launched on Thursday in the Renforth Room as RHS. Those in attendance included Rothesay Mayor Bill Bishop, Fundy Royal MP John Herron, Rothesay Living Museum committee Chair William Pearson, RHS Principal Roger Brown and Kennebecasis Rowing and Canoe Club President Greg Zed.
In his remarks to the crowd, Mr. Bishop said the town was very pleased with the work of the museum and its efforts to “preserve our past and enrich the history of our little town.”
“I want to underline the very close relationship between the town and Rothesay High School,” he said. “It only seems appropriate that our past be recorded and made available to our young people in a school setting.”
The Web site includes more than 100 historical photographs, 250 newspapers articles dating back to the 1850s, audio files, artwork and details about local rowers who have earned recognition in the sport over the years – starting, of coarse, with the famous Paris Crew. IN 1867, four local boys became national heroes when they won an International Regatta in Paris, France. They remained world champions for three years, until English rower James Renforth and his crew won the title in 1870. In 1871, a grudge match was set up to take place on the Kennebecasis River. Mr. Renforth died from the exertions of the race. Thirty years later, local residents decided to name their small village after him. Through the years rowing, has remained one of the Valley’s successful sports. The local rowing club, established in 1972 has produced Olympians, Canada Games medalists and other world class athletes. The Web site includes the club’s most recent successes, including the numerous medals won at last summer’s Canada Games. The club’s successes were outlined at the launch by Mr. Zed.
“We have in excess 350 athletes and a number of volunteers and families in the Rothesay-Kennebecasis area and it is probably one of the most successful programs, in terms of athletic endeavor and personal growth,” he said. “The Living Museum has been able to connect rowing not only with the rest of Canada, but we’ve now been able to connect with the world.”
The students who created the Web site each had a different role in its production. Rosalie Hanlon co-ordinated the project as well as served as its public relations officer. Artist Anna Stroud was responsible for the graphic images and completed a large acrylic mural of James Renforth and his crew, which will be displayed at the Bill McGuire Memorial Centre.
Erica Schollenberg spent many hours immersed in archives, searching for rowing-related photographs and newspaper articles. Owen Heatherington provided technical expertise, while Andrew Leblanc was responsible for digital acquisitions. Finally, the Web site’s animation sequences were the brainchild of Greg Paciga. All the students worked under the guidance of Rothesay Living Museum Curator and RHS Art teacher, Brian Perkins.
“His ideas are wonderful,” commented RHS Principal Roger Brown during Thursday’s lunch. “The benefactors of those ideas, I believe, have been the students – the work they have done, the skill they acquired, the knowledge, the preparedness they’re going to have for their adult life… it is an absolutely wonderful opportunity.”
“This experience has been one that will stay with all of us for the rest of our lives,” agreed Ms. Hanlon. “It has given us a better idea of what role we want to play in the workforce and the relevant work experience to give us a head start.”
Mr. Herron also played a role in the site. Through his influence, the Web site was funded with $18,240 from Canada’s Digital Collections, an Industry Canada program. Its goal is to provide funding for organizations so they can provide work experience for young Canadians.
“Rowing: The Legacy of Renforth Web site firmly establishes our community on the Web,” Mr. Herron said. “This collection is more than a Web site. It offers young people a chance to learn and practice multimedia skills in a paying job, while documenting Canada’s history. It’s really exciting to know people around the world will be able to see this high-quality collection.”
The Web site is one of many heritage projects completed through the Rothesay Living Museum, which was created through a partnership between the Town of Rothesay and RHS. It was founded on the concept that heritage and history are important aspects of a community’s identity. To preserve a community’s history, its stories have to be passed on to younger generations. Eventually, the museum plans to complete projects centering around all five communities that make up Rothesay.