the hidden island

Charting the past: historic Island maps with Josh MacFadyen and D. Bailey Clark

Join our guest, Dr. Josh MacFadyen, as well as podcast host Matthew McRae as they go subterranean into the world of Prince Edward Island's terrain! Director of the GeoREACH Lab at UPEI, MacFadyen shares a wealth of knowledge and know-how into the methods and beauty of laying out and mapping out the island's landscapes. Whether it's historical chartmakers you're interested in, modern methods of map-capturing or even some emerging and bleeding-edge methods and technologies in the world of mapping, you're bound to learn all about how our beloved Island takes shape - on paper - in our season finale episode of the Hidden Island Podcast! Josh is Associate Professor and Canada Research Chair in Geospatial Humanities at the University of Prince Edward Island in Canada. His research focuses on energy transitions and traditional energy carriers in Canada, and he teaches Digital Humanities in the Applied Communication, Leadership, and Culture (ACLC) program in UPEI’s Faculty of Arts. His most recent monograph is titled Flax Americana: A History of the Fibre and Oil that Covered a Continent. He also published an edited collection in the same series titled Time and a Place: An Environmental History of Prince Edward Island (McGill-Queens and Island Studies Press, 2016). Josh has held postdoctoral positions at the Historical GIS Lab at the University of Saskatchewan and at NiCHE: Network in Canadian History & Environment at the University of Western Ontario. Most recently he was also an Assistant Professor and remains a Sustainability Scholar at Arizona State University’s School of Sustainability.

If these walls could talk: PEI’s Architectural Marvels with Heather Harris

PEI's rich history in architectural expression has captured the hearts of many - including but not limited to this week's guest! Joining hosts Matthew McRae and Lesley Caseley, housing enthusiast and creator of the Old Island Homes social media pages, Heather Harris, takes them on an enthusiast's tour through the captivating sights and constructs of PEI's most famous and interesting buildings, as well as outlining her own experiences with building restorations and her doting admiration for renowned historical architect, William C. Harris - no relation, of course! Heather Harris is an old house and heritage enthusiast who runs the Instagram and Facebook account “Old Island Homes”. Heather uses her account to share all things about historic houses and buildings on PEI, and she hopes to make information about these historic buildings accessible, interesting, and entertaining for her audience.

On the Paper Trail: Annotating Archives with John Boylan

*Editor's Note: Apologies for the hissing noise, all! Other episodes in the season won't be like this, but this was indeed a hardware and environmental-related issue that struck our equipment at the time of recording and was not caught. There's still some fantastic conversations to be had here, so thank you very much in advance for the continued support and for bearing with us this one time. :)* Why do we keep archives? Who uses them? What kind of material can you find there? Hosts Matthew McRae and Samantha Kelly are joined by archivist John Boylan to answer these questions and more. Listen in and discover how the province’s Public Archives and Records Office (PARO) opens a window onto our past, and why any visit to the archives can quickly turn into an exciting history mystery. John Boylan has been working in Island heritage since the 1980s. After stints with the PEI Museum, Provincial Heritage Office, and the City of Charlottetown he was hired as the Public Services Archivist at the Public Archives and Records Office of Prince Edward Island in 2006. John has a diploma in museum studies from Algonquin College and a master’s degree in archival studies from the University of British Columbia.

Dimetro-Do's and Dimetro-Don'ts: Prehistoric PEI, with Laura MacNeil

What if we told you PEI was once home to prehistoric creatures older than dinosaurs? Join hosts Matthew McRae, Lesley Caseley, and special guest Laura MacNeil, owner of Prehistoric Island Tours, as they uncover the not-so-secret facts of Prince Edward Island’s prehistoric past and answer burning questions like: Why is the Island becoming a fossil hotspot? Are we related to dimetrodons, and did they use their sails to flirt with each other? And what the heck are Laura’s favourite fossils? This episode is brought to you by The Architects Association of PEI, Confederation Center of the Arts, Provincial Credit Union, and The Grey Group. Laura MacNeil is a geologist born and raised in Alexandra, P.E.I. and founder of Prehistoric Island Tours, our province's first venue that provides guided shoreline tours on our rich 290-million-year-old geological heritage. Her professional experience is in Earth science communication, having worked as an educator at World-renowned museums such as Joggins Fossil Cliffs UNESCO World Heritage Site in Joggins, N.S., and the Royal Tyrrell Museum in Drumheller, AB. Laura completed her M.Sc. in geology at Acadia University, Nova Scotia, and B.Sc. in geology at Queen's University, Ontario. In 2016 Laura discovered the first fossil evidence of Dimetrodon borealis trackways on P.E.I., a sail-backed apex predator that roamed our province's prehistoric landscapes 290 million years ago.

Aw, shucks! All about Oysters with Jason Woodside

Discover the delicious history of raising, harvesting – and shucking – oysters on Prince Edward Island! Host Samantha Kelly is joined by Jason Woodside, oyster-shucking champion and inventor of the banjo knife. Together, they delve into the story of how our relationship with oysters started, how it became a globe-spanning industry and the ins and outs of our relationship with oysters in the present day. ----more---- Jason Woodside Is A Two-Time Canadian Oyster Shucking Champion (2004, 2006) With Over 26 Years Of Experience As A Professional Oyster Shucker. Infamous For His Knowledge and Skill, Jason Possesses A Deep Understanding Of Canada’s Oyster Industry, Particularly Prince Edward Island’s wild And cultured Oyster Fisheries. Passionate about education and advocacy, Jason shares his expertise through private tours, seminars, and appearances at select events, where he elevates public awareness of the joys and complexities of oyster appreciation. Jason is the creator of the Banjo Oyster Knife, which helps make shucking safer and easier for beginners. Additionally, Jason crafts traditional-style oyster knives, from PEI wood, which are tailored to professional shuckers seeking a competitive edge.