10,000 Years of Agricultural History in Southwestern Ontario

Drawing from extensive family paperwork saved by her ancestors and combined with her in-depth research into census and land records, archaeological findings, and historical texts, Kae Elgie tells the remarkable story of 10,000 years of food gathering and agricultural production on the 200-acre farm in Chatham-Kent where she grew up.

What began as an exploration of her own family history soon evolved into a broader narrative of agricultural, social, and economic trends stretching back to the end of the last Ice Age. Her presentation will explore how changes in the land and its use reflect deep shifts over millennia, from Indigenous food systems to the colonial and modern eras.

Elgie’s compelling research culminated in her book, This Land: the story of two hundred acres in Kent County, Ontario, and her talk promises to inspire and fascinate anyone interested in agricultural history, genealogy, and the legacy of Southwestern Ontario’s farmland.

Bio:
Kae Elgie brings to her research a wealth of experience from her pre-retirement career as Manager of Information Technology for the Region of Waterloo Library. Her passion for organizing information continues to guide her family history and genealogy work.

Kae is a member of several historical organizations, including the Kent County Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society, the Ontario Historical Society, and Architectural Conservancy Ontario. She is the author of This Land: the story of two hundred acres in Kent County, Ontario (Fountain Street Press, 2019).

Book Information:
Elgie’s book, This Land: the story of two hundred acres in Kent County, Ontario (Fountain Street Press, 2019, ISBN 978-0-9812776-3-9), is available for purchase.
Contact: info@fountainstreetpress.ca | 519-635-8951

Website:
Visit Kae Elgie’s author page at https://www.facebook.com/FountainStreetPress/