Where Are They Now?

A 2017 RTAM Award Winner

Student Awards Committee

Recently, we had a chance to touch base with Jane Harkness, a 2017 RTAM Award winner. While attending Virden Collegiate Institute Jane donated a substantial amount of time and organization to the Virden Pioneer Home Museum and was awarded the prestigious Beaverbrook Vimy Prize which provided two weeks of study in England, Belgium, and France. After graduating, Jane went on to pursue her love of history further at the University of Ottawa. At work as the archives student at the Directorate of History and Heritage, I processed every single one of the documents on the shelves in the background. They’re all from the Second World War; it was one of my favourite projects!

Q: How did the RTAM award help you pursue your educational goals?

This award allowed me the opportunity to study history in the national capital. I completed my Bachelor of Arts in History at the University of Ottawa in December 2021, and in this degree I was able to learn from amazing historians, research in national museums and archives, and work as the archives student for the Department of National Defence’s Directorate of History and Heritage through the university’s CO-OP program.

Q: What was your favourite experience in that education?

My favourite part of my degree was working at the Directorate of History and Heritage. I worked here for four semesters throughout my degree. In this position I got to work hands-on with archival material on a daily basis, which is a dream come true. I processed new archival material, answered researcher’s questions and archival requests, and was in charge of the reading room. This job offered me so many opportunities, not only to learn more about the world of archives work, but also to go on behind the scenes tours of the Canadian War Museum and the Canadian Conservation Institute, to publish a research paper in Argonauta, the journal of the Canadian Nautical Research Society, and to learn about Canada’s military history on a daily basis as I worked with military historians and Canadian Armed Forces members.

Q: What are you doing now?

I’m currently in the middle of my Master of Arts in History at the University of Ottawa. Right now I’m finishing up my first semester and I’m also working as a Teaching Assistant. This summer I’ll be returning to Manitoba to do my research for my major research project for this degree, where I’ll be examining the history of the cenotaph in my hometown of Virden, Manitoba to better understand First World War memorials and commemoration at a local level. I couldn’t be more excited to research a topic so close to my heart and to be able to give this knowledge I’ve gained back to the community.

Q: What further educational/career goals are on your horizon?

After I finish this degree, I plan on completing a final degree in a Masters of Museum Studies in the United Kingdom. Afterwards, I plan to return to Canada to pursue a career in museum curating, where I hope to combine my passions for military history, social history, women’s history, and providing history to the public through museum work.

As you can see, Jane has put her Award to good use, and is happily pursuing her passion in History. Please remember to nominate your relatives and don’t forget to donate to the RTAM Endowment Fund at the Winnipeg Foundation’s website (www. wpgfdn.org). Just go to their “Make a Gift” tab and put RTAM in the search box. n