Celebrating the life of Ernest Thompson Seton
It may be Lindsay’s best-kept secret: renowned Canadian naturalist and artist Ernest Thompson Seton spent a formative part of his childhood in Lindsay in the 1860s.
And now, an upcoming event will celebrate the life of Seton and his connection to the area.
The Kawartha Trans Canada Trail Association, the City of Kawartha Lakes and the Lindsay Gallery are partnering with two Fleming College students at the Frost Campus – Julie Crawley and Gilbert Gaboury – to host a free community lecture on Seton as well as rededicate a plaque in his honour. The Ontario Historical Plaque will eventually be located on the section of the Trans Canada Trail that passes through the Frost Campus.
“The City of Kawartha Lakes is pleased to support this re-dedication of the Ernest Thompson Seton historic plaque honoring one of our local environmental champions,” said Craig Shanks, Manager, City of Kawartha Lakes Parks, Recreation and Culture Department.
The rededication ceremony and free community lecture will feature guest speaker John Wadland, a Trent University professor who completed his Ph.D. on Seton. It will take place on Tuesday, Mar. 29 at 7 p.m., room 250, Frost Campus, 200 Albert St. S., Lindsay.
A display of Seton’s writings, books and paintings will be featured over the next few weeks at the Frost Campus library thanks to a loan from the Trent University Archives.
From 1988 to 1999, the Lindsay Gallery had in its possession 206 drawings, watercolours and illustrations on loan from a Seton descendant, which were proudly exhibited for the enjoyment of local visitors.
“The one Ernest Thompson Seton painting that remains in the Lindsay Gallery’s Permanent Collection is untitled and depicts a waiting wolf watching a grazing cow. This painting can be viewed by Gallery visitors any time. It is always on display in the Gallery’s Virtual Permanent Collection,” says Margot Fawcett, Lindsay Gallery President.
Seton, who was born in England in 1860, moved with his family to Canada, settling near Lindsay. It was his first introduction to rural life and his childhood experiences here led to the beginnings of his love of nature.
In 1870 the family moved to Toronto. Later in life, Seton settled in Carberry, Manitoba. In his lifetime he authored 40 books and completed many landscape paintings. He died in 1946. Seton’s work is highly respected and he is well-known throughout the world, from England to Japan.
Located in the heart of Central Ontario, Fleming College has campus locations in Peterborough, Lindsay, Cobourg and Haliburton. Named for famous Canadian inventor and engineer Sir Sandford Fleming, the college features more than 90 full-time programs in Business and Technology, Continuing Education and Skilled Trades, Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, Visual Arts, Education, Health and Wellness, and Law, Justice and Community Services. Fleming College has 6,000 full-time and 10,000 part-time students, and 58,000 alumni.
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For more information:
Laura Copeland, Communications Officer, 705-749-5530 x 1370 or copeland@flemingc.on.ca