Megan Daniels at Healey Falls, Campbellford
Headlines (Campus Updates)
Public Affairs
Co-op students combine theory and practice
Mar 22/04
Each summer for more than a decade, Parks Canada has hired budding archaeologists from Laurier’s co-op program. Brian Ross, who helps students learn about the aboriginal peoples of Ontario while uncovering artifacts, says, “The co-op program emphasizes the right combination of theory and practice.” Joe Last supervises students helping to determine the archaeological impact of reconstruction work on historic military sites. “Without any hesitation, I recommend recruiting from Wilfrid Laurier University,” says Last. “The co-op program produces students who are competent and practical; they are truly solid performers.”
Archaeology majors Megan Daniels and Heather Tulloch helped excavate significant sites last summer, and both will be returning to Parks Canada in May.
Daniels worked with Ross at Healey Falls, which is the site of a historic portage along the Trent-Severn waterway where aboriginal peoples manufactured and restored stone tools. Daniels says, “Excavating at Healey Falls heightened both my understanding and appreciation of archaeology; its excitement and challenges, methods and techniques, and its importance in understanding and commemorating our history.” After completing her fieldwork, Daniels cleaned, identified and catalogued artifacts at the Parks Canada laboratory in Cornwall.
While working with Last at Fort Malden and Fort Henry, Tulloch gained an appreciation for the importance of preparing a site for excavation. “I was shown how to use a transit to map the site,” she says, “and I learned to recognize and record each layer of soil, and to take accurate notes, photographs and drawings.” Tulloch, a student of classical archaeology, also gained knowledge of Canadian military history.
At Fort Henry, Tulloch also worked with Henry Cary, who graduated from Laurier in 2000 with a degree in anthropology. “As a full-time archaeologist,” says Carey, “I hope I can offer the same instruction and enthusiasm to co-op students that I received when I was in their place.”
During his two co-op work terms with Parks Canada, Carey assisted in excavations at historic sites in Amherstburg, Kingston, Williamstown and Niagara-on-the-Lake. His report on the findings from one of the Fort George excavations was published in the Annual Archaeological Report produced by the Ontario Heritage Foundation. “The co-op program made my studies more meaningful,” says Carey, “in that I understood the practical applications of what was being taught in the classroom.”
Co-op students in arts, business, economics and science are seeking work for the May to August work term. If you have any opportunities, please call the Co-op Office at 884-0710 extension 4484.
Wilfrid Laurier University
Waterloo, ON
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