The geographer’s geographer

By Nicole Findlay

John Clarke wasn’t present to accept the 2009 Ontario Geography Award the Canadian Association of Geographers, Ontario Chapter (CAGOnt) recently conferred upon him. In fact, he wasn’t even aware that he had been nominated.

Clarke, a distinguished research professor in the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, has devoted his career to research in the historical, cultural and economic geography of Ontario. His work has informed public policy, a CBC documentary, and countless publications. His undergraduate courses were fundamental to the evolution of the department.

When the CAGOnt call for nominations was made earlier this year, John Wall, a doctoral candidate in the department and national student councillor of CAG, felt Clarke deserved the honour.

Wall approached departmental chair, Michael Brklacich and John Osborne, dean of FASS and requested their support.

“Without his (John Wall) urgings and contributions, this nomination would not have occurred and John Clarke’s contribution to Ontario geography would have remained an under-told story,” said Brklacich.

Quietly, the three began to gather the information that would be required to support the submission.

“It was not easy, but we kept John Clarke in the dark while asking him for details about his research and work history!” said John Wall. “We submitted the nomination and he was the winner.”

For 40 years, Clarke has dedicated his career to unearthing Ontario’s historical, cultural and economic geography.

“Ontario records are especially good which makes it a useful laboratory to study human interaction with the environment over time,” Clarke said. “I have also had, over the years, great research assistants, most recently Nick Watson and Jose Arocena”.

His award-winning research has been cited in the 30 hour CBC documentary series “Canada: A People’s History.” His method of determining historical land prices has been used to resolve Aboriginal land claims in this province.

“It is interesting that it (the research) has found application in issues of social justice and I have been engaged on a number of occasions in providing land prices to First Nation communities seeking redress for loss of land and livelihood,” Clarke notes. “This is a very satisfying aspect of the work.”

Clarke is currently working on a trilogy of books that explore how land was claimed, settled and used in southwest Ontario in the 18^th and 19^th centuries.  The first book of the series was published in 2000, with the remaining two slated for publication in 2010 and 2012 respectively.

During his tenure at Carleton, he has supervised 57 BA Honours and MA students. This “geographer’s geographer” brought the subject to life for countless students through field trips to Lanark County, in his third-year course, Historical Geography of Canada.

The Canadian Association of Geographers, Ontario Chapter (CAGOnt) made the announcement at their annual meeting in October.