Announcing 2024 Recipients of the Martha J Harvey Award of Distinction and York-Sunbury Historical Society Author Awards

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – December 11, 2024

Fredericton, NB – The York-Sunbury Historical Society is proud to announce the 2024 recipients of the Martha J. Harvey Award of Distinction, as well as Author Recognition Awards. During a recent ceremony at Government House, Her Honour Lieutenant-Governor Brenda Murphy, O.N.B., officiated at the ceremony and personally recognized each of the recipients. These prestigious annual awards celebrate exceptional contributions to the preservation and promotion of Canadian history and heritage.

The Martha J. Harvey Award is named in honour of Martha J. Harvey, the founding member of the York-Sunbury Historical Society, established in 1932. A passionate advocate for her community, Martha served as president of the Fredericton Women’s Institute, was actively involved with the Social Service Council, and was deeply committed to the welfare of the greater Fredericton area.

This year’s recipient is Virginia Bjerkelund, in recognition of her authorship of two important publications: Meadowlands: A Chronicle of the Scovil Family (2020) and A Nurse For All Seasons: Elizabeth Robinson Scovil, 1849-1934 (2023). In addition to her literary achievements, Virginia has shown unwavering support for the Society and the Fredericton Region Museum (over a period of 40 years) through her roles as editor of The Officer’s Quarters and as a dedicated board member.

Author Recognition Awards were presented to several recipients, each of whom contributed their expertise and passion to preserving history through their published works. This year’s honorees are:

  • Terry & Helen Arnold, co-editors and authors of six articles in Vol 15 of the Marysville Heritage Journal, Marysville Heritage Committee;
  • Gary Campbell, PhD, contributor of original artefact research to the Fredericton Region Museum Newsletter (Summer & Winter, 2024), as well as the virtual exhibition: “New Brunswick Goes To War: The Liberation of Italy,” Fredericton Region Museum;
  • Michelle Daigle and Don Rigley of Frantically Atlantic, authors and performers of the radio play “News From the Front: 1944”, York-Sunbury Historical Society;
  • Jennifer Dow, author and creator of the VoiceMap app “Reawakening the City’s Black History: A Downtown Fredericton Walking Tour”, York-Sunbury Historical Society;
  • Leah Grandy, PhD, author of two articles: “Recovering the Lives of Military Loyalists in New Brunswick” (The Loyalist Gazette), and “The Microforms Collection at the UNB Libraries” (Generations – Winter Issue);
  • Rev. Ross Hebb, PhD, author of A Canadian Chaplain in the Great War: Revisiting B. J. Murdoch’s, The Red Vineyard, Nimbus Publishing;
  • Alena Krasnikova, co-author of Discovering The History of The Morrin Centre: Reading The Objects Around Us (A Guide to the LHSQ Library), The Literary and Historical Society of Quebec;
  • Zoé Leroux-Blain, translator of the VoiceMap app “Reawakening the City’s Black History: A Downtown Fredericton Walking Tour” (“Raviver l’histoire des Noirs: Une visite piétonne du centre-ville de Fredericton”), York-Sunbury Historical Society;
  • James Long, author and publisher of The McNair-Fleming Years: A Public Record of Uncertain Times 1930-1960, Friesen Press;
  • Paul O’Connell, author and publisher of On the Banks of the Nigadoo River: A Chronicle of the O’Connell Family 1900-1950, Chapel Street Editions;
  • Harold Skaarup, author of five publications, including: Militia and Canadian Expeditionary Force Cap Badges, York Sunbury Historical Society, Fredericton Region Museum Collection; Gotham Books; and contributor to the virtual exhibition: “New Brunswick Goes To War: The Liberation of Italy,” Fredericton Region Museum;
  • Gary K. Waite, PhD, author of two academic book chapters, as well as: European Racism: A History in Documents (with Lisa Todd), Broadview Press; and Anti-Anabaptist Polemics: Dutch Anabaptism and the Devil in England, 1531-1660, Pandora Press; and
  • Cynthia Wallace-Casey, PhD, author and contributor of 3 publications, including: ”Podcasts as Teacher Talk in Historical Thinking” (Historical Encounters); and producer of the virtual exhibition: “New Brunswick Goes To War: The Liberation of Italy,” Fredericton Region Museum.

For more information, please contact:

Alena Krasnikova, Executive Director
Fredericton Region Museum www.frederictonregionmuseum.com
Email: frederictonregionmuseum@gmail.com or phone 506-455-604