Kensington Market: Hidden Histories
Award Winning Canadian Studies Student Project
Background
This set of Story Maps are an updated redo of the original Kensington Market: Hidden Histories Project, undertaken with student research for the course UofT Canadian Studies course, CDN355 Digital Media, Digital Makers in Fall 2016. Findings from this initial research contributed to an early ArcGIS geolocative map of 32 locations and an augmented reality iOS app, Kensington Market: Hidden Histories, no longer available (built by No Campfire Required). Individual Story Maps include screen shots of the app which enabled visitors to view content in situ, with videos, archival images and records.
Shout outs and thanks to the original student researchers, Ashley Cruickshank, Chris Lemire, Nicole Paroyan, Arabhi Ratnajothy, Natalie Simonian, Sally Zeng, and to the research assistants who worked on the new story maps, Diego Rupolo and Bruce Li.
University of Toronto Faculty of Arts & Science published a feature article on its homepage . A few excerpts from Sean Bettam’s article:
“The Kensington Market: Hidden Histories app , which guides users through a dynamic tour of 12 locations in Toronto’s historic Kensington Market and brings to life the layers of stories embedded in the area, was made possible by students in University College’s Digital Tools in a Canadian Context course. A companion online interactive map archives histories of a total of 32 locations.”
“Receiving this award felt like it wasn’t just recognizing us students, but also the sites and locations in Kensington Market featured in our project,” said fourth-year student Arabhi Ratnajothy. “It is a reminder that so much of this city was built by immigrants who engrained themselves and their stories into the paths walked by today’s generations. We move towards the future by remembering the past.”
“Being selected for this award is such a terrific boost and affirmation for each of the students,” said course instructor Siobhan O’Flynn . “Having the opportunity to work on a project, be engaged in original research and contribute to the safeguarding of our city’s intangible cultural heritage as undergraduates is remarkable.”
“Throughout my years in the Canadian Studies program, I was always impressed by the fascinating research projects we were able to take part in with some amazing professors,” said recent graduate Nicole Paroyan. “I am so glad that a project spearheaded by Professor O’Flynn was recognized this way. None of this would have been possible without her.”
The Build
The original ArcGIS geolocative map of 32 locations built with Professor Marcel Fortin, Chief Librarian, Map and Data Library, UofT is here - zoom out. Click on map pins for location specific hidden histories
Play with the map layers to view a selection of Goad's Toronto Fire Insurance Atlas maps, Park Lot maps, and other georeferenced maps. Big thanks to Prof. Marcel Fortin for the map layers.
Screen cap of the original interactive geolocative Kensington Market: Hidden Histories
