Connie Johnston (right) says that Jennifer Pershick, who took on the role of publisher, was instrumental in making sure the project came to a successful completion. Pershick (left) says that this book was Johnston’s to write. “Connie is the definition of community,” said Pershick. “She knows everyone, helps everyone she meets. She is a true connector, and an incredible storyteller. She was the perfect driver for this beautiful project.” Tinkess Photo

RUSSELL – History is a subject that many people have strong feelings about, either positive or negative. The negative feelings are usually accompanied by comments like “It’s so dry,” “It’s boring,” or the ever popular “It’s a story told by someone who wasn’t there based on information supplied by someone who knew someone who might have been there, maybe.”

To be truly engaging, history should be told by people who are at least as passionate about the story as the telling of it. It should be real, which is not always the same as factual, although efforts are made to stay as close to the truth as possible. Most important though, is that it should be a story that the reader can connect to, much like they would if they were talking to a family member, a neighbour, or a close friend. Voices of Our Town, the recently released collection of tales of the Village of Russell and surrounding area by Connie Johnston is that and more. It is a template for how to make history matter to more people.

It isn’t surprising that Johnston took on the monumental task of creating a written history of the area, picking up from Wendell Stanley’s Swamp and Shanty, which covered the period from 1827 through to 1987. Johnston (aka The Trivia Queen) is a fixture in the community, probably best described as “a connector”, who knows everyone and understands how, with people working together, you can accomplish great things. Her friend, and the book’s publisher Jennifer Pershick introduced Johnston during the book’s official launch at the Russell arena on Sat., June 15.

“I learned a lot as, as a daughter of entrepreneurs, for example, how the act of building something out of nothing but an idea can be the best education,” said Pershick. “It involves picking yourself up after every fall. You have to find multiple ways to get there, and not everyone needs you. But if you show them what you are capable of, they will think of you when they do.

“And from my parents, I also learned how community involvement matters, and how being a kind and generous person benefits more than those who are being helped. In small towns, there’s often a culture of mutual support between businesses and community and nothing is more evident after working on this project. That community, that’s you, really showed up. The richness of the stories held within these pages is immense. And this book is an anthem of everything that makes our town great. From its roots to its landmarks, to its businesses, and most importantly, its people. I was honoured to have been asked to share this journey with Connie.”

In creating Voices of Our Town, Johnston could have collected a wealth of information and compiled it into a chronological history of the area, and she would have no doubt created a record that the community could be proud of. She chose, however, to use the individual and collective memories of the area’s residents and allow their voices and ability as storytellers to take the reader on a journey, as long or as short as time allows, through life along the Castor. It is, I guess you would say, a living history.

Phil Gurski is the vice-chair of the Russell Historical Society and says there is great value in what Johnston has created in that it is a living history and gives a voice to so many people.

“Absolutely, and that’s the beauty of the book,” says Gurski. “It’s not one person’s account. It’s the account of so many families and individuals in the area, who told her stories. As a consequence, you really get to know the spirit of Russell.”

At 650 pages and containing 1,800 images, the book is impressive, but what makes it so readable is that most of the submissions are between one and three pages in length. It is a book that you can pick up and read a story or two, or more over a weekend, should you find yourself with a bit of free time.

Johnston had many helping hands in this labour of love, and as you would expect, she is quick to give credit. We can’t list everyone here, but there were the people who contributed content, proofreaders, members of the Russell Historical Society, local businesses and service groups, those who helped make the launch event a reality, and many, many more.

A special thank you went out to Pershick, the book’s publisher. “I just have to say that if Jen hadn’t come on board to make this possible, it would have been one of those projects that got pushed to the back and put away in a drawer and never would have materialised at all,” said Johnston.  “She was amazing. I approached her to ask if she would do some artwork for the cover. And she said I’ll do one better:  Have you got anybody to take it further? And she did.”

Johnston was asked to put into words what she was feeling, basking in the warmth and respect of her community. “I am, I can’t even describe it. It is beyond words to describe,” she said. “I said all along that after five years of working on this book and seeing Jen walk up the laneway with the book in her hand, it was a feeling that I can’t describe, like it was… I have three children, and I love them all to bits, but the gestation period for them, doesn’t compare it to the five years for this book. And because it’s been something that’s been on my mind forever, to finally have it in book form, it’s unbelievable. I’m so happy and I’m so happy with the response.”

Voices of Our Town is available at the local Home Hardware store in Russell, and through Amazon (amazon.ca).

 

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