Geographical Thinking: E103 – The Hidden Village of Clementsport

Once a bustling hub of shipbuilding and industry, the village of Clementsport, Nova Scotia now holds much of its history in memory. But thanks to the powerful blend of storytelling and digital mapping that is ArcGIS StoryMaps, its past has been brought back into view. In this episode of Geographical Thinking, host Michelle Brake sits down with Fionnuala Braun, the creator of The Hidden Village of Clementsport story, and her father, Scott Digweed, volunteer archivist with the Clements Historical Society. Together, they reflect on the process of uncovering lost stories, digitizing community memory and mapping what no longer stands. They explore what it means to map absence, how imagination plays a role in digital history and what it felt like to have the project recognized as a finalist in Esri’s 2024 ArcGIS StoryMaps competition. This episode is a tribute to community memory, grassroots storytelling and the evolving ways we can engage with place—even places that seem to have disappeared. 0:00 – Episode Summary 0:41 – Intros 2:49 – The Hidden Village of Clementsport 7:59 – Historical Sources 13:48 – Mapping Absence 19:29 – 2024 ArcGIS StoryMaps Competition 23:40 – Key Takeaways 26:20 – Looking Ahead 32:33 – Outro We’re posting new episodes full of inspiring geography stories at least monthly. Subscribe to Esri Canada’s channel so you never miss a new episode of Geographical Thinking!  Looking for resources on what we discussed in today’s podcast? Check them out below! The Hidden Village of Clementsport: (https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/543d135dfada45988089e843572bd488) This story uncovers the rich history of Clementsport, Nova Scotia, highlighting its development, its cultural heritage and the stories of its early inhabitants. Clements Historical Society: (https://www.clementshistoricalsociety.org/home) Established in 2000, the Clements Historical Society is dedicated to preserving and sharing the history of Clements Township in Annapolis County, Nova Scotia through archival collections and community engagement. Mapannapolis: (https://www.mapannapolis.ca/) A community-driven mapping project that showcases Annapolis County's diverse historical and cultural assets and promotes local heritage and tourism through interactive maps and images. Annapolis County Historical Houses: (https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/af58783b3fe44166ae5755dde380552a) This story presents a curated collection of historical houses in Annapolis County, providing insights into their architectural significance and the stories of the families who lived there. Are Historians Valuable in 2024?: (https://activehistory.ca/blog/2024/09/09/are-historians-valuable-in-2024-perspectives-of-an-interdisciplinary-researcher/) Fionnuala Braun reflects on the challenges and rewards of interdisciplinary research, emphasizing the crucial role historians play in providing context and narrative to data-driven fields like public health.