Internship Highlight: Arianna Vallely - Jardin de Metis (The Elsie Project)

I want to thank Mrs. Elizabeth Merifield Galindo, without whom I would not have been able to complete such a phenomenal internship. Being honoured with the Dario and Elizabeth Merifield Galindo Internship Award has dramatically changed my university experience, allowing me to pursue my passions and explore my academic interests in depth.

I am going into my third year at McGill University, pursuing a joint honours degree in History and Canadian Studies. As a History and Canadian Studies student, I have a particular interest in Canada as a whole, with a specific focus on the late 19th and 20th centuries. Throughout this internship, I’ve been so honoured to have been allowed to not only study a topic so specific in my area of interest, but also to be able to learn more about Montreal as a city. I set out to learn about my community, its history, and the rich knowledge that it holds, while simultaneously learning ways of archival research and formulating a research paper – all of which I feel that I have completed.

Jardins de Métis/Reford Gardens generously hosted my internship. Jardins de Métis is located up the St Lawrence River, being home to a historic garden and many different exhibits, promoting bilingual learning and deep knowledge. While my research was not centred around the gardens themselves, it focused on their founder, Elsie Reford (1872-1967).

The Elsie Project: A Street in Time focused on the history and transformation of Drummond Street in Montreal – the street that Elsie called home for almost 70 years. Throughout my internship, I looked at how this residential, upper-class street changed. More specifically, looking at how these beautiful historic mansions that once stood were replaced by high-rise buildings and drab parking lots.

Using archival research from old newspapers, the McCord Museum’s digital collection, as well as McGill University’s Rare Books and Special Collections and very expansive library, I was able to find extensive research on most of the former buildings and residences that were once present. Through writing short essays, I was able to put together a research paper and the start of an exhibit. These essays explored the architects, people, and styles of homes that were found, all unique and vastly different. Throughout my research, my academic background was instrumental. Having previously studied Canada from 1870 to 1914, I had a strong knowledge of Montreal during the Victorian period. My notes and learnings from this course greatly helped guide my exhibit, providing a solid foundation and excellent starting ground.

While my internship was incredible, my most memorable moment was my time spent at McGill’s Rare Books and Special Collections. I got the opportunity to examine different diagrams, models, and sketches of various buildings, learning the intricate details that were used. Being able to see the physical pencil lines and drawings dating back to the Victorian period was incredible, allowing me to visualize the immense skill these architects possessed. Despite all the good, challenges still arose. I found my greatest weakness was knowing when to stop. When researching and writing, you are never able to include all the details you wish. While I researched so much, meeting the deadline and writing everything I could became a challenge. I learned the golden rule, “quality over quantity,” learning to prioritize the most critical aspects of my research.

Overall, while I did not receive academic credit for my internship, the funding I received from my generous donor was life-changing, allowing me to spend my summer pursuing my interests and gaining knowledge that I would have never known. Learning how to write a lengthy research paper, as well as learning the ways of archival work, has paved the way for my future. Not only has it encouraged me to write an honours thesis, but it will also help with my goals of pursuing law. Law is a field that is based on research and learning, and this summer I have learned many useful tricks and methods.

Once again, I am eternally thankful to Mrs. Elizabeth Merifield Galindo for making this experience possible, it has been a lifechanging experience that has so greatly helped guide me towards my future.