On this page, we are thrilled to introduce our panel that will be juding our Three Minute Thesis Compeition on February 3rd! Thank you to this group of historians for their support of Heritage Days and these young historians!

Renee Lafferty-Salhany, Adjunct Professor at Brock University
Renee was a social historian of nineteenth and early twentieth century North America, particularly interested in North American religious history, the history of drink and drinking, and the War of 1812. Her most recent research project combined those interests by exploring the things which went into, and came out of, men’s bodies during the 1812 conflict. The central question informing this “fluid history” asks what these substances (including blood, semen, food and drink, sweat and tears) tell us about the experience and legacy of the war, both for the men who fought it, and the civilians who endured it.
Renee has supported us in the past as a member of our academic panel.
John Heckman, The Tattooed Historian
John has been a passionate advocate for making history accessible to all, he launched The Tattooed Historian in 2015 as his legacy project during his tenure as an Archivist and Historian with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Engaging audiences through livestreams, videos, a podcast (The Tattooed Historian Show), and live events, John has successfully bridged the gap between the past and present, making history both captivating and enjoyable for audiences of all ages.
John has presented and reported our in person conferences in the past.
Melissa Wing, Graduate Student
Melissa holds a B.A. Honours in History from the University of the Fraser Valley and is SSHRC funded graduate student working towards her M.A. in History at the University of Victoria. Melissa’s current research centres on reportage during the Second World with a focus on Canadian war correspondents during the Italian and Sicilian campaigns. Alongside her academic work, Melissa works in television as a historical researcher for the Second World War documentary drama series.
Melissa is a past finalist in our Three Minute Thesis competition and has been an ardent supporter.