2019 was an amazing year for L.M. Montgomery Studies and the community at large. We asked people what their favourite moments last year were and there were so many we couldn't put them all. Here, however, are the Top 10 moments of 2019.
May
Park to pay tribute to L.M Montgomery starts taking shape. A $600,000 project announced in January 2019, the park's paths leads visitors to other Montgomery experiences, including Green Gables House and the new Green Gables Visitor Centre.
June
The Story of L.M. Montgomery comes to life in new exhibit at PEI’s Green Gables Heritage Centre. The exhibit includes a visual of Montgomery's life, how she came to write Anne of Green Gables and what the editing process looked like. For those who aren't familiar with the story or don't speak English or French, the exhibit also contains an illustrated version of the 1908 novel. Lastly, there are also various Anne book covers from around the world to show how different languages and cultures interpreted the novel.
UPEI launches L.M. Montgomery Online Academic Journal! The Journal of L.M. Montgomery Studies is the only online open access journal that focuses on the life and work of Montgomery. Unlike other journals, this one will use images, videos. The journal has weekly #LMMJournalWednesdays which showcases articles, call for papers, and more. The first Call for Papers for a print edition based on the L.M. Montgomery and Reading conference was recently announced. The deadline is March 1, 2020.
July
Dr. Elizabeth Epperly launches a new edition of Imagining Anne: L.M. Montgomery's Island Scrapbooks at UPEI's Robertson Library. Epperly discusses the process of editing the scrapbooks here.
August
‘Kindred Spaces’: Princess Celebrates Japan-Canada relations during P.E.I. visit. Princess Takamado of Japan visited the island to commemorate the 90th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Canada. Princess Takamado proclaimed that Canada and Japan are kindred spirits. During her time on the island she visited the insititute where her appointment as the L.M. Montgomery Insititute's Honourary Patron was renewed. You can read all about the visit here.
Marco Polo Platter Donated to L.M. Montgomery Institute. Montgomery’s grand-daughter-in-law and granddaughter presented the institute with the donation of the Marco Polo Platter during Princess Takamado’s visit.
L.M. Montgomery’s original manuscript reveals P.E.I author’s creative process. Carolyn Strom Collins edited L.M. Montgomery's famous novel, Anne of Green Gables. Published by Nimbus press, this manuscript contains has over 500 notes. The original has been kept in the Confederation Centre of the Arts since the 1960s.
October
With the help of Heidi Haering, Interactive Map of L.M. Montgomery sites launches and you can fill it out. The map shows places significant to Montgomery's Life and the locations included in her novels. It seeks to bring together the past and present, with your help we can discover new locations and photos. Heidi Haering, L.M. Montgomery Institute student assistant constructed the map with the help of Dr. Kate Scarth, Dr. Elizabeth R. Epperly (LMMI Founder), Simon Lloyd, Dr. Edward MacDonald, Ms. Jean Mackay, Mr. John Boylan, Ms Natalie Munn, Dr. Philip Smith, Mr. Donald Moss and Dr. Donna J. Campbell's L.M. Montgomery donations to UPEI. Read more about this project here.
November
‘Anne With An E’ fans launch petition to save the show following cancellation. In 24 hours, 20,000 fans from around the world signed to have the show renewed for a fourth season.
December
Dr. Kate Scarth was invited to give a talk in Japan to commemorate publisher Kashiwa Shobo’s release in Japan of Alpine Path – My Career Before Anne of Green Gables.