The Lucy Maud Montgomery Society of Ontario invites paper proposals for its annual L.M. Montgomery Day in Leaskdale on 25–26 October 2025.
Recently, the Lucy Maud Montgomery Society of Ontario received a donation from the family of Wilda Clark. Among the many items in the donation was the July 3, 1965, guest book from the special event organized by Wilda involving provincial government recognition of the historic importance of the Leaskdale Manse. The event, during which a commemorative plaque was unveiled, was attended by 700 guests with 385 signing the book.
Wilda Clark is the founder of our organization. She recognized the importance of the manse long before others did and lobbied the local, provincial, and federal governments on a number of occasions in order to advance the historical significance of the site in Leaskdale.
2025 marks the sixtieth anniversary of this epoch moment in time which marked the beginning of a vision of place and what it could become. It would be twenty years before other significant events involving the future site of the Leaskdale Manse would begin rolling forward, but this was the spark that initiated it.
The world has just finished celebrating the 150th anniversary of Lucy Maud Montgomery’s birthdate. This was a commemoration like no other befitting this remarkable literary figure. She has definitely reached “that far-off goal of true and honoured fame” (“The Alpine Path”). Dream, vision, commemoration are key words that describe places, literary works, and events of significance created to pay tribute to Montgomery. There is also commemoration in Montgomery’s own work, her literary pilgrimages, the re-writing of her journals, and her efforts to remember Frede, to name a few.
The Lucy Maud Montgomery Society is requesting proposals for papers that address the commemoration of Lucy Maud Montgomery’s life and work. Personal experiences in the dream/vision to commemoration process is encouraged as well as other reflections and perspectives.
Possibilities include but are not limited to:
- Places, museums, historical centers
- Landmark publications
- Literary organizations and their work
- Libraries and archival work
- Special collections
- Digitized projects
- Theater and the arts
- Natural spaces
The LMM Day weekend will be a hybrid event. While we encourage personal attendance, participation by Zoom will be possible. The LMMSO requests that proposals of not more than 450 words be submitted by Monday, March 31, to Melanie Whitfield (president of the LMMSO) at mzilawhitfield@gmail.com. Successful proposals will be reviewed and evaluated fairly for approval by a special committee. Twenty minutes will be allotted for the delivery of each paper. Registration information and scheduling for LMM Day/Weekend will follow after March 31.
Image Credit
“Exterior Front View of Leaskdale Manse, ca. 1911–1926.” XZ1 MS A097046, L.M. Montgomery Collection, University of Guelph archives, https://images.ourontario.ca/uoguelph/26820/data.
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