WILLIAM POPE: An Artist for the Ages

A tribute to Norfolk County’s Naturalist

-  Jason Pankratz

I recently took a day trip with a fewfriends, casually driving the backroads near Lake Erie. Though we were only 40 minutes from my home here in Tillsonburg, we proceeded to have a good half-day adventure. We were specifically interested in exploring a few conservation areas and investigating the hamlets along the way.

Living that close to the lake, we are blessed to be able to experience the solitude of these nature preserves, wander, camp and immerse ourselves in the outdoors. You can also enjoy a day out and return home in good time. Each stop also provided a glimpse into the past; explaining the historic legacy of the people and events that have defined these small communities.

The Long Point region has an essential and enduring history of ecological management. As we were entering the Norfolk Conservation Area, we stopped to read the Ontario historic plaque, commemorating the work of the naturalist William Pope. Though Long Point does have a nude beach, this was not that type of naturalist; we had to correct someone in the car.

William Pope was born in Kent, England, in 1811 and came to North America in 1834. He was an avid sportsman and outdoor artist. He travelled across North America but found his calling documenting the flora and fauna throughout the western and southwestern regions of Upper Canada.

He has been called a “sportsman-naturalist,” regarding his history of hunting and studying. He understood the importance of conservation and the documenting of species. In particular, Pope focused on the birds of Ontario. Travelling along the lakeshores and delving into the deep forests, Pope specifically sketched birds in their habitats and noted their behaviours.