Zoom Presentation by Lee Benson

Chapter Member Lee Benson will be co-presenting an online seminar on a topic previously presented at the 2024 Wooden Canoe Assembly. The virtual presentation will take place on March 12, 2005. Details are posted below:

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Wednesday March 12, 2025, 7 pm EST
The Art, Life, and Times of Frances Anne Hopkins: Artist, Adventurer, Inspiration

Virtual Zoom Presentation

See note at end of post for obtaining link

Frances Ann Hopkins was the wife of Edward Hopkins, a Hudson Bay Manager. She accompanied him on extended voyageur canoe trips from Montreal to Fort William (now Thunder Bay). Her paintings documented the life of voyageurs during her time in Canada (1858 - 1870) in the fading glory days of the fur trade. She was a trained, professional artist at a time when women “didn't' do” that kind of thing. As descendent of several notable English explorer-artists, Frances Anne longed for adventure and opportunities to use her talents to forge a successful artistic career. This presentation will delve into the life and times of 19th C. British artist Frances Anne Hopkins -her iconic drawings and paintings, her influencers and contemporaries. What's more, her long-distance canoe trips are impressive and inspiration for current day canoeists.

 

Special Appearance by Frances Anne Hopkins herself, supported by:

• Lee Benson - Paddler, contract researcher/editor/ghost writer.

“Who knew that she and I would meet because of the latter!” Frances Anne Hopkins

• Dot Bonnenfant (Long time long distance paddler and canoeing history fanatic.)

“The embodiment of the adventure I longed for!” Frances Anne Hopkins

This online seminar is hosted by the The RA Canoe Camping Club (RACCC) who have generously allowed non-club members to attend. Non-club members can get the Zoom joining instructions by contacting Mark at outreach@raccc.ca. The details will be sent starting about 2 weeks before the seminar up until the day before the seminar.