Original Findings: Transcending Laughter

Collectors and surveyors have helped shape Canada.  Their job is diffifult and requires a lot of long days and tough work.  Although technology had made D.H. Browne's life much easier by 1960, surveying the west coast still requires some leg work.

Dennison H. Browne was born in Ottawa, ON in 1931 and became a Dominion Land Surveyor by 1953, making him just twenty-nine years old when he was out surveying and collecting markers in 1960 (AOLS Ann Report, 2006).  

Pouring through field notes has brought Browne's journey to life.  Although his entries are usually technical, or filled with the many appointments or schedule changes of the week, the cheeky scribbles, and notes griping about rain make Browne's journey colourful and personal.

"poured rain all day... rain in am.  rain in pm" life on Vancouver Island in the winter and spring is a constant drizzle.  

"What is a mormer? A nooner but sooner" Browne's "mormer" joke cuts the bleakness of long days by reminding us that we all like a good chuckle!

"Rambert quit to go fishing.. I worked on accounts" this was written while in Duncan B.C. checking the Cowichan Indian Reserve boundary lines near the Cowichan Valley survey marker.  The marker is located right beside the Cowichan River.  One can imgine the crew's excitement at the prospect of a sunny day for fishing.  Perhaps Browne wrote this entry the same day he retrieved the survey marker.