One of Canada's outstanding economic historians, Innis was born on this farm. Graduated from McMaster University, he obtained a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago, and in 1920, joined the Department of Political Economy at the University of Toronto, where he subsequently became Department Chairman and Dean of Graduate Studies. His works, such as the monumental "Fur Trade in Canada" (1930), largely interpreted Canadian history as a thrust to control the St. Lawrence trade and connecting traffic routes, and profoundly influenced Canadian historical writing generally. His later studies, for example, "Empire and Communications" (1950), investigating the effects of communications technology on cultural values and social institutions, helped established international communications theory. Innis College, University of Toronto, is named in his honour.

Location

At his birthplace, Innisfree Farm, County Road 19, about 3 km east of Otterville

Themes

• Arts and culture
• People