As a kid, he would map out historical sites and museums to stop at while driving in the car.
“I always loved history,” he said. “If we went to Halifax, my mom would take me to the Citadel and when we went anywhere, I would always be looking for a monument or something historical.
The Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada have recognized that love of history, appointing Ashton to serve as Nova Scotia’s representative to the board.
“It’s a great honour for me. This is like the icing on the cake to serve on this prestigious board.”
The mandate of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada is to advise the Government of Canada, through the Minister of the Environment, on the commemoration of nationally significant aspects of Canada's history.
Following a thorough evaluation process and recommendation by the board, the minister declares the site, event or person of national historic significance. In addition to handling designations of national significance, the board provides advice on the Heritage Railway Stations Protection Act, Grave Sites of Canadian Prime Ministers Program and the Heritage Lighthouses of Canada Program.
Ashton’s term runs from Jan. 30, 2014, to Jan. 29, 2017. After an orientation session with the board, he’s thrilled to serve.
“It’s great to be sitting down with like-minded people,” he said. “We’d be sitting there talking and then go off on a tangent about some historical fact. It’s a dedicated group of people.”
The board is composed of a representative from each province and, as well as the librarian and archivist of Canada, an officer of the Canadian Museum of Civilization and the director general of Parks Canada National Historic Sites Directorate, who also acts as the board’s secretary.
Despite having no formal post-secondary education in history, he’s written two books and led the Pictou County Historical Community Kiosk project among other projects. When his cousins told him a few years ago that his late grandfather in England was a local community historian, he knew his interest was in the same field.
His proudest accomplishment was shedding light on the long forgotten French-speaking community of Raymondville in Trafalgar.
“Nobody knew it existed, save a few seniors who knew it was out there. They called it the French settlement.”
But Ashton, determined to find the site, went out in heavily forested area and located foundations, stones and roadways.
While this latest appointment is the most prestigious, Ashton has served on several other boards including arts and cultural boards, Design in Business Nova Scotia, recreational boards and the Pictou County Chamber of Commerce.
Candidates for board membership must reside in the province or territory he or she represents, have knowledge of the history of the province or territory represented, as well as the historical trends that shaped the development of Canada as a whole and be available to attend quarterly meetings of several days in duration, in addition to lengthy preparation time, as well as to officiate at plaque unveiling ceremonies a few times a year.
According to Ashton, there are some areas that are significant in Pictou County and all over Nova Scotia that could be designated.
“What happens is that anyone can nominate a historical site and we as a board have to grade them according to several variables. With the 150th anniversary of Confederation, the government wants to step up the importance of these sites.”
Looking back on the history of Pictou County, Ashton noted that while the region’s reputation as an economic powerhouse has faded from the late 18th century, there is hope.
“As a historian, we have a job to do. If we don’t put information out there to the public then how are we to know what we’ve done in the past? It reiterates why we exist, why we are here.”
He noted the importance of the Ivany Report and emphasized the need for changing the way we do things in this province.
“Historically, we can see the success and failures in the province but I’m optimistic that we will survive,” Ashton said. “Nova Scotia is resilient and we can adapt in hard times.”
The board meets at least three times a year and meets all across Canada. The next meeting will be held in Vancouver and Victoria, from June 25 to 28.
On Twitter: @NGNewsJohn