Object's the Thing

R. Yorke Edwards was a pioneer in the field of heritage interpretation in Canada. First with BC Parks and then with the Canadian Wildlife Service, throughout the 1960s Edwards developed an approach to the interpretation of natural and cultural history with a focus on the "real thing" -- the object, the place, the process, the person -- in front of a visitor. Almost everyone who has visited a Canadian park or museum has been touched by Edwards's legacy -- but few know his name.

"This book is a "must-read" for anyone interested in heritage interpretation, the history of BC Parks, the Royal BC Museum, the Canadian Wildlife Service or park management." --Leah Ramsay, The Victoria Naturalist, "Yorke Edwards' legacy runs deep in Canadian scientific and historical interpretation, especially in his adoptive province . . . and Edwards' writings reveal other tantalizing ideas, decades ahead of their time, that we can only wish he had explored further." --Ormsby Review

For almost half a century Yorke Edwards was a pioneer in wildlife biology, nature education, conservation, and museum life, stimulating people to think more deeply about the world and our place in it. Rick Kool is a professor in Royal Roads University's School of Environment and Sustainability. Rob Cannings is curator emeritus at the Royal BC Museum. Bob Peart was assistant director for research and public programs at the Royal BC Museum from 1985 to 1988.