During this year’s Remembrance period, Ancestry, the global leader in family history and consumer genomics, brought Canada’s wartime stories to life through the History Revealed event, an immersive, augmented-reality exhibit showcasing the famed works of Canadian wartime artist Molly Lamb Bobak. Bobak (1920 – 2014) was born in Vancouver to celebrated photographer Harold Mortimer-Lamb and she aspired to become an artist. She was dubbed the first Canadian woman war artist; her love of painting led Bobak to join the Canadian Women’s Army Corps (CWAC), which brought her overseas serving in London wherein she depicted phenomenal scenes of parades, marches, gas drills and a multitude of training exercises for female military officials. Bobak was a veteran artist, having been one of the first women to make a living off of her earnings and she married fellow war artist, Bruno Bobak. Known for her style of painting, drawing and watercolours, Bobak was elected to the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts in 1973 and presented with the Order of Canada in 1995.

This exhibit is completely immersive. From Bobak’s eye-catching illustrations to portrait sessions with famed photographer George Pimentel, audiences were subject to a unique experience. Ancestry immerses audiences right into Bobak’s artwork. Similar to a virtual reality experience, the canvas comes to life right in the palm of your hands – using your phone or a tablet provided by event organizers. Whether you are a history expert or art enthusiast this revealing exhibit offers a new take on both the history of Canada and historic Canadian artworks. Many of Bobak’s iconic works were featured in the History Revealed exhibit including Private Roy, Canadian Women’s Army Corp (1946), Canadian Women’s Army Corps Officer Cadets and N.C.O.’s Waiting for the Montreal Train and Basic Trainees Learning to Stand at Ease. The projectile nature of the pieces showcased offer audiences the opportunity to truly engage with the intricate details of each work of art.

Ancestry brought this experience to Toronto in an effort to showcase the unique history of Canada. Genealogists, Crista Cowan and Jenn Utley were on-site providing attendees with take-home DNA kits and consultations. Having sat down with Cowan – who could only be described as a lovely blend of vivacious energy mixed nurturing energy – she provided a wealth of knowledge on the importance of learning about family lineage and interesting facts about human evolution, including the theory which suggests homo sapiens today (modern day humans), have a common ancestor. This means, to some degree, we are all related through what is known as a Mitochondrial Eve. Cowan offered her expertise on a host of topics including genetic patterns present in different areas of the world, how statistics suggest some populations are less reluctant than others to trace their genealogy and how the process of DNA collection and analysis has evolved since Ancestry started this mission of genomic exploration in 2006.

If you are interested in learning more about your lineage, geographic roots or meeting any unknown relatives, then check out Ancestry and order your DNA kit today! Pimentel can be contacted via his website.

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When did you first learn about your great grandfather’s diaries?

Lindsay: I recall being about eight years old when my grandfather Fred (Harry’s son) showed me his father’s 1914 diary where Harry recorded his purchase of Winnie. I remember from a very young age thinking how remarkable it was to have this moment in time – that went on to have a huge ripple effect – captured in time.

What was his role in the army?

Lindsay: Harry was a Canadian veterinarian and soldier with the Royal Canadian Army Veterinary Corps. Harry was part of Winnipeg’s Fort Garry Horse regiment. Harry trained in Valcartier, Quebec before embarking for overseas duty in Salisbury Plain. He served three years in France, attaining the rank of Major.

He purchased this bear cub for $20. Did you know how or why that happened?

Lindsay: The truth is we don’t know for sure why he bought her. Harry may have wanted to buy a mascot for his regiment, he may have wanted to rescue the sweet cub he met. Whatever it was, it was definitely fate.

In your first book, Finding Winnie, it tells the story about how Winnie became famous after inspiring author A.A. Milne to name his classic children’s book Winnie the Pooh? Tell us how that came about?

Lindsay: I first conceived of the idea of telling my family story as a picture book a decade before I had children. I thought it would be an incredible way to share my family story to my own kids. When I found out I was pregnant with my first child (Cole) I realized that if I didn’t write it then, it would take me another decade… in short this book was FOR my son Cole, but also BECAUSE of him.

Tell us what inspired you to write a second book?

Lindsay: Winnie’s Great War is a middle grade novel that takes off in many ways where Finding Winnie left off. I offer to tell my son Cole, who is much older now, the real story of Winnie and his great, great grandfather. He assumes he knew the whole story but of course he didn’t. I think the novel allows us to explore a lot of themes we could not in my first book – bravery, self-sacrifice, courage and communication are all ideas we have a chance to explore in a more fulsome telling. In my experience traveling the world to share Finding Winnie, kids want to understand more about this story and what it all meant. Winnie’s Great War answers many of their wonderful questions.

This book is told through the eyes of Winnie – what made you decide to take that whimsical approach?

Lindsay: The novel is anchored by my great grandfather’s real wartime diaries which is a constant reminder to kids that much of what they are reading is of course, true. I think by having the story told through Winnie’s perspective, it allows kids to see the events unfold through a unique and innocent perspective – in a way, the way Winnie as a young cub views the events unfolding in front of her is not dissimilar from how a child would view the events.

This book also takes into accounts some of the events that took place during the war. Your research included experiences as told through your great grandfather’s diaries. What’s one part of this history really was important for you to tell?

Lindsay: From the outset, including the real diary entries in the book was very important. We (Josh Greenhut and I) wanted kids to understand that while Harry recorded happier moments – like purchasing Winnie –he also wrote about more difficult days – like getting sick crossing the Atlantic en route to war, witnessing mass shelling and casualties, etc. I wanted kids to get the full picture of that experience and why those realities made Harry and Winnie’s story all the more remarkable.

What happened to your grandfather’s diaries? Will they ever be published?

Lindsay: They are currently on display as part of an original exhibition I worked on with Ryerson University called Remembering the Real Winnie which also exists online http://therealwinnie.ryerson.ca/collection/ On that site people can read all of Harry’s entries.. It’s something I’m very proud of.

Your favourite Winnie the Pooh Quote?

Lindsay: “As soon as he saw the Big Boots, Pooh knew that an Adventure was going to happen, and he brushed the honey off his nose with the back of his paw, and spruced himself up as well as he could, so as to look Ready for Anything.”

Winnie’s Great War is now available in bookstores and online. Link here for more details.

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