Speaker Series – The Lost Villages

Museum Speaker Series
February 17, 2026

Driving down Highway 2 west of Cornwall, people travel past the Lost Villages Museum. Many people go by not knowing the story and history of this traumatic event in local history that was a result of the building the St. Lawrence Seaway.

Jim Brownell, a well-known local historian and previous resident of the Lost Villages will share his story as part of the SD&G Historical Society’s Speakers Series. Having lived his early years in and around the Lost Villages and having been an eyewitness to the St. Lawrence Seaway and Hydro Development Projects of the 1950s, Jim will present a life and times account of the six villages, three hamlets, and the farming community on Sheek Island.  While Jim’s recent book, “A Tour Through the Lands of the Lost Villages”, brings readers to locations near the inundated communities, his presentation will bring viewers into those communities that were lost to “progress”.  The images he will share are all from the Lost Villages archival collection.

About Jim Brownell

Jim Brownell is the president of the Lost Villages Historical Society and closely associated with many historical organizations and societies in Stormont, Dundas, and Glengarry and beyond. He is a retired educator, a former municipal and provincial politician, and the past Honourary Colonel of the Stormont, Dundas, and Glengarry Highlanders Regiment.  He is secretary of the Ontario East British Home Child Family.