Mark Garner was our November speaker. Mark spoke about his family and their settlement in what is now Port Colborne. The next generations spread out through the Hamilton Niagara region and Mark pointed out many landmarks that are named after them including Garner Road in Ancaster/Hamilton.

His enthusiasm for history started early. He began researching the HBC’s steamer, the S.S. Beaver, because of a family connection in Port Colborne, Ontario. He discovered that it was the first steamship in the Pacific Northwest for many years and had a rich and colourful history. Mark’s family and extended family have been residents of the Port Colborne, Welland, and Niagara areas for two centuries, and that area holds a deep meaning today.

After 25 years of collecting history, Mark created an online virtual museum on Facebook called the “S.S. Beaver Museum.” He has worked with maritime museums out west and is now the Appointed Beaver Medal Auditor and Honorary Registrar for the Maritime Museum of British Columbia. He enjoys curating his own private collection, the S.S. Beaver Museum, and holds the largest collection worldwide.

Using the Worldwide S.S. Beaver Registry, he catalogs all the private and museum collections and has become a leading authority.