We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Meg Sutton a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Meg, thanks for joining us today. Is there a historical figure you look up to? Who are they and what lessons or values have you learned from them?

Mary Anning is one of my favourite historical figures for her contribution to early palaeontology in the 1800s. She is credited for finding the first ichthyosaur, plesiosaur and pterosaur fossils though they weren’t scientifically named such until later. Her family was quite broken, so she had to provide for herself and navigate the Napoleonic Wars. She taught herself geology, anatomy, and sold fossil finds to support her life on her own.

Dinosaurs being the inspiration for myths and fantastical stories is one of my favourite phenomenons. It means there is a little bit of magic in this world buried in the ground to find. And what I admire the most about Anning is that many male scientists tried to deny of cast doubt on her discoveries or even worse – take credit for them. I was lucky enough to go to London, England, in 2o23 where the Natural History Museum (a gorgeous institution) had a curiosity cabinet of just some of Anning’s pivotal fossils that shaped the world of palaeontology and us understanding that we’re not the biggest thing that has walked this earth.

There was a movie with Kate Winslet called Ammonite, which brought Anning’s story to the big screen; however, it was overshadowed by the sensational backlash arguing about potential historical inaccuracies. It showed a queer romance, which many were quick to discount and condemn saying there is no historical evidence.

Now, I work in history and plaque writing, and it is so frustrating to read between the lines of letters and love lives. Claiming queerness in your life, especially on paper, was extremely dangerous for most. Even today, if you’re in the wrong city, queerness is targeted with hate and violence. Additionally, we never want to “out” someone or make assumptions when re-telling their legacy, so how do you balance writing about someone’s love life without erasing queerness or imposing it upon them? All this to say, I think this why Anning is such an important figure in history, she collaborated and lifted up women in science and surpassed the restrictions of gender. I’m all here for her being a queer icon in history or not – we’ll never really know until my wish is granted that we can go to dinner (You remember that game right?)

But one thing is for certain – she is a role model for women empowering themselves in their field.

Meg, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I kind of get to be the Hannah Montanna of Heritage in my role! By day, I work in St. Lawrence Hall in Toronto researching and writing for plaques that will go up across the city. By night, I’m in Hamilton, either practicing or performing on the Ticats Dance and Cheer team. Both of these amazing opportunities come from my time at university. I studied journalism and law at Carleton University in Ottawa where I was super active in extra-curricular activities from theatre to student societies. I also wanted to make sure I stayed active and saw there was auditions for the cheer team. Mellany Cullen, the director of Ravens Rhythm Cheer, saw something special in me (as I wasn’t the best dancer), and took a chance putting me on the team. She was truly an amazing mentor helping me get healthy and strong and becoming a pivotal member on the cheer team for my 4 years in undergrad. Meanwhile, studying journalism fostered my love for storytelling and people. And while the tough deadlines and stressful current news situation was daunting, archival newspapers and history became a refuge of nostalgia. Museums seemed to be the next best thing! Immersive storytelling and journalistic style writing of being concise and accessible checked all the boxes of my future career. The University of Toronto offered the chance to complete two Masters in three years in both museums and information, plus they had a cheer team, so it was logically the next step to move a little more west to Toronto. The joke is I continually move west as I grow up, starting in Halifax, then Ottawa, and now Toronto. I graduated from UofT in 2023 and remember seeing the job posting for a plaques coordinator during my rare book course one day. I thought that was the coolest thing, because of course someone has to do that job, but I had never thought about it before. I also auditioned for the Ticats Dance and Cheer team that same spring, so there was a lot going on. I think I started the plaques job the same week I learned I made the team (which was a month long training camp process – think DCC). Now, a year later, I’m living the dream of dinosaur loving dancer! I get to live the best of both worlds bringing peoples’ history to a platform while also performing at a national stadium for the CFL audience. I’m truly grateful.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

I have a private Instagram for safety reasons, so my social media presence isn’t that big. I’m proud that I actually know every one of my followers, as we met at some point in life from high school to now. I like being active though and seeing what other people are up to! It always goes back to storytelling and continuing to learn, which I love. I think if anyone ever looks at my social media though they will see a quirky mix of colour. I love showcasing what I’m up to whether it be volunteering as choreographer for Hillcrest Village Community Players or exploring new cities. I definitely feature some fun history facts and plaque projects. Then there’s a sprinkle of cheerleading as well. Personally, it’s just a fun time and I like the idea of curating my own little Meg Museum or time capsule for friends to see what I’m really about.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Getting to design plaques is such a rewarding experience because (in theory) they will last a lifetime. At Heritage Toronto, we really strive to create interpretive panels that educate as opposed to commemorate, so in 2024 you’re really seeing the parts of history that matter to people and communities. I’ve had the pleasure to work on so many projects already and see what applicants are truly passionate about. My job allows for me to connect with these stories and synthesize them to be interesting for all. Usually, we research and create a huge summary document that is basically an essay on the plaque subject. Then it’s up to myself and my colleague Chris Bateman (who is really the dream plaques partner) to condense it into 250 words or less. This is where the magic happens as I get to highlight the small things that are relatable for readers and guide the story. For example, if we’re working on a heritage building plaque we can talk about architecture but also the individuals that called it home, the neighbourhood, or even the work that shifted time. One of the most rewarding plaques was for Sunnyside Stadium (where the parking lot is now for the Boulevard Club in Toronto). I worked with some former players and notable sports historian Paula Warder to tell the story of a space for women to thrive. Back when most sports were considered too aggressive for women to play, softball created an opportunity for them to break from dainty stereotypes and showcase their strength and athleticism. Truly a game changer for society as the stadium rivaled any other sport facility in the city. I think it’s giving light to these hidden histories and seeing the smiles as people connect with the past that fills my heart. We’ve also done plaques on trees, notable families, beautiful buildings, and the whoopee cushion (because it was patented in Toronto). There’s so much to tell and explore, the fabric of the city is so rich in stories, so being a part of the process is invaluable.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @megsttn_
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megsttn/

Image Credits
The blue headshot photo by Jaclyn Vogl Photography The crouching dance photo is by Ian Goring The four cheer girl formation is by M. Gerry Photography The Heritage Toronto Plaque Unveiling Photos by Hammad Khalil