Who Are We?
Neil Orford, President
“I can say without hesitation that Neil Orford is one of Canada’s very best educators. He’s hard working, ambitious, and incredibly passionate about bringing history to life for each and every student who set foot in his classroom. A true trailblazer in Canadian education.”
- Jenna Misener COO at “The Logic”
For nearly 40 years, Neil Orford has brought his passion for telling the stories of Canadian history to his work as a teacher, presenter, writer and entrepreneur. An Ontario history teacher for 31 years, Neil is a recipient of both the Governor General’s and Ontario Premier’s Award for History Teaching. His ground-breaking Digital Historian Project© won the 2015 Government of Canada History Award, and he is the recipient of the Canada 125 Medal, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal and numerous leadership awards.
Neil has been featured on CBC’s “The National”, TVO’s “The Agenda”, and in numerous articles across Canada. He has written for major Canadian publications and is a regular presenter at Conferences and workshops.
In 2013, he founded Canadian Historical Education Services, Ltd (CanHist.ca) which over the last decade has become a highly successful history education organization, specializing in ‘heritage-walking’ tours for Canadians to Europe each year. This commitment to ongoing heritage education inspired Neil to start ‘Small Town Big Ideas’ in 2023 - a lecture series inviting some of Canada’s top public intellectuals to speak in smaller communities.
In 2017, Neil founded Defining Moments Canada – Canada’s premier non-profit heritage education organization, leading some of Canada’s most important national commemoration projects in partnership with many of Canada’s top universities, governmental and private organizations.
Inspired by the rich complexity of Canadian stories, Neil continues to teach and shape how Canadians understand their shared histories; where they intersect, overlap, and distinguish who we are as a people.
A proud son of two Canadian Veterans, Neil and his wife Laurie raised their family and continue to live in Dufferin County, Ontario.
Governor General Award Receipient
Neil Orford is the recipient of the 2013 Governor General's History Award for Excellence in Teaching.
Sylvia Jones MPP, Dufferin-Caledon Recognizes Awarding-Winning Shelburne Teacher Neil Orford
On October 21, 2013 Sylvia Jones MPP, Dufferin-Caledon recognized Shelburne Teacher Neil Orford for receiving the the prestigious 2013 Governor General's History Award for Excellence in Teaching.
Valerie Copeland, Director of Communications, Promotions & Outreach
Valerie, a graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University with an Honours BTech in Graphic Communications Management specializing in Marketing, has built a remarkable career spanning almost two decades. Since earning her degree in 2005, she has honed her expertise in graphic design, marketing, and communications through her roles at CanHist, Defining Moments Canada, and Royal LePage. Valerie's passion for creativity shines through in every project she undertakes, consistently bringing a fresh and innovative perspective to her work. Her extensive experience and creative flair make her a valuable asset to the CanHist Team.
Robert Catsburg, Tour Guide
Robert Catsburg was born in the ‘Breskens Pocket’ in Oostburg & from an early age has been fascinated by the war and especially by the Canadian liberators of the Scheldt area. While collecting for many years military artifacts related to the Battle of the Scheldt, his interest widened to include historical research. A trained chemist, Robert now devotes himself to telling & celebrating the history of the Canadian Liberation of Holland. His many publications, books and legendary walking tours make him one of the most ‘in-demand’ tour guides in the Netherlands. Robert has been CanHist Tours’ #1 Tour Guide in the Netherlands for years!
David Godfrey, Tour Manager
A native of Liverpool, David Godfrey recently retired from a career teaching Languages at many secondary schools throughout the English Midlands. Over three decades, he has led multiple tours across Europe and now specializes in history & heritage walking experiences for many of the UK’s top tourist agencies. Fluent in five languages (including Canadian occasionally), David is an expert in Canada’s Second World War history and has led tours to the Juno Beach Centre and throughout Normandy for ‘Juno70/Juno75 & Juno80’ over the last 15 years. David has led six tours for CanHist Tours and we are thrilled to welcome him back again in May 2025 for VEDay80.
John R. Heckman, Tour Historian & Guide
John R. Heckman, a passionate advocate for making history accessible to all, launched The Tattooed Historian in 2015 as his legacy project during his tenure as an Archivist and Historian with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Engaging audiences through livestreams, videos, a podcast (The Tattooed Historian Show), and live events, John has successfully bridged the gap between the past and present, making history both captivating and enjoyable for audiences of all ages.
Rebecca Grimes, Ellison Tour Leader
A French and History teacher for over twenty years, Rebecca strives to pass on her love of languages, history, and travel to her students. She has organized and managed past Ellison Tours for students and adults, and is a veteran of the DMC Battlefield Tours. Rebecca is an avid traveller, a photography enthusiast, and a foodie. In her travels (thirty countries on five continents and counting!), she always looks for opportunities to learn about the people, the culture, and the history of the places she is visiting. Her photography is a way to look closer at these places and to remember her adventures. She loves to try local cuisine – especially the pastries! Having lived in France twice (Nantes and Bayeux), Rebecca always loves returning to the country she considers a second home.
