How does a person define the ‘essence’ of a place, person or thing? Is it possible to even articulate the sense of being that a location can convey? Over the last 50 years many scholars and writers have explored this concept by applying the word ‘Topophilia’ to such an exercise. The term is a construct of the Greek word topos for ‘place’, and philia for ‘love of’. It has been used to articulate how people feel about certain places, and how these places evoke feelings of emotion around spatial and cultural identity.

When I joined the Royal British Columbia Museum in 2012, I had little idea of the diverse range of research being undertaken across the museum and archives, and more importantly, the diverse nature of disciplines and academic partners involved.