SUDBURY—Warren Schlote is a man of many hats. Former railroad man, multi award-winning Expositor staff writer, CBC radio host/researcher/technician, jazz pianist, clarinet player, cinematographer and now, producer. This past Thursday witnessed the launch of Mr. Schlote’s latest YouTube series ‘Living History,’ in which the intrepid producer explores Ontario locations where artifacts of history are still visible today.
“I decided to take time away from my many jobs to work on a project that I have wanted to do for some time,” said Mr. Schlote when contacted by The Expositor. He explained that the concept for the series first rose in his mind while he was still in his mid-teens. “I would encounter things in my daily life, products of an earlier era, and I would wonder what they must have been like in their heyday.”
That fascination didn’t spring naturally from his studies. “The funny thing is, when I was in elementary and high school, I couldn’t stand history class,” he said. “Part of me knew it was important, my brain just couldn’t make the connection to things in my daily life.”
But seeing physical evidence of historical events and ruined edifices began to pique his interest and he began to think about how he could bring the history behind those physical remnants to life in a different and captivating way. “If you see something in this series that interests you, you can actually climb in a car and go see it for yourself,” he explained.
Being a former railroad man, it seems appropriate that the first installment of Mr. Schlote’s ‘Living History’ series details the story behind a tragic passenger rail accident near Caledon that claimed the lives of seven people and injured hundreds of others—but it is the positive legacy of that tragic event that provides the focus of the video. That accident led to the establishment of medical facilities.
“There are ramifications that have echoes for generations,” said Mr. Schlote. Another episode in the series details the incredible story of the Dionne Quintuplets—how a group of five babies became an amazing tourist attraction, an economic stimulus during the Great Depression, and a case study in government overreach. “There is a 20-room mansion paid for by the Dionne Quintuplets that they knew nothing about,” he said.
Currently, the series consists of 10 short documentaries, with 14 planned for certain and possibly expanding to 16.
“I’ll be putting one out each Thursday,” said Mr. Schlote, “but in between I will be putting up ‘footnote’ videos and interesting observation clips, as well as bonus videos on other interesting places.”
Manitoulin will feature in episode seven, ‘A Tale of Two Bridges,’ where Mr. Schlote explores the differing attitudes of communities served by swing bridges—contrasting Little Current with Wausauskasing First Nation. “It’s an interesting divide,” said the filmmaker.
Another video featuring the Island explores the world of octagonal buildings—although Little Current’s contribution is actually hexagonal in shape.
Mr. Schlote has financed the web series completely out of his own pocket. “I wanted to challenge myself to see what I could do,” he said, adding that he found working at The Expositor to be a huge boost in developing his research skills. “It was great working with people who know so much about the Island,” he said.
“I also want to thank The Expositor for letting me borrow their videography equipment,” said Mr. Schlote. “It has really helped me to produce quality material for the series.”
Mr. Schlote is currently working feverishly to complete editing the remainder of the series before returning to the airwaves with CBC Sudbury later this spring.
His series can be found by searching ‘Warren the Reporter’ on YouTube or at LivingHistory.ca, where one can also read ‘Out of the Shadows,’ Mr. Schlote’s multi-award-winning collaboration with The Expositor and photographer Giovanni Capriotti.
